Please help...how to be an immigrant nurse in canada

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 9, 2014

Good day! First of all, I'd like to thank whoever is reading this,taking the time and It would be much appreciated if someone can please enlighten me.

First a little background,I graduated in an asian country last 2008 and had my RN license last March 2009. After that I underwent trainings in a government hospital as no one was hiring a newly graduated nurse. I got employed last July 2011 in a specialty tertiary government hospital and stayed there until August 2014. Now I'm hoping to pursue a career being an RN in Manitoba Canada where my uncle is also an immigrant. We're planning for me to be a provincial nominee like them, and as of now IELTS is one of the exams required.

To the best of my understanding, it's either I enroll in a bridging program once I get there or take this supposed "challenge" exam so I may practice nursing. Then I talked with a NCLEX reviewer saying that NCLEX will also be needed in Canada?

Can someone kindly shed light on this,I've been having trouble sifting through the information on the web and am confused about this supposed "challenge" exam.

Thank you so much and have a good day.

I'm not sure you can be sponsored by an uncle. Check the CIC website.

You need to check with the Manitoba college of nurses as to the requirements for an internationally educated nurse. You apply for a credentials assessment by NNAS then apply to the college of nurses. It's not a quick process.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

Welcome!

I moved your thread for best response.

eeenfermera · Oct 9, 2014

NCLEX (the Canadian version thereof) will be the new required entry-to-practice exam in Canada as of January 2015, so yes, you would need to write it.

You can read more about the Clinical Competence Assessment for Manitoba and more about entry-to-practice for IENs in Manitoba here.

onigiri06 · Oct 13, 2014

justbeachynurse: Thank you for your response! i will be petitioned by my uncle as a provincial nominee, and I'm wondering should I take the NCLEX prior to going to Canada (hopefully) *gulp*

onigiri06 · Oct 13, 2014

Esme12: Thank you for the help, I'm very new here and I'm still working out how to use some parts of this.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 13, 2014

justbeachynurse: Thank you for your response! i will be petitioned by my uncle as a provincial nominee, and I'm wondering should I take the NCLEX prior to going to Canada (hopefully) *gulp*

Under what authority are you going to take the NCLEX prior to applying to or arriving in Canada? Most provinces follow Ontario's lead, if you apply to CNO after 9/19/2014 you must take the NCLEX after authorized by CNO.

You need to apply to NNAS for credentials assessment, have the assessment sent to the Manitoba college of nursing, if you meet the provincial requirements you will then be given authorization to take the NCLEX. The first test dates for Canadian candidates are in January 2015.

You cannot take the NCLEX unless authorized in the US by a state board of nursing or in Canada if authorized by a college of nurses. You cannot be authorized until the board or college determines you meet the educational and credential standards for entry to practice. If you need to perform a clinical competency nursing exam or bridging program you usually cannot sit the licensing exam until you finish demonstrating competency.

onigiri06 · Oct 13, 2014

Under what authority are you going to take the NCLEX prior to applying to or arriving in Canada? Most provinces follow Ontario's lead, if you apply to CNO after 9/19/2014 you must take the NCLEX after authorized by CNO.
You need to apply to NNAS for credentials assessment, have the assessment sent to the Manitoba college of nursing, if you meet the provincial requirements you will then be given authorization to take the NCLEX. The first test dates for Canadian candidates are in January 2015.
You cannot take the NCLEX unless authorized in the US by a state board of nursing or in Canada if authorized by a college of nurses. You cannot be authorized until the board or college determines you meet the educational and credential standards for entry to practice. If you need to perform a clinical competency nursing exam or bridging program you usually cannot sit the licensing exam until you finish demonstrating competency.

Thank you again for your help! I am finding all this overwhelming and have trouble digesting all the facts... We actually have agencies here that can assist when applying for NCLEX, for a price that is. So my credentials would first be assessed prior to be able to take the exam..

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 13, 2014

Thank you again for your help! I am finding all this overwhelming and have trouble digesting all the facts... We actually have agencies here that can assist when applying for NCLEX, for a price that is. So my credentials would first be assessed prior to be able to take the exam..

An agency cannot get you an authorization to test. You do not apply for the NCLEX. You apply for a nursing license by examination as an internationally educated nurse. If you plan to live/work in Manitoba. You need to apply to NNAS for assessment then once complete, you then to the Manitoba college of nurses. The CoN will determine if you meet their criteria or require additional assessment (clinical competency nursing exam) or education ( bridging program) before you are given authorization to take the NCLEX.

You will only create additional expense and waste time if you try to apply to a US state for a nursing license by examination as an IEN. There is no reciprocity or endorsement between the US and Canada. Just like if you have a Filipino nursing license you cannot endorse it to a US state without further assessment and testing.

You don't need an agency to apply to NNAS and the college of nursing unless you have unlimited cash flow and want to spend additional monies.

If your goal is Manitoba, Canada, then apply direct.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Oct 13, 2014

I can't see anything with the MPNP that allows your uncle to sponsor. I can only see 3 ways and they are

[h=4]There are three paths to Manitoba:[/h]

Manitoba Employment: Applications are accepted at any time year-round from temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently working in Manitoba, having been offered a permanent job after six months with their Manitoba employer.
Skilled Workers with a Connection to Manitoba: Applications are accepted – during intake periods set annually by the MPNP – from qualified skilled workers who are not currently working in Manitoba but demonstrate a strong connection to the province through family or friends, past education or employment, or by invitation of the MPNP, and be assessed sufficient points on five eligibility factors – age, English proficiency, work experience, education and adaptability.
Investors and entrepreneurs: visit our business stream: MPNP-B.

Who cannot apply to the MPNP? Caregivers, students, visitors, family sponsorships, refugees, and economic immigrants ineligible for the MPNP are the responsibility of the Government of Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Eligibility | Immigrate to Manitoba, Canada

Strongly suggest researching your routes before apply as well as start the NNAS process asap as we have no idea on how long the process is due to it being a new process. Until Manitoba college of RN gives you permission to sit NCLEX you can not sit it and once NNAS is complete you then have to apply to the Manitoba college of RN so you could be looking at an estimate time frame of a year and you may still be required to take some form of assessment