HELP! Canadian RN seeking to work in California

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

Please I need some advice or direction because I am not sure what I need to do. I am a Canadian RN who took the NCLEX exam last year since Canada have started taking the NCLEX instead of the CRNE (Good idea!). I am looking to move to California to work, please what do I do, how do I start and what will I need. Any advice will be great. Thank you.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Contact California BON or see their website for instructions. I'm not in California, but from many threads on here, jobs are limited, so you may want to do some checking before going through with it

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you have a social security number? It's needed to apply to CABRN.

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

no I dont have a ssn

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
no I dont have a ssn

It's required to apply for a CA nursing license. Are you an experienced nurse? You do know there are very few jobs and hundreds of applicants per job

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

Sigh...I am an experienced nurse. But It won't hurt to try

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Experienced nurses have a slight edge especially if a niche such as PICU, SICU, TICU, NICU, MICU, CCU, OR, LDRP, ED, Trauma. More if 5+ years recent experience

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You should just do travel nursing if possible. Then you'll be bringing home even more money with the exchange rate.

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I am a Canadian nurse also looking to move to the U.S (New York state). I am in the process of filling out my CGFNS form which I understand is the first step in applying to the U.S as a nurse. NY does not require a ssn but I heard you can apply for it while in Canada (do not know if it is true). There are nurse recruiters that say they can help Canadians work in California, North Carolina and Florida (again do not know if this is true, if it is do research on the best ones!). A coworker of mine had 2 of her family members move to California recently from the Philippines to work as nurses, so I guess some people are lucky to find jobs...It may not be the areas that most people want to work but at least you'll have your foot in the door!....Do lots of research!!! Good luck!

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

Thank you so much 😊

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Without proof of right to work in the US ie greencard, H1b, TN, US citizenship you can not apply for a US SSN. Some states will accept application without one but a lot of states will not renew license without a US SSN

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