How to: USRN to Canada RN

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Ladies and gents:

My story

Graduated BSN worked for 9 yrs as USRN, started as float pool worked my way up to Critical Care. 2016 got my BSN credentials evaluated and was able to take up and completed my MSN. Funny as it seems, fell in love with a Korean - Canadian gentleman. Hoping to move to Canada without him being responsible for me hehe =) I've read some threads but thought someone can shed some light on my issue.

What I know so far:

1. No reciprocity from US to Canada. This I understand. Am prepared to take the CRNE if I have to.

Questions:

1. My target areas are BC or Alberta. Where should I start?

2. Any tips on the step by step process? (BC or ALBERTA)?

I would really appreciate your help awesome colleagues.

Love lots,

Eden

HELPPPP!!!! =)

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Canadians stopped using the CRNE October 2014 and started using NClEX January 2015. Look at the College of registered nurses for BC and Alberta, follow their application instructions for registration for internationally educated nurses. As part of the application process you will need to apply to national nursing assessment services (NNAS) to have your education evaluated for equivalency to a Canadain BSN.

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Which province does the object of your affections live in? It would make sense to move there.

BC and AB are both pretty rough markets for employment due to financial issues with the provincial governments. It's highly unlikely that you will get sponsorship for a job while waiting it out.

Follow your heart, not the place where you think jobs might be

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Hi Auburn888,

I am afraid that transfering from US to Canada will be difficult and challenging for you as an experienced USRN. Being a foreign nurse here in Canada is such a degrading experience, for the fact that Canada does not recognize any education background other than their own. What I mean is although they know you are a graduate of a Bachelor's Degree, you will not be able to take the exam right away. Canada requires IEN (Internationally Educated Nurses) to process an accreditation of nursing experience at NNAS (you must have at least more than 2 years of experience from the moment you submit your application, they will deduct years in your application if you do not apply right away). It requires numbers of paperworks, but the good thing about being a USRN you are exempted to the language requirement. After you get your NNAS report (it might take months to process) you have to take the OSCE examination and the written examination related to nursing practicum. After you are done with the exam you have to wait for sometime to get your report and they will tell you if you can write the NCLEX-RN exam or will you require to go back to nursing school. (There are people who are not able to practice in Canada because their scores are too low, some are told to redo the entire BSN program)

I know these revelations are very difficulty to digest for you but you are not alone in this crisis. Large numbers of foreign nurses here are still in the process of obtaining their license. I hope that Canada would be as lenient as the US in comes with accepting foreign professionals. My suggestion to you is to take the exam in Toronto, I heard they require less processing there than in BC and Alberta. Do not be deceive by Alberta's cheap housing and high salary offers, Alberta is notorious for the most difficult province to obtain Nursing License.

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