Canadian RN BScN to UK

[RightAb0utMe0w]

Hi there! I'm a new grad RN BScN nurse in Canada (Graduated 2020), and I am moving to Scotland to complete my Masters of Public Health. I'm on the fence if I should get licensed in the UK or not (given the licencing fees and limited work hours on a student visa - 20hours/week).

- I noticed it is required to write the Pearson Vue CBT exam, however, as a Canadian RN I just wrote the NCLEX (Pearson Vue CBT with same topics) in 2020. Does anyone know if I could be exempt from the CBT part of the licencing process?

- Is it likely I could find a part-time nursing job?

- Roughly how much is it to license in the UK? 

- General thoughts on my situation? 

I'm unsure if I should pursue nursing in the UK, find a remote job in my home province, or just find a random job once I get to Scotland. 

- If I do pursue a non-nursing job, any recommendations on decent paying jobs I could look into?

Thank you in advance! I appreciate anyone that responds! ?

[yam, BSN, RN]

HI there!

I moved to the UK from the US in April... just completed the UK RN licensure process and it was tedious. I am a US trained RN and was working there prior to moving to London.

Will you be in the UK temporarily for school or permanently? The process of getting licensed can be a long and expensive one. I came through an agency which so great because they facilitated everything and some costs were covered while others will be deducted from my pay.

Unfortunately they will not exempt you from CBT even if you've done NCLEX (unless something has changed and I am unaware). The process  and the NMC is general is strict: Register -> Eligibility portion (luckily if youre from an English speaking country youre exempt from the language test), CBT-> Paperwork (diploma, birth certificate, criminal record report etc) -> invitation to take OSCE (which must be done here) and once you pass OSCE you register for your PIN. 

It can definitely take a couple of months to get licensed. So it probably depends on how long you plan on being in the UK. Don't know much about working in Scotland, but if you are a licensed nurse in Canada you may be able to find a job in health care, just not as a nurse. 

Hope this helps a bit!