Canadian Immigration & Nursing

[o.poole]

Hi all -

Can any one help?

I am wanting to begin my application into Canada, but unsure of the process or what I need to do in order to do this.

I know I need to apply to NNAS? is this correct?

Also, how do I go about findingg jobs? Do I need to do this before or after nurse licensing?

Thanks

[dishes, BSN, RN]

No request for further testing so far

Does that mean you are waiting for CRNBC to respond to your application or that they have responded? I am curious if there are differences between provincial regulatory bodies. Ontario applicants with somewhat comparable NNAS results are required to undergo further competency testing, which in Ontario is the IENCAP.

[smr21, BSN]

CRNBC has responded to my application. They said I am eligible to have my NCLEX-RN results recognized, so I had the board of nursing from the US contact them. Now I'm waiting for background check results. I imagine that since I passed the NCLEX, I wouldn't have to take another exam, but the process isn't exactly clear, so I'm not holding my breath

[dishes, BSN, RN]

smr21 I hope that it does mean CRNBC will issue you a license after they verify your NCLEX and your background checks.

[smr21, BSN]

Thanks! I hope so too, I miss nursing!

[RN_Pro]

Does that mean you are waiting for CRNBC to respond to your application or that they have responded?

@smr21

I'm interested as well. In Ontario you would have to undergo further assessment. Where did you get your ABSN from?

[RN_Pro]

Please keep us updated smr21 Good luck!!!

[smr21, BSN]

OK, so update - I got my nursing license!! No further assessment needed! RN_Pro, I did my ABSN at Western Carolina University.

For anyone who's interested, here's a synopsis of my process...

Dec 2015 - started the NNAS process. Some requirements were easy - my state BON had to fill out a form, as did my employer (although I'm a relatively new nurse, so I've only had one employer. If that wasn't the case, I would have had to get in contact with prior employers which would have been tricky). The hard part was the paperwork from my school of nursing. I met with the director of my program mid-December. The NNAS requires copies of syllabi from every nursing course I took...I didn't keep any of that stuff after I graduated, so getting copies took some time.

February 2016 - Sent off my all my NNAS paperwork - phew!

March 2016 - heard from NNAS that since I sent the paperwork from my nursing school myself (dropping it off at Fed Ex or wherever) it couldn't be accepted. It had to be sent in something official looking from my nursing school. Fortunately, I could put all the syllabi on a jump drive, saving a lot of paper, time and money!

May 2016 - got my NNAS assessment, "somewhat comparable" Applied to CRNBC

July 2016 - Got first email from CRNBC, paid various application fees, totaling around 600 USD (I think...)

August 2016 - another email from CRNBC, asking for some paperwork and permission to do a background check.

December 2016 - approved for licensure in BC, paid dues to CRNBC and am now registered! Time to start the job hunt!

Hope this helps - applying for licensure in Canada as an IEN is *not* an easy process, if it wasn't for my husband going to school there (he's a dual citizen, but from Vancouver) I don't think I would have done this. If you're thinking of applying for licensure as an IEN, just be prepared for a long and expensive process. Worked out well for me (phew!) but I was pretty anxious for a lot of that time.

[RN_Pro]

August 2016 - another email from CRNBC, asking for some paperwork and permission to do a background check.

Wow huge congrats @smr21 !!!! This is a difficult and expensive process, glad you were able to make it through. I don't think there are very many who have yet through the NNAS process so, great!

When CRNBC asked for more paperwork as quoted above, what did they ask for? Current job descriptions, or ?

Also, what type of information did you send in to NNAS about your clinical hours? How were clinical hours outlined/shown to NNAS? I think for a lot of US applicants their clinical hours somehow aren't being captured/recognized in their entirety.

One more question: were all of your categories on the NNAS Advisory Report "somewhat comparable" or was there a bit of a blend?

I appreciate you outlining your timeline for all of us here. Gives us some hope! Wishing you well for the new year.