Canadian traveling to San Francisco

[christine_leb]

Hi Everyone,

I am a Canadian nurse currently working in Toronto who wants to do my first travel nursing assignment in California. I am hoping for any advice I can get! Can anyone Canadian's tell me which agency they used as a Canadian traveling to the states or recommend a specific recruiter? From talking to people so far, I've learned it's tricky to get your first assignment in California because you have to go through another state in order to obtain a SSN, so information from someone who's gone through that process would be greatly appreciated.

I've heard this is a great forum, but still trying to familiarize myself with everything. Thanks in advance for all your help!

Christine

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Hi and congrats on your first post at allnurses.

I've found older posts about this topic by using the search function in this site. The recurring theme in the past threads is the hurdles with the US Social Security Number requirement and the close scrutiny of determining equivalency between the foreign nursing degree with California's stricter nursing degree requirements. There are Canadian nurses who made it, however. I will direct you to this most recent post I found from 2012: https://allnurses.com/international-nursing/a-canadian-nurse-752289.html.

Good luck

[frangelicag]

Hey there,

I am a fellow Canadian trying to make my way to CAlifornia. THere is no way around the SSN you need to apply for the CA license. What I did was applied through Minnesota to write the NCLEX. Once I was licensed, I started talking with different agencies. I ended up taking my first assignmentin in Texas as they allow you to license without the SSN. Once I was here in Houston, I was able to apply for my SSN and I am now waiting for my CAli license while on assignment. California takes notoriously long to process.

[danisweetcheeks]

california is notoriously long and take their time for everything. that is exactly what i did... went to texas and got my SSN there. My license took at least 6 months to get once i applied in person to the CA BON. Their educational requirements are also VERY strcict and they often will refuse your license based on insufficient hours. they will not tell you if you have enough hours until you go through the whole process and pay all the fee's. california is very difficulty... but EVERYONE wants to work there, so why wouldnt they be? its the mecca of travel nursing!! lol

[frangelicag]

6 months!! I hope it doesn't take that long did you apply for a temporary license? When I called the board, the lady said I should have my temporary license by March 24. My breeze status used have to missing education deficiencies but now it just says open. I was hoping that was a good sign?! Who knows though. Hoping the best!!