Can you be an Registered nurse in Canada without degree?

[David323]

I am a registered nurse in Israel and I don't have a bachelor's degree.

I would like to apply for a nursing position in Alberta.

Is it possible to obtain a nursing certificate without a degree?

Thanks

[loriangel14, RN]

You would have to meet the requirements of the college of nurses in Alberta and pass the CRNE to get a license. Generally you need a BSN to meet their requirements.All you can do is apply and see what they say.You would also have to look into what kind of visa you could qualify for. Nursing is no longer on the FSW list so you would have to look at perhaps a TWP which would require an employer first.The job outlook is dismal right now so you will find this difficult.

[Fiona59]

Have you been an RN for over five years? If yes you might be able to be "grandfathered".

Have you ever been to Alberta in the winter?

You need to be aware that the major cities are pretty much saturated with locally educated nurses.

[RN_Canada]

A degree is an entry to practice requirement in all of Canada but each province applies this requirement differently for internationally educated nurses.

If you apply for registration without a degree you will likely be put through a Substantially Equivalent competency assessment which is being used in many of the western provinces.

This will determine if you meet the requirements or not.

In is unlikely that Ontario would accept your application for an RN license and would probably recommended to write for RPN (registered Practical Nurse) license.

So you simply have to apply and see what they say.

[Fiona59]

A degree is an entry to practice requirement in all of Canada but each province applies this requirement differently for internationally educated nurses.

If you apply for registration without a degree you will likely be put through a Substantially Equivalent competency assessment which is being used in many of the western provinces.

This will determine if you meet the requirements or not.

In is unlikely that Ontario would accept your application for an RN license and would probably recommended to write for RPN (registered Practical Nurse) license.

So you simply have to apply and see what they say.

The OP isn't interested in Ontario, they specifically mentioned Alberta.

[RN_Canada]

Thanks Fiona, I did realize that but just wanted to offer information about other provinces to point out that it is handled slightly differently in every province.

Some provinces in Canada will accept nurses with no degrees but others will not.

The caveat for all provinces really is apply and see what they say.