Help! Australian nurse wanting to nurse in Canada BC

[rachelhrv17]

Hi Everyone,

I'm just starting the exhausting process of trying to nurse in Canada BC. I am a nurse from Melbourne, Australia with 7 years experience majority being pediatric emergency. I was hoping that someone had recently migrated from Australia (or anyone familiar with the process) and would be able to point me in the right direction for the process.

So far I have applied through NNAS, currently trying to fill out very confusing forms that may not be accepted as we have a different examination process that I am assuming is not recognised in BC. I understand I have to complete the NCLEX exam and get a visa. However, I don't think I am eligible for the exam until I am registered with CRNBC. Also unsure if i will need to complete any additional study as I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Nursing in addition to my Bachelor of Nursing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Rachel

[RupiRN]

Hi RN_Pro

I received my NNAS report which gave me a Comparable report. As per my application with CRNBC, I do not meet the Maternity and Paeds requirement.

I was suggested for the NCAS test by CRNBC. I opted out of the test and planned to do the courses(4) for maternity and paeds. (Since I opted for the study option I am now eligible for Provisional registration as long as I donot work with babies or pregnant woman. I have to now get an employer to give me a job offer before I can be granted Provisional Registration)

[RN_Pro]

Hi RN_Pro

I received my NNAS report which gave me a Comparable report. As per my application with CRNBC, I do not meet the Maternity and Paeds requirement.

Thanks so much for your response @RupiRN

It's really helpful as well as encouraging. Congrats on the comparable NNAS report! Which school in Australia did you receive your nursing degree?

Sounds like opting for the courses is a really good option--allows you to work so that you don't go broke or allow your safe practice to expire while waiting for a license and also is more of a guarantee that you will be considered to have met the education requirement after. Good luck on the job offer, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[RupiRN]

Thankyou so much for the positive words RN_Pro.

Where abouts are you with your application?

I did my study in QLD at the University of Southern Queensland. To get a good report through NNAS you have to get your uni to send as detailed curriculum as possible. My uni had to send it twice because the first one wasn't lengthy enough for them. They need a very very detailed curriculum. I wasted 2 months in this process. Considering the mailing time + NNAS filing time.

As for the courses, they have replaced SEC with this new NCAS assessment which is a very lengthy exam. I chickened out because I was not sure on how/where to start studying for this exam. I thought to myself that doing these 4 courses would be a definite pathway instead of preparing for the unknown. I did not want to fail in these sections after preparation and be sent to do these courses. I am aware I may sound unnecessarily scared, but this whole situation is so new and I had to make the best decisions for me. I have found that there are not many Aussie nurses in Canada to share experiences/suggestions with. Nurses from other countries have big groups/agencies guiding them step by step. Well, I am learning as I go. I went through Shock, Denial and am now in the more stable Acceptance stage.

NB: I never thought about the money and recency of practice thing. You are very right about these things. I think I just got carried away with happiness that I can finally work to my calibre sooner than later.

[EmFitz]

Can I ask- are the four courses expensive?? How long do they take??

[maddiegrace]

Hello all!

Its nice to see other aussie nurses trying to become registered in Canada. I have an issue with trying to get AHPRA to fill out my NNAS forms, how has everyone overcome this one.. am i missing something? AHPRA seem quite strict with what they will fill in and what not.

[RN_Pro]

NNAS won't budge on what they require you to fill out (even though their final assessment is bogus anyway) so you'll have to get AHPRA to complete everything requested.

[maddiegrace]

any advice on how to make AHPRA do it? they are remaining firm with that they dont want to post directly to NNAS, i am thinking of complaining to AHPRA..