Canadian thinking about Excelsior

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

Hi,

I am a Canadian Registered Practical Nurse from Ontario. Our program is a 2 yr college program and completely different than the usa lpn program. our program is actually the old rn before bsn was made mandatory in canada. i have been taking other courses since graduation on a pt basis to get my RN's but its a looooong process since lpn to bsn in canada are young programs.

I am wondering if it would be good to go to excelsior. I work at the top of my practice so i do everything an RN does except IV pushes and will continue to work while doing excelsior. My mom lives in the states and when i am done i am hoping to move and help her out as my stepdad is sick.

Any canadians finish the program? Any canadians move to the usa afterward or just work on usa side but still live in canada?

Any issues transferring to an rn-bsn not at excelsior afterwards?

Are the exams to test out completed at PPT sites?

Any info for this canadian girl would be great. I am waiting on admissions to call again. We have been playing phone tag.

Excuse my fat finger typing on phone lol

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Hi, I did my RPN in Ontario and am just finishing up the EC ADN program. I would def recommend it but it takes a lot of research and discipline. Totally doable.. but I have not done the Cpne yet! :)

I write the last two nursing courses this week and next. EC is wonderful to deal with, and there are a lot of folks with advice on here and around the net. They also took just about all of my Canadian credits as well. I would say just know what the requirements are for the state you are wanting to work in. Some take EC grads outright, and some require extra clinical experience. I have also found that bc the Cdn PN program is longer and more in depth, we are better prepared for the program, and as working as an LPN (I am working in TN). You can do most of the exams at Pearson sites, which there are in Canada (I did one in Toronto). Hope that helps!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If you have any future plan whatsoever to work in California, do NOT do Excelsior. CA's Board of Nursing will not license EC grads either by exam or endorsement, and as of right now, they show no signs of budging on that. Completing your RN-BSN elsewhere after that will not fix the problem either, as when it comes to licensing CA (and other BONs) will look at the school that prepared you for the NCLEX-RN.

The other 50 BONs (I'm including DC) will license EC grads; however depending on the state you are looking at getting licensed in, you may have to meet additional requirements.

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

I have no intention of working in California so i am good.. Places i want to work would be Oregon, Alaska, Arizona (which requires preceptorship), and New York.

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New York is a smooth process, they were always great when I called them. I have a license there too. Actually, because I married an American, I was able to get an LPN license with my RPN one.

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Specializes in Nephrology- Hemodialysis, Perioperative.

Lambvmd3-

I'm really glad I found your post. I'm currently an RPN in Ontario (graduated in 2010) and have been practicing since. I've been considering doing the LPN to RN program through Excelsior as my boyfriend lives in Texas. I was hoping you could share your experience with me. How many credits did they allow you to transfer into the program? How long did it take you to complete the program? How was the CPNE? I've read numerous posts regarding it, and to be honest it has me terrified! Any advice/ infor you could share would be greatly appreciated as I haven't seen many posts by other Canadian LPN/RPN grads.

Thanks!

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I am currently trying the same thing right now and am wondering how everyone here ended up? I completed my RPN in Ontario in 2010 and am currently getting licensed in Texas (because they do not require a SSN to get licensed, and Excelsior requires a US LPN license before enrolling). I am sending in my fingerprinting card and will hopefully be writing my NCLEX-PN exam soon. Then I will start my application process with Excelsior.

My question is - did you require a Student Visa to finish the last clinical exam?

Once I am finished and have the opportunity to write the NCELX-RN exam - I am hoping to get a job in Nevada and move there - then I will continue on with my RN-BSN online school. Or I may have to finish that through Texas online while still in Canada.

Did anyone have a difficult time getting hired as an ADN?

I know Nevada accepts Excelsior programs and the Nevada State College allows to follow through on the RN-BSN program - I just know that I can't get Nevada Nursing License without a SSN and you can't get a SSN without a job offer so I want to make sure I can get a job offer before I start with Excelsior.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I am currently trying the same thing right now and am wondering how everyone here ended up? I completed my RPN in Ontario in 2010 and am currently getting licensed in Texas (because they do not require a SSN to get licensed, and Excelsior requires a US LPN license before enrolling). I am sending in my fingerprinting card and will hopefully be writing my NCLEX-PN exam soon. Then I will start my application process with Excelsior.

My question is - did you require a Student Visa to finish the last clinical exam?

Once I am finished and have the opportunity to write the NCELX-RN exam - I am hoping to get a job in Nevada and move there - then I will continue on with my RN-BSN online school. Or I may have to finish that through Texas online while still in Canada.

Did anyone have a difficult time getting hired as an ADN?

I know Nevada accepts Excelsior programs and the Nevada State College allows to follow through on the RN-BSN program - I just know that I can't get Nevada Nursing License without a SSN and you can't get a SSN without a job offer so I want to make sure I can get a job offer before I start with Excelsior.

You can't get an RN job offer without an RN license. LPN does not qualify for a work visa, TN or otherwise.

Ask Excelsior representatives as last I saw EC does not sponsor student visas. However you can cross the border for quite some time without a visa as a Canadian citizen.

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Hope this helps...I am an LPN from Manitoba, currently living in texas. I registered for my Texas LVN and once I received Licensure I applied to Excelsior (May 2015). My husband is here on a TN Nafta Visa, which allows me to go to school....however, it is not required to enroll in Excelsior nor for the CPNE. Hope this helps! I did have a lot of hurdles to overcome to go through, but TOTALLY worth it! I completed all of my nursing exams in only 2 months, then the FCCA was an additional 8 weeks. I am currently waiting for my CPNE. FYI-you will need your RN license, a VISA Screen Certificate from CGFNS, and a job offer before you are eligible to work in the US! Good Luck!

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Stephanie, thanks for your info, see PM

Hope this helps...I am an LPN from Manitoba, currently living in texas. I registered for my Texas LVN and once I received Licensure I applied to Excelsior (May 2015). My husband is here on a TN Nafta Visa, which allows me to go to school....however, it is not required to enroll in Excelsior nor for the CPNE. Hope this helps! I did have a lot of hurdles to overcome to go through, but TOTALLY worth it! I completed all of my nursing exams in only 2 months, then the FCCA was an additional 8 weeks. I am currently waiting for my CPNE. FYI-you will need your RN license, a VISA Screen Certificate from CGFNS, and a job offer before you are eligible to work in the US! Good Luck!
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