Can a nursing certification be accepted in England or Europe?

[corey3]

I'm thinking of pursuing a RN program with a local school here in Ohio. I already have a BSc Business Management degree but I haven't had much luck with it. I know nurses are always in demand just like doctors which is why I want to do it. I just want to know once I complete my program, will I be able to transfer my certification over to England or Europe if I decide to move.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

Hi Corey3, and welcome to the All Nurses!

I'm going to move your post to the International Nurses forums; you're more likely to receive more responses there specific to your question.

Best of luck!

[suzanne4, RN]

To work in either Europe of the UK, it will require the BSN, they do not accept the two year programs for licensure there.

Licenses and registation never transfer between countries, you would have to go thru the entire licensure process as well as immigration process for the country that you are interested in. And actually physicians cannot just transfer to another country, there is much red tape and additional work that needs to be done.

Please be aware that the UK as well as the EU countries have a hiring freeze essentially in place; meaning that jobs will go first to those from the specific country and then next to those that are from the EU countries, etc. And without siginificant skills in an area where they are short such as PICU or NICU, it is going to be quite difficult to even get thru registration there for licensure. Even if you are willing to work at US military bases, they require at least two years out of three of current work experience before they would even consider you and they also require the BSN.

There is already much written on this topic here, would recommend that you do some reading. And if you are going to go to nursing school, just to be able to work overseas, you may wish to reconsider that idea. Things are actually getting tighter, not easier to get.

Best of luck to you.