American RN wanting to move to Canada

Published

Hi everyone,

I'm a US citizen. Graduated nursing school September 2016 with an ADN (associate). My family and I would like to move to Canada and possibly become dual citizens. We were thinking of living in vancouver, BC. I have family living there. It would be nice to live near family.

I understand that Canada requires BSN and I would still have to go through the application to be allowed to work in Canada.

My questions are:

For BSN requirement, does it have to be an actual 4 year school or can I do the rn to bsn route that usually takes 6 months to a year (depending on school). And of course the school must be accredited with the nursing board. Does Canada have a list of US approved schools? Or is it as long as the school is approved with the nursing board?

Also, I looked into the process of applying for RN license in Canada. I'm a bit confused with the terminology used. I've read that I need to be assessed first but I don't understand what that entails.

Also, what comes first? Applying for the visa or applying for the license?

And I haven't taken the NCLEX just yet. Still have a few more weeks of studying to do. And if I passed the NCLEX here, is it true that I wouldn't have to retake the exam to get a license in Canada?

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. And please excuse my ignorance with Canadian immigration policies.

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Any accredited bridging program would be fine. Yes you would not need to write the NCLEX twice. Your first step after BSN would be applying to the NNAS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for responding.

What is NNAS?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

NNAS is an agency that the provincial colleges use for IENS in evaluating your nurse training

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What is IENS?

Sorry never heard of it before.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nevermind I found it Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs). I just found the website for NNAS.

Another questions regarding application for citizenship.

How long after (if I am approved) obtaining permanent residency can my family and I apply for citizenship? And I guess I should have asked this before, but when I apply and get approved can I bring my family with me? Or would I need to petition them separately?

If anyone who is a dual US and Canadian citizen, could you please let me know how the process was and how does the taxes work? I know you have to pay taxes for both countries, how much do you pay? Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you search NNAS using the search tool in the top right hand corner, you will find threads with US educated RNs whose education was assessed by NNAs and found to be somewhat comparable or not comparable to a Canadian entry-to-practice education. As a result, some are waiting to undergo further competency testing and some are applying for IEN bridging programs in Canada.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you.

When you say competency testing does that mean a written test? Or is it just that NNAS is evaluating trasnscripts and documents?

And are there schools in Canada that will take my RN (Assoicate) to bridge to a BSN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A competency assessment usually consists of a computer based assessment and a simulation assessment, BC was using the SEC assessment but they have a new assessment called NCAS bc.

NNAS assesses education and proof of work experience then forwards the results of their assessment in an advisory report to the provincial college of nurses in the province that applicant wishes to apply to, in your case it will be CRNBC.

Schools in Canada do not accept US educated RNs into their IEN bridge programs until after their education has been assessed by NNAS and the college of nursing has given a letter letter of direction stating they require further education.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for breaking it down for me. I tried researching this on my own but I didn't understand how the process of NNAS and college of nurses work.

would you know if the NNAS has a guide to which courses they are looking for? I would rather look for a bridge program in the US that provides all of the courses that CRNBC is looking for so I don't come up needing further education.

[h=2]Registered Nurse (RN)[/h]RNs usually complete a four year post-secondary university nursing program to become a generalist registered nurse. The program contains theory and clinical instruction in medical and surgical nursing. It includes in-depth study of concepts, such as:

  • humanities,
  • nursing theory,
  • physical and biological sciences,
  • primary health,
  • professional ethics,
  • social and behavioural sciences, and
  • therapeutic relationships.

This is what I found on the NNAS website. I just don't know if they are looking for 1 or 2 humanities courses or must it be worth 3 or 4 units? Sorry if this doesn't make any sense.

Also, is the competency assessment only required if the applicant is shown to need further testing or is it a part of the evalutaion process?

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NNAS analyzes education content to see if it is similar to the Canadian national entry-to-practice competencies and nursing program curricula. It is very likely that as a US educated nurse, you will not be covering all of the Canadian entry-to-practice competencies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I see. I guess I will just have to wait and see what results are after I submit everything to NNAS. But before all of that I still need do my RN to BSN program. Hopefully I can find a school where I can get everything done in a year or less.

Thanks to everyone. I appreciate your help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion