Possible for Canadian to work as CRNA in USA

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Mar 19, 2008

There is no such thing in Canada as a CRNA. All anaesthesia delivered in Canada is by physician at this time. Whether that is subject to change is yet to be determined. So if that's what you intend to do, you'll have to obtain your training in the US once you've gotten you BScN. You may find a program that will accept you right out of university but then again you may not. I'm not totally sure this is the best forum for asking your questions, given that Canada doesn't have CRNAs. You might want to rephrase it, with your new information and post it to the Pre-CRNA Inquiry Forum. https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Mar 19, 2008

why can't you use yur medical training and become a doctor in canada

Fiona59 · Mar 19, 2008

Depending on which province he lives in and where he applies, hell could freeze over before he'd get a residency. There is a backlog of applicants with experience.

gravy · Mar 19, 2008

Fiona59,

I laughed so hard when I read that hahaha....well said! It is so true unfortunetly a waste of my best years...but, maybe someone will see it as an asset God willing!

For janfrn, The title was referring to practcing in the US, not sure if you noticed that, I should have been more clear perhaps.

Im wondering basically of how to go about the path to working as a CRNA in USA after obtaining my BscN here. Good planning pays off, so it is good to start thinking about what the process would be in order to make the right choices along the way.

Oh I wet back and re-read your reply...I should also have state dthat obviously I would have to also train in USA...Im just wondering has it been done and how with a canadian bscn.

Ill ask in the crna forum thanks!

gravy

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Mar 20, 2008

CRNA is very competitive in the United States. You must get into a college or university that offers a MSN with a concentration in anesthesia. You must do very well in the BSN program since the admissions are difficult.

You didn't answer the question, if you are a fully qualified physician why are you going for a lesser degree. You could take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE);and do a residency in anesthesia, it may be a quicker route.

Going for BSN and MSN could take 5 years.

elkpark · Mar 20, 2008

CRNA is very competitive in the United States. You must get into a college or university that offers a MSN with a concentration in anesthesia. You must do very well in the BSN program since the admissions are difficult.
You didn't answer the question, if you are a fully qualified physician why are you going for a lesser degree. You could take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE);and do a residency in anesthesia, it may be a quicker route.
Going for BSN and MSN could take 5 years.

It is extremely difficult, if not virtually impossible, for foreign physicians to get licensed to practice in the US (same as Canada). The medical community in the US does a much better job of protecting its own interests (not permitting a large influx of foreign practitioners) than the nursing community does. There have been quite a number of threads on this board about how physicians from other countries are looking into how to become US RNs, because they can't qualify to practice medicine in the US but would still be better off financially as an RN in the US than they are as physicians in their own countries ...

To the OP, as noted, CRNA programs in the US are extremely competitive, because of the demand -- I've heard it said many times, by people in a better position to know than I, that they are more competitive, at this point, than medical schools. In order to be eligible for a CRNA program, you would need to be licensed in the US as an RN and have at least one year clinical experience in a critical care setting (ICU, CCU, etc.). Of course, many people find that the bare minimum of experience does not make them very competitive/desirable as a candidate, when there are many others with much more experience. One advantage you may have is that, as a physician, you have probably taken all the courses required as prerequisites for CRNA programs, although another question is whether those courses, wherever you took them, would be accepted for transfer into a US university or whether you would have to re-take them.

Also, the Canadian model of nursing education is different from the US model, and your Canadian nursing degree may not automatically be accepted in the US for licensure and graduate education (all US nursing graduate programs require you to have a current license to practice as an RN in the state in which the school is located). You may want to look at some of the threads on the International Nursing forum about Canadian nurses wanting to practice in the US for more specific information.

Having said all that, whether or not you would be able to get into and complete CRNA training is an entirely different question from whether you would be able to get permission to study and then to work in the US (the restrictions have been tightened significantly in the last few years). Licensure and immigration are two entirely separate issues.

Best wishes, though, and welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

gravy · Mar 20, 2008

Actually, I have been a member of many IMG boards for over 4 years now and the most recent matches in USA for IMG's were 48%! That is amazing considering I DO have a highly competitive background outside of the MD degree itself (and high marks in that as well) Im not really scared off of either route at this point, they both look like very good options. I just dont want to waste my time with the silly Canadian system. And there is no problem to get TN permit/visa for USA as I will be a citizen shortly. Thanks for your input.

elkpark · Mar 20, 2008

I apologize for not being clearer -- I did mean that it's virtually impossible for a foreign-educated MD to get to licensed in the US without going back and completing a US residency.

I do wonder, though; even though completing an anesthesia residency would be a lengthy process, wouldn't it take about the same amount of time as a) completing your Canadian nursing degree, b) pursuing RN licensure in the US, c) working at least a full year as an ICU nurse, d) applying to CRNA school (keeping in mind that lots of folks don't get in on their first try), and e) completing two years of CRNA school? And that assumes that your Canadian nursing degree would transfer directly into the US without any complications or additional education. Even assuming the two-year option (that you mentioned) for your Canadian nursing degree, no delay whatsoever in getting US licensure and finding an ICU position, and no delay whatsoever in getting accepted into a CRNA program after one year of ICU experience, that would be a minimum of five years. And, when you finished the residency, you'd be a physician instead of a mid-level provider ...

But, of course, only you can decide what your best option is. Best wishes.

gravy · Mar 20, 2008

it is all about weighing the risk benefit ratio for me and my family...Id rather atleast be doing something that has a guarunteed end in sight rather than risk my family's future doing only residency application process...the worst that can happen is that both worlds are open to me at the end or just one of the two... no there are no problems having the bsn recognized in usa, that part I have researched, there are already crna's ive come to learn who are practicing in usa based on first being a Bsn RN then they get licensed to work down south and after some time apply for crna just like the rest. my questions are all solved now though thanks:)

About US residency, I would not be "going back" and completing residency....it would be my first residency....so I don't see the problem.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 22, 2008

One of my dearest friends in the world just graduated from a program in Maine for her CRNA, and there were several Canadians in her program. But they already held Canadian passports, and this is where you may run into some trouble.

In order to get into a program in the US, it requires that you have at least a year of work experience in a US facility as a critical care RN. Since we do not have any visas available; with a Canadian passport, and the RN after your name, you could qualify for the Nafta TN Visa and be able to work during this time or when you are done with your RN training.

Right now, it is more competitive to get into a CRNA program than it is to medical school here in the US at this time.

Please let us know if you have any more questions.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 22, 2008

Just to add to this, you are looking at two years or so to complete the nursing part. Then you have to go thru licensure for the US, as well as get a Visa Screen Certificate and then start the immigration process for the US to be able to get a visa that will permit you to work so that you can get the one year of experience that you will need in critical care. In most cases that has been running at about 18 months from the time that you graduate until you are able to work in the US, when there is no retrgression.

Without having Canadian citizenship, you are going to have to wait for visas to open up again. We have been under a retrogression since October, 2006. And the visa issuance is based on where you were born, not where you are currently residing or where you are a citizen of, but purely what is on your birth certificate.

Just wanted you to be aware of the time frame that you are looking at.