Better place to go to school: U.S. vs Canada

epg_pei · Jul 29, 2004

Aren't Canadian schools a lot cheaper than US ones? My tuition per year is about $5000. Times 4 and that's $20K or so, plus supplies etc.

fergus51 · Jul 30, 2004

It doesn't matter where you get your degree as long as you get the same level, they are worth the same (a BSN from Canada is fine for the US and vice versa). That said, I made the choice to go to a Canadian school instead of an American one for a few reasons.

1. Canadian schools are cheaper, hands down.

2.The degree is done in 4 years. A lot of American schools have so many prereq that a BSN can take 5 or 6 years. A lot of Canadian schools have no prereqs, so you just go straight in to the nursing program.

3. The clinical time tends to be more standard in Canada. Some American schools have a lot of clinical, some very little. A lot of Canadian nursing programs are based on Diploma programs which had a lot of clinical time.

gchelak · Aug 11, 2004

WOOH!

When I read your post, I thought it was my own at first!

I am in Austin and am also a dual citizen. I have been here 12 years (5 in Houston and 7 in Austin) and I also feel like Canada has always been home. Recently, my husband finally obtained a great job in Calgary (where I am from) and we are moving back. I had been taking my pre-requisites at the community college here since I was laid off from IBM 2 years ago- and JUST got accepted into the ADN program here. My dilema was to transfer there or finish here.

I decided to stay here to do the new Fastrak (16 consecutive months - starts Aug 30). I am glad I did because not only would I have had to take some classes over or more classes that a school up there would require, I also found out that as of 2005 the Nursing Board is pushing to omit all diploma nursing programs in Alberta - you have to have a BSN to get take the RN exam.

A diploma nursing degree there is like an ADN (Associates degree) here. I found out that when I am done in Dec 2005 and I take the NCLEX, I can move up there as an RN - not a new graduate diploma nurse. I am pretty sure I still have to take the Canadian RN exam, but from what I hear (hear-say?) the Canadian exam is easier than the NCLEX. I figure with registration in both countries, I can easily become a travel nurse or if I ever do decide to move back here, I have the NCLEX already.

You should check into any waiting lists for the schools you are interested in too... ACC's wait was a couple of semesters even with a 4.0!

On the otherhand, if you have not started the nursing here, and want to go straight into a BSN, cost wise, it is better there - but I would still take both exams if I were you right after you finish!

Good luck with your future endeavors!