NNAS experience?

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Does anybody have any experience with NNAS? So far, I've read the site but it would be great to hear from people who have gone through the process :)

Do you have any idea why they request employment history from applicants then?

Applicants need to show proof of recent practice within a window of time for example CNO has a three year and the other provinces have a five year window time period. NNAS verifies when the nursing employment occurred and that it is legitimate, not fraudulent.

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.
Applicants need to show proof of recent practice within a window of time for example CNO has a three year and the other provinces have a five year window time period. NNAS verifies when the nursing employment occurred and that it is legitimate, not fraudulent.

Ok that's great. Initially I was wondering if Jordanelaurel's experience gave her an edge in getting the 'comparable' report since she's Adult trained. So far hers is the only positive report i've heard about from UK trained nurses.

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... So far hers is the only positive report i've heard about from UK trained nurses.
Yes there are very few who have received 'comparable' from NNAS. And for those that have, it hasn't necessarily been the ones you would expect might receive 'comparable'. While many US trained nurses have received "non-comparable", the good news is that these days, more and more have been receiving "somewhat comparable". And, CNO has begun to treat "somewhat comparable" the same as "comparable" (ie: they don't make you do IENCAP, just ask for your work history and job descrition etc). So I think that as a UK trained nurse you might also have a chance of being "somewhat comparable". Fingers crossed.
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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.
Yes there are very few who have received 'comparable' from NNAS. And for those that have, it hasn't necessarily been the ones you would expect might receive 'comparable'. While many US trained nurses have received "non-comparable", the good news is that these days, more and more have been receiving "somewhat comparable". And, CNO has begun to treat "somewhat comparable" the same as "comparable" (ie: they don't make you do IENCAP, just ask for your work history and job descrition etc). So I think that as a UK trained nurse you might also have a chance of being "somewhat comparable". Fingers crossed.

Oh that's refreshing!

I must say I'm not UK trained though. I trained in Nigeria and then moved to London about 2 years afterwards when I got married. I joined NMC with the old ONP system. I've just been doing some research on how to get registered in Canada as my family and I are looking to move there soon.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Ok that's great. Initially I was wondering if Jordanelaurel's experience gave her an edge in getting the 'comparable' report since she's Adult trained. So far hers is the only positive report i've heard about from UK trained nurses.

Remember though UK training is more specialised than Canada who do clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult where the UK you tend to miss on Obstetrics and some may miss Paeds

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...I trained in Nigeria and then moved to London about 2 years afterwards...

Darn. Okay. Then unfortunately I'd say to prepare for "non-comparable". If it's anything different then it will be a pleasant surprise but this is the likely outcome. In which case after NNAS you'll want to budget for a $500 exam (IENCAP) as well as any travel that would be required in order to take the exam in Toronto, Ontario.

If you are planning to move to Canada soon, I would get the NNAS process underway as it does take time. But you'll want to make sure it is possible financially to go for two years or so without working as a registered nurse. Because it is possible that they will require you to go back to school and that could also take time to get a spot in the school and then complete the necessary coursework.

I know this is not news you want to hear, but it's better to be prepared than to have a big surprise when you are already in Canada.

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@Akzobelle What type of education program did you have in Nigeria, was it generalist like North American nursing education? or specialist like UK nursing education?

Which province in Canada are you considering moving to?

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.
Darn. Okay. Then unfortunately I'd say to prepare for "non-comparable". If it's anything different then it will be a pleasant surprise but this is the likely outcome. In which case after NNAS you'll want to budget for a $500 exam (IENCAP) as well as any travel that would be required in order to take the exam in Toronto, Ontario.

If you are planning to move to Canada soon, I would get the NNAS process underway as it does take time. But you'll want to make sure it is possible financially to go for two years or so without working as a registered nurse. Because it is possible that they will require you to go back to school and that could also take time to get a spot in the school and then complete the necessary coursework.

I know this is not news you want to hear, but it's better to be prepared than to have a big surprise when you are already in Canada.

You just might be surprised! You forget the part where I wrote that I moved to the UK not long after I qualified and I've been working as an RN here, after I met the requirements to register with NMC UK. It would be unfair for them to judge me solely on the training I got in Nigeria and disregard the fact that I have been deemed suitable to practise in the UK, and have been doing so for a couple of years. Surely the extra tutelage and experience I have gotten so far must count for something.

Also, I do not intend to quit my job here and move to Canada until I'm sure I'm sorted. This is why I've been looking into information online. I'll make sure to apply early. Thanks

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.
Remember though UK training is more specialised than Canada who do clinical and theory hours in Paeds, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Adult where the UK you tend to miss on Obstetrics and some may miss Paeds

Yes I'm aware. I was trained as a General Nurse in Nigeria but I currently work in London. I have clinical and theory hours in Obstetrics + Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, etc.

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.
@Akzobelle What type of education program did you have in Nigeria, was it generalist like North American nursing education? or specialist like UK nursing education?

Which province in Canada are you considering moving to?

It was General.

I'm torn between Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. May I ask which province you live in?

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...It would be unfair for them to judge me solely on the training I got in Nigeria and disregard the fact that I have been deemed suitable to practise in the UK, and have been doing so for a couple of years. Surely the extra tutelage and experience I have gotten so far must count for something...

I agree with everything you wrote, 110%. With your experience in the UK, your skills likely far exceed those of an entry-level Canadian nurse. The problem is that this does not factor at all into the NNAS assessment. The NNAS assessment is not a fair process; NNAS doesn't care about the fact that you have been deemed suitable in the UK. I am an American-educated Canadian citizen holding a license and currently working in the United States for years. I was deemed "non-comparable" and have to take the IENCAP this week. My situation isn't unique, unfortunately.

Glad you're sorting everything out ahead of time. It's heartbreaking to read about some people who weren't able to find out about the difficulties becoming registered before they moved to Canada. I don't find it to be that clear unless one digs into forums such as this. Licensing body websites make it seem like a pretty simple process but unfortunately do not publish information on how many applied, how many made it through the NNAS process, and which countries applicants were educated in. I wish they did. Best wishes to you!

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Specializes in Surgical Nursing.
I agree with everything you wrote, 110%. With your experience in the UK, your skills likely far exceed those of an entry-level Canadian nurse. The problem is that this does not factor at all into the NNAS assessment. The NNAS assessment is not a fair process; NNAS doesn't care about the fact that you have been deemed suitable in the UK. I am an American-educated Canadian citizen holding a license and currently working in the United States for years. I was deemed "non-comparable" and have to take the IENCAP this week. My situation isn't unique, unfortunately.

Glad you're sorting everything out ahead of time. It's heartbreaking to read about some people who weren't able to find out about the difficulties becoming registered before they moved to Canada. I don't find it to be that clear unless one digs into forums such as this. Licensing body websites make it seem like a pretty simple process but unfortunately do not publish information on how many applied, how many made it through the NNAS process, and which countries applicants were educated in. I wish they did. Best wishes to you!

I was under the impression that nurses trained in the US had almost identical education with nurses in Canada. It's shocking to hear most of you are being asked to undergo further assessment.

All the best this week. Go and shine!

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