Cali License Useable in Canada?

elkpark · Apr 29, 2008

CA nursing licenses are only good in CA -- they are not even valid in other US states, let alone another country. You can endorse a CA license to other US states, but in order to be able to work in Canada, you would have to meet all of Canada's requirements for licensure (including, I believe, writing their licensure exam). There are plenty of regular posters here who would know more about the specifics of getting a Canadian license as a foreign applicant, and I'm sure someone else will post a reply before too long.

(I am also moving this thread to the International Nursing forum).

RNGrad2006 · Apr 29, 2008

CA nursing licenses are only good in CA -- they are not even valid in other US states, let alone another country. You can endorse a CA license to other US states, but in order to be able to work in Canada, you would have to meet all of Canada's requirements for licensure (including, I believe, writing their licensure exam). There are plenty of regular posters here who would know more about the specifics of getting a Canadian license as a foreign applicant, and I'm sure someone else will post a reply before too long.
(I am also moving this thread to the International Nursing forum).

It is a lot more complicated than that. You have to have your education assessed first and then take the licensing exam once qualifications have been met and it takes quite some time to go through the process. And in Canada it is pencil paper exam that takes all day. Then comes the long wait for the exam results (about 4-5 weeks) to get via mail for the LPN exam. I went through this process in BC. I am Canadian and because I went to school in the US I had to follow the same process as any international student. It is long and expensive. A lot more expensive to take the exam and pay for registration (similar to licensure) as compared to the US. Now that I am an RN I wanted to try to get a license in Canada also but the requirements are pretty lengthy. For the RN (this is in BC) you need to complete 250 hours of supervised practice and am unable to do that at this time. But I don't think you need to do that for the LPN...at least not when I did it in 2005.

suzanne4, RN · Apr 29, 2008

You will also find it quite difficult to get a visa to work in Canada if you just have taken the NCLEX-PN exam and have not completed a full RN program.

Please take the time to do some reading here. US exams are only valid for the US, Canada has their own exams. And you will be starting the process all over again for there, but first check with immigration before you start the process as more than likely you will not be able to get landed immigrant or any type of visa with that license.

Having a license, or passing an exam does not give one permission to work in another country, you must go thru immigration procedures as well.