CRNBC - Indian graduate got RN license

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Specializes in ICU and ER.

I am an Indian BSN graduate. I graduated in the year 2007. I worked for India in two years and did not work for 5 years due to personal reasons. Then I started working in USA since 2015 till now. I applied for CRNBC RN license in 2016 and it was a very smooth process. So I wanted to share my two cents to help other nursesTo obtain license in any state in Canada, your credentials must be evaluated by NNAS. I applied to NNAS on August 20, 2016. I had to submit my license from India and US for verification, college transcripts and professional work experience in the past 5 years. NNAS issued an advisory report on November 15, 2016. The report mentioned that my education was not comparable to the Canadian education.

I now feel that NNAS was more complicated process than CRNBC. But, I feel that both NNAS and CRNBC are very responsive to emails. CRNBC more than NNAS. With NNAS, I got responses for my queries the next working day. But with CRNBC, I got replies the same working day, if I email them in the morning hours.

I became very anxious, worrying that CRNBC might make me take assessment exam or much worse redo the course. I applied to CRNBC on November 16, 2016.

1. They will electronically get the NNAS report. But asked me to do an English test. I replied via email saying that I have been working in an English speaking country for about 2000 hours and requested them to waive that requirement. They granted my plea and waived that requirement the next day via email. That was the first time I was very impressed by CRNBC for being so quick, efficient and considerate of license applicants.

2. Then there was a minor issue about difference of names in documents. All my Indian documents had only my first name and initial. But all my US documents had first name and initial expanded as last name. They sent me an affidavit, which I filled, got notarized and sent via email. It was a pretty easy process

3. After that they found out that I started working a month after graduation, but got my Indian RN license only after one year. I explained that working while waiting for RN license is allowed in India. They asked the licensing board to email them regarding the same. I contacted my licensing board, that was the tough part. Had to do a lot of explanations and pay more money, finally they sent a letter approving my work experience without license. Then the board had no issues with it.

4. Then they were examining my work experience. They asked proof and I sent around 40 pages of my timecard, which mentioned the number of hours worked and the units worked too. I had more than 2000 hours in 18 months. I sent those documents on January 26, 2017.

5. On January 30, 2017 came the happy news via email. They said that my assessment was complete. I had to consent for criminal record check and submit a statutory declaration form. I completed and emailed the forms back on Feb 1, 2017.

6. On Feb 3, 2017, they emailed me that I meet the requirements for practicing RN registration in BC. I had to fill a form and make payment. I completed the form and sent the next day, but did not make payment until March because their registration year is every March to Feb.

I made payment in March and I got my RN license for BC, CANADA from March 2017 to Feb 2018. HURRRAAAYYY!!!!!

I read in allnurses forum about many difficult lengthy processes for many other applicants who had to take SEC assessment and NCAS. But I did not have to go through any of that.

That is why I wanted to share my story to give hope to International graduates. I got my license within 5 months of deciding to apply.

If you have any questions regarding the process, I will be happy to help

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Congratulations on becoming licensed as a RN, it's very refreshing to hear about a relatively smooth journey to become licensed in Canada. Most of the threads discuss the difficulties and road blocks and lengthy delays, it's nice to know that for some it's a much easier journey.

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This is the first person I have heard about that had "non-comparable" on their NNAS Advisory Report and was not required to undergo any further test such as SEC or IENCAP. While I am happy for this nurse, it does show that the new process is not fair nor uniform across the provinces participating in NNAS assessments. Either that, or licensing bodies are aware that NNAS is not a valid tool for assessment and are ignoring the Advisory Reports. If the former is the case, changes need to be made to either ensure fairness and impartiality; that one nurse isn't put through $1900 hell for example, while another breezes through licensing. If the latter is the case, licensing bodies need to stop IENs from having to pay $650 USD for an assessment that licensing bodies are ignoring.

I have to admit that when I read glowing reports of a system that is clearly very problematic, I get very skeptical. Also very skeptical since nobody else with a "non-comparable" result has breezed through this process in this way. People with PhD's and decades of experience in nursing from India have had to jump through hoops. However, I'll put doubt out of my mind, as this is a very happy occasion for Esha22. Let's hope others post here with similar good news. Congratulations on becoming licensed in BC Esha22!

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Specializes in ICU and ER.

I am not sure If you thoroughly read my post, but It wasn't easy for me either. I would have emailed them a million times. I was constantly in touch with what they wanted. Lastly, I believe the reason they did not expect me to do assessment tests is I sent my timecard for 3000 hours of clinical experience where I was floated to ICU, ER, RRT, and PACU. I also emailed them my CEN and CCRN certifications.

Maybe they looked into those details and the fact that I am a currently practicing RN in United States with double certification made them come to the decision that I do not need an assessment exam. Just my thoughts. I am deeply sorry for anyone who had to undergo a strenuous and expensive process. I have also read a lot in the forum regarding the difficulties faced by IEN. but I only shared by story So people with similar circumstances as me, will have some guidance or hope. Even though I am from India, I am currently working in USA. That makes a difference if I am compared to nurses with decades of experience in India as the health care systems in USA and Canada are similar.

