Degree recognized in Canada

dishes, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2016

my university is getting a 'mostly favororable to favorable' rating from the NNAS. Grads are still required to take the skills test.

Does this mean grads (from your school) who applied to NNAS received reports that were comparable, somewhat comparable to a Canadian BSN? Does your school provide NNAS with detailed descriptions of each course?

In the NNAS education domain breakdown table there are nineteen domains with a table for theory hours, sim/lab hours, clinical hours, did your program cover all of the domains?

bobacia · Aug 13, 2016

My school is involved directly with grads wishing to license in Canada (which is great)! They are very aware that things changes in 2014. The last grad that I know of that applied got a most comparable rating (from what I heard). I can't speak if all the domains were fully covered, but I believe so. Where I live in Ontario, grads from my school are sought after. It's a great nursing school and grads that end up in this area have made a good name for themselves.

The changes that happened in 2014 were definitely a game changer. I have heard stories of multiple errors made on the part of the NNAS--I guess this is all new on their end as well and it takes a while to iron out the bugs.

I am hesitant as far as what I will do at this time. I have a job (which is a ways from 'home'). I wish to get an Ontario license, but am a long was from the Toronto area, and a short distance from Winnipeg. It would be pretty tough for me to get to Toronto to take the practical exam. From gleaning information on this site, licenses do not transfer nicely between provinces (right?). I most definitely will keep my job in the USA while I get the paperwork going in Canada. I guess I am banking on doing well on the practical exam and getting my license in Canada without having to go back to school in Ontario. Am I being realistic?

Thanks again for all your help!

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 13, 2016

Registrations (or permits to practice, which is more correct) actually do transfer between provinces relatively easily, as long as the necessary documentation is supplied in a timely manner and all the fees are paid. There is a wait, but that's the case with everything. Having said that, there are still some additional hurdles for people who were not educated in Canada. CNO can tell you what their process for registering nurses educated outside of Canada but registered in another province looks like.

dishes, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2016

I am hesitant as far as what I will do at this time. I have a job (which is a ways from 'home'). I wish to get an Ontario license, but am a long was from the Toronto area, and a short distance from Winnipeg. It would be pretty tough for me to get to Toronto to take the practical exam.

As notready4primetime pointed out in the pp, transferring licenses between provinces is not difficult, but you will not save money if you apply for a license in Manitoba and transfer to Ontario. If you search AN for maandersons thread 'Internationally educated nurses of Canada', you will see that she is a US educated nurse who applied to Manitoba and was required by CRNM to undergo a clinical competence assessment (CCA). If you look at the CCA FAQ on CRNM you will see that it is a three to five day assessment done in Winnipeg and can cost $2,200. If following the CCA you are deemed eligible for licensure with CRNM you pay more for your license because Manitoba's licensing body is also there professional nurses association. In Ontario if you are required to do the OSCE, the fee is $400 and is a one day exam. In Ontario, the College of Nurses is a regulatory body that is separate from the professional association (RNAO), therefore the license fee is less.

dishes, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2016

My school is involved directly with grads wishing to license in Canada (which is great)! They are very aware that things changes in 2014. The last grad that I know of that applied got a most comparable rating (from what I heard). I can't speak if all the domains were fully covered, but I believe so.

If you look at NNAS, Important information concerning your education documents: Applicant guide to securing course work materials (video), you can see a screen shot of the evaluation domain breakdown table. The video recommends that applicants find out if their school provides full descriptions of each course. NNAS is looking for more than a one paragraph description of each course, they are looking for detailed 1-5 page descriptions of each course. It seems to me, that NNAS is looking for the course details that are typically found in course outlines (similar to what students receive at the begininng for each of course). Some schools keep a record of their past course outlines and can provide this information to NNAS, does your school?

By any chance did you keep your old course outlines? If so, for interest sake, you can compare your course contents to the domain table and the entry to practice competencies.

dishes, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2016

bobacia, what stage is your NNAS assessment at? Do you have any idea when you will receive your advisory report?

bobacia · Oct 28, 2016

Hi Dishes,

I am currently sitting tight. I am working and getting experience-all good! From following different threads on this board (NNAS experience) it seems like this relatively new system of accessing IEN has a few bugs to get worked out.

RN_Pro · Dec 17, 2016

I agree with your suggestions to focus a lot on public/community health because this is a part of Canadian BSN education that is not covered in the US.

I know this is an old post but I wanted to make sure I clarified that public/community health is in fact a large part of the American BSN education. I am not sure where the impression came from that it is not and I don't expect Canadian educated BScN's to know all content of US programs, but as someone with a BSN from the US, I can guarantee you that the above is more than sufficiently covered.