Moving to another province and different licensures

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Once I am done taking the PN course here in Alberta, my bf and I plan to make a move to BC. How hard will it be to make the switch and what will it take?:confused:

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Once I am done taking the PN course here in Alberta, my bf and I plan to make a move to BC. How hard will it be to make the switch and what will it take?:confused:

Practically it won't be bad but there is still a process. When I got my LPN license in BC having studied in the US I met a girl in my orientation class who came from Alberta. She seemed far ahead in training coming from Alberta but the process includes having to go through the college of nursing assessment process. Of course you don't have to take the exam again but it is time intensive and there are fees associated with going to a neighbouring province. You would go through the college of LPN's of BC and just talk to one of the assessors who would be able to help you with the details. If your intention after completing schooling is to get licensed in BC you might want to just apply to take the exam and fulfill registration in BC right away that way you would not be doing things twice. When I worked as an LPN in BC in 2005 the PN's did not do nearly as much as PN's do in Alberta. I am sure that has improved but it may still be different than what you will experience in Alberta in your training.

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Thanks......I did hear from someone on my other thread that Albertan nurses get far better training than anywhere else......wonder why that is? So, I could go and apply for the BC exam before I am through the course? I'm just starting into my first year so I would probably make sure I get through the first year first, right?!

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I also noticed when searching through the Interior Health job boards that there wasn't as much job opportunity for PN's as RN's. It may be awhile anyways before I get out there!

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Specializes in Peds.

That's because there's no perceived shortage of PNs in Canada. Some provinces have severely curtailed the use of PNs in many areas of practice. It's too bad they don't see what's right in front of them and employ PNs to their full scope of practice. The 'nursing shortage' would be significantly improved.

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