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I did the same, and am also a RN currently working in the US. I am a Canadian citizen and got my BSN in the US, as well as some additional certifications. I had to take the IENCAP. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for you that you did not have to go through what I have. I hope that more nurses have experiences similar to you. I just think that the differences between our experiences show that the process is not yet fair or equitable (which isn't your fault or mine). Congrats again! And here's to many more positive outcomes!

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I just think that the differences between our experiences show that the process is not yet fair or equitable (which isn't your fault or mine).

I agree and think the regulatory bodies should be consistent and transparent about how they determine if further competency assessments are required. When there is discrepancy between provinces with one province being stringent and another being lenient, why would an IEN chose to try to become licensed in the stringent province? Why would an applicant undergo long delays and greater financial costs when they can apply to the more lenient regulatory body and become licensed quicker?

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I did the same, and am also a RN currently working in the US. I am a Canadian citizen and got my BSN in the US, as well as some additional certifications. I had to take the IENCAP. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for you that you did not have to go through what I have. I hope that more nurses have experiences similar to you. I just think that the differences between our experiences show that the process is not yet fair or equitable (which isn't your fault or mine). Congrats again! And here's to many more positive outcomes!

@RN_Pro ,

I wonder what would have happened if you were applying in BC...

Given that we are both Canadians with US (BSN) education and work experience we should have the same outcome, no?

Do you think the timing of the NNAS applications are playing a role- I didn't submit until after the questions were raised about all of the "non-comparable" reports? Or does it come down to a difference in how the provinces look at the advisory reports? For what it's worth, I also don't think things are fair/valid/reliable with the current process. Too much subjectivity and not enough transparency for sure.

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Oh, and as an aside CRNBC just changed their equivalency testing from SEC to NCAS in Jan 2017. Being a NICU nurse, I REALLY thought I would have to do it (but happy to have avoided it).

Competency assessment

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Hi, Thanks for posting your story. I also find it interesting that you got non-comparable on NNAS and CRNBC didn't require you to do the NCAS assessment. It would be interesting if there was some transparency as to what they base their decisions on, and if they did indeed consider your work experience? I am UK trained in adult nursing and have recently got "not comparable" with NNAS. Like yourself, I have found that CRNBC has been much easier to deal with then NNAS, which I started doing around the same time as you, in January of 2017. However, I find that the main difference is that CRNBC has not asked me for anything regarding my work experience, the only information they have regarding work experience is what I submitted to NNAS when i first applied, in March 2016. I would have thought that if they were considering experience they would have atleast asked what I had done in the time between March 2016 and January 2017?! Further, I have completed post-graduate education in my specialty that NNAS wasn't interested in, and therefore won't be on the NNAS report, and CRNBC won't be aware of. It would have been nice to have the opportunity to put that education and experience forward to them to help them determine where there may be gaps in my knowledge and training.

Just finding it interesting we have had quite different experiences with CRNBC so far. I've got NCAS booked for this summer so we will see what courses they request that I do! Congratulations on gaining your registration, and hopefully it gives other international nurses the hope to proceed with applying for registration in BC. :-)

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@parasol, is your education generalist? Does it contain clinical and theory hours in pediatric and mental health nursing? If not, that may be the reason CRNBC requires you to undergo further competency assessment.

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Hi again!

No our training doesn't include obstetrics, pediatrics, or mental health nursing. We get what we call "exposures to other fields of practice" during our clinical and theory, but it isn't something we get assessed or examined on. So for example, in my three year degree course I did two days shadowing the midwives on practicum, as well as a couple of lectures at university covering the basics of pregnancy and childbirth. Same sort of things with pediatrics, a few lectures covering topics such as gillick competency and the age of consent, and safegaurding etc and a few days shadowing children's nurses on practicum then writing reflections on the experience etc. Again, similar for mental health.

I suspect the CRNBC is aware of this though and perhaps it's a case of them seeing a UK degree and immediately put the applicant forward for NCAS. Although to be honest, I wish there had been a option to bypass NCAS and go directly to the modules or bridging program. I'm the first to admit that I have no idea how to deliver a baby or do a mental health assessment, and certainly could do with some education to fill the gaps. Dreading getting a scenario during the NCAS assessment where I have to deliver a baby- I wonder what they are going to say when I basically tell them my knowledge goes as far as catching the baby, giving it to Mum for some lovely skin to skin, wrap them both up in some warm blankets and hope that the midwives or ambulance gets there soon! haha :-)

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@parasol, I see what you mean about the NCAS and dreading that you will be given a scenario in which you deliver a baby. Good luck convincing a family member or friend to role play a labour and delivery patient!

There is a poster 'rupirn' who migrated from Australia, her education is similar to yours and CRNBC gave her the option to do NCAS or school. Use the search tool in the top right hand corner to find the thread entitled 'Help Australian nurse wanting to nurse in Canada BC'

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