Ontario RN relocate to Arizona

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Hello everyone,

I am a canadian RN (live and practice in Ontario) looking to relocate to Arizona. I passed the NCLEX in 2017 and I work as a critical care nurse.

I started the CGFSN application on my own and looked into getting my license in AZ. My understanding is that I have to wait for the Visa Screen before I apply for the AZ license.

It just seems complicated the whole process. I would appreciate any information or helpful tips from anyone regarding my issues, like:

Do I have to wait for the Visa Screen before applying for the AZ license?

Which one is better, trying to get hired directly with a hospital in Phoenix or use an agency/recruiting company?

Any recommendation for a reliable agency or recruitment company?

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1 hour ago, livkacs said:

Hello everyone,

I am a canadian RN (live and practice in Ontario) looking to relocate to Arizona. I passed the NCLEX in 2017 and I work as a critical care nurse.

I started the CGFSN application on my own and looked into getting my license in AZ. My understanding is that I have to wait for the Visa Screen before I apply for the AZ license.

It just seems complicated the whole process. I would appreciate any information or helpful tips from anyone regarding my issues, like:

Do I have to wait for the Visa Screen before applying for the AZ license?

Which one is better, trying to get hired directly with a hospital in Phoenix or use an agency/recruiting company?

Any recommendation for a reliable agency or recruitment company?

Hi, visa screen and az state license are completely different processing and both may take time. Its better to process them together.

Its better if direct hire than agency. More pay. but agencies knows what are the job openings and direct u to them.

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Specializes in Surgical/Trauma/Neuroscience/Cardiac ICU.
On 5/31/2019 at 9:47 AM, livkacs said:

Which one is better, trying to get hired directly with a hospital in Phoenix or use an agency/recruiting company?

Any recommendation for a reliable agency or recruitment company?

Howdy. After getting the hospital job offer, I processed both the CGFNS - Visa Screen & Nursing license at the same time. As you may see on the forms, both of these organization require similar paperworks. I am a State hospital direct hire so I needed to do everything on my own here in Ontario such as:

1. Going to school to get transcript, ask staff to fill - up CGFNS forms

2. Went to CNO & so on

Something to keep in mind as well is any benefits, relocation package, bonuses etc. I did not have any relocation package or bonus in signing - up for the job.

I was browsing online and saw bunch of agencies but I do not know their reliability. Unlike me, you have an RN experience so your starting rate should be higher. I am a new grad. However, it depends on the State.

Connetics USA is an agency who has been emailing me but I coudn't. I attended the Marskell Group Career Fair last March and met the HR @ the Western Arizona Regional Medical Center based in Bullhead, Arizona. But the starting rate is lower so I did not choose it.

My colleague said that the agency is doing all the paperworks for her.

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On 5/31/2019 at 9:47 AM, livkacs said:

Hello everyone,

I am a canadian RN (live and practice in Ontario) looking to relocate to Arizona. I passed the NCLEX in 2017 and I work as a critical care nurse.

I started the CGFSN application on my own and looked into getting my license in AZ. My understanding is that I have to wait for the Visa Screen before I apply for the AZ license.

It just seems complicated the whole process. I would appreciate any information or helpful tips from anyone regarding my issues, like:

Do I have to wait for the Visa Screen before applying for the AZ license?

Which one is better, trying to get hired directly with a hospital in Phoenix or use an agency/recruiting company?

Any recommendation for a reliable agency or recruitment company?

Hi, I am currently in the process of applying for AZ licence. I have completed my NCLEX and work in Ontario as RN.

How did you apply for AZ licence? Did you apply via endorsement or examination? I tried applying via endorsement, but there is no option to select Canada. I contacted AZ BON, and they said I will have to apply via examination and ask Ontario BON to submit my NCLEX results to AZ BON. Is that what you did?

Also, I saw on AZ BON website, that if I am educated in Canada, I do not need CGFNS report. All I have to do is contact CNO and ask them to send NCLEX proof and licence verification. Is that correct? 

