Filipina nursing grad to Ontario, Canada w/ no need for visa. Requirements to work?

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hi everyone, j

i'm a recent nursing graduate (april '08) here in the philippines. i am studying to take our national licensing exam in november of this year to become a rn here in the philippines. my husband was able to move to canada from the philippines years back and now that i am graduated here in the philippines we are starting my immigration process and hopefully i will be there within the next 9 months. he is in ontario and this is where i'll be going.

immigration is not my concern because of this, but i would like to be able to work as a nurse in ontario after arriving or at least eventually. so for my case what would be required to work in ontario based on what i have? if i go to ontario after becoming a registered nurse in the philippines, can i study to take the ontario exam (i heard only held 3 times per year) while in ontario? would i have the qualifications to take that exam?

i am also worried that i may not pass the exam in november here in the philippines. it will be my first attempt but i always have to prepare for a backup plan too. if i do not pass and am able to get to canada just with my philippines bachelors degree in nursing, is there any way i can complete requirements and get experience to work in canada while already in ontario without having to enroll and take a 4 year bachelor degree all over again at a canadian university?

i know i have a unique situation. i couldn't really find a relevant post anywhere on this forum, even though i'd looked. if anyone can help i'd really really appreciate it.

thanks in advance everyone :)

---suze

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Suze,

Congratulations at least you won't have any problems with regards to immigration since your husband can petition you. I have googled the following links and I hope it might help an internationally educated nurse (IEN) like you to apply for registration in Ontario after passing the local board. here's the links:

http://www.cno.org/international_en/index.html

http://www.rnfoo.org/ien.htm

Its ok to think ahead and plan for the future but it is wise to set your sights first on your NLE and have a positive attitude and pass the exams. hope it helps and goodluck on the upcoming November 08 NLE exam!

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Thanks chinky. :)

Hmm lol. I am really not so conditioned at this time for the NLE exam yet but I am studying. But yeah, I just want to know the steps after taking and possibly passing the NLE in the Philippines and then applying for the job in Canada. First I have to actually be an IEN "Internationally Educated Nurse" which I am working on. Then, I can come to Canada and take the CRNE? Or do I have to try to work in the Philippines as a nurse for a long time in order to have the experience to work in Canada? Or, can I do that while in Canada somehow?

Thanks for the links too! :)

---Suze

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If your training meets province's requirements they can give permission for you to work whilst waiting to sit CRNE. That would be something to discuss with the employer. You will require a medical before being allowed to work in the healthcare setting. You also need a local license to be able to work as a RN and sit CRNE

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hi suze!

hope you will be here within 9months so you'll be reunited with your hubby, somehow i also have same situation with you:redbeathe

for now, concentrate on your NLE. review well and do it by heart, dont just memorize because that wont even work. hopefully, by the time you're bound to go here, you're already a registered nurse there.

PM/Email me if you want.

Best of LUck and God Bless!

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Don't they require you first to have an experience in the Philippines (1125hrs of paid work experience as a registered nurse) in order for the application for the CRNE exam to be processed?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Thanks chinky. :)

Hmm lol. I am really not so conditioned at this time for the NLE exam yet but I am studying. But yeah, I just want to know the steps after taking and possibly passing the NLE in the Philippines and then applying for the job in Canada. First I have to actually be an IEN "Internationally Educated Nurse" which I am working on. Then, I can come to Canada and take the CRNE? Or do I have to try to work in the Philippines as a nurse for a long time in order to have the experience to work in Canada? Or, can I do that while in Canada somehow?

Thanks for the links too! :)

---Suze

Registration and employment are two entirely separate things. You don't have to have experience before you can write the exam, since it's intended for newly graduated nurses from Canadian universities. However, for IENs there is a requirement that they be licensed in the country where they obtained their education. You must pass the NLE and register in the Philippines before you'll be considered for registration here. As to employment, that is where the experience piece of the puzzle enters the picture. If the employer is choosing between an IEN with years of experience and an IEN new grad, the job will go to the former. In choosing between a Canadian new grad and an IEN new grad, also the former. As silverdragon102 said, itis possible to get your experience in Canada, it just isn't easy.

There are pages and pages of information on the topics you've asked about and your questions have been answered several times already. In fact, most of what I know on these topics have come from these pages. Please do some reading.

Don't they require you first to have an experience in the Philippines (1125hrs of paid work experience as a registered nurse) in order for the application for the CRNE exam to be processed?

Read this sticky for up-to-date information regarding the CRNE:https://allnurses.com/canadian-nurses/faq-canadian-registered-370227.html

The CRNE is only an exam. The requirement for hours of work (eg 1125 practice hours in the preceding 5 years) is a regulatory requirement for registration observed by the provincial colleges of nursing and they obviously cannot apply it to a newly graduated nurse. For them, the requirement is that they have successfully completed their nursing education through a recognized educational institution.

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