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I wrote on