I might as well submit my CGFNS right now then having to wait for AZ BON to tell me to do it few weeks down the road. 

Please give me your suggestions and how your process went. Thank you.

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Hey, 

I haven't got further than the CGFNS and visa screen because of the COVID situation. However, I am thinking of getting my AZ license now and just get out of Ontario. The situation is pretty bad here. When I looked at it a year ago I went on the AZ State Board of Nursing website and chatted with a person. I think, you are right and you have to fill out the licensure by examination form. 

Sorry, I can't be more helpful. 

Are you planning to use an agency or trying to get direct hire by a hospital? Keep me posted, I'd  like to hear how is it going

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Hi,

I talked with AZ board of nursing, and they said to apply by examination. There is an option to say that I did take NCLEX and passed it. So it worked out. I haven't applied for it yet as I want to talk to CNO as well.

I honestly haven't thought that far about job applications. I need to do more research about it. If you have any information, please share. I'd really appreciate it.

I will update here when I start the application process. ?

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Thanks, I will do the same. I am really at the end of my roep here

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine and MH.
On 4/15/2021 at 6:36 AM, livkacs said:

Hey, 

I haven't got further than the CGFNS and visa screen because of the COVID situation. However, I am thinking of getting my AZ license now and just get out of Ontario. The situation is pretty bad here. When I looked at it a year ago I went on the AZ State Board of Nursing website and chatted with a person. I think, you are right and you have to fill out the licensure by examination form. 

Sorry, I can't be more helpful. 

Are you planning to use an agency or trying to get direct hire by a hospital? Keep me posted, I'd  like to hear how is it going

Hi. I am currently working on my Visa Screen just waiting on one requirement. A validation from my home lans which would take a bit of a time due to the delta variant shutting down government institutions. 

The AZ BON and Visa Screen are separate applications. I got three interviews within the span of 4 days of applying even with inactive AZ license. I am from Manitoba. 

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Specializes in Long term care.

Hi wondering if there's any updates and or if the az license was obtained and if it was simple to be a direct hire? any input is appreciated

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Sorry, I dissapeared. So, I finally paid the application fee for the licence in May, 2022. Now, I am wasting time with fingerprinting back and forth (ridiculous). The form I've sent them they didn't accept, so I had to redo. Now, I have to get the "verification of passed NCLEX" from CNO. I don't get it why did I have to pay $700 USD for a visascreen, when the board pretty much will ask you to provide the same information again. It is very frustraing, but I've spent way to much money to stop now. 

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Specializes in Surgical/Trauma/Neuroscience/Cardiac ICU.

@livkacs The CGFNS Visa Screen is still needed to get your TN status so you didn't spend money for nothing. But the requirements for both CGFNS and State Board are redundant for sure. 

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine and MH.
On 10/11/2021 at 8:55 AM, DLeegar said:

Hi wondering if there's any updates and or if the az license was obtained and if it was simple to be a direct hire? any input is appreciated

I applied to a company while I was in Canada. It's easy to find a job you just have to go through the interviews and depending on your background, being experienced is always a plus. I moved to Phoenix last November 2021

On 7/30/2022 at 8:53 AM, livkacs said:

Sorry, I dissapeared. So, I finally paid the application fee for the licence in May, 2022. Now, I am wasting time with fingerprinting back and forth (ridiculous). The form I've sent them they didn't accept, so I had to redo. Now, I have to get the "verification of passed NCLEX" from CNO. I don't get it why did I have to pay $700 USD for a visascreen, when the board pretty much will ask you to provide the same information again. It is very frustraing, but I've spent way to much money to stop now. 

That 700 USD/Visascreen will help you obtain a TN visa so you can work legally in the States. You need that for your change of status being a Canadian Citizen (assuming you are) moving to the US.

 

If you stop now, all of your efforts and money will go to waste unfortunately. 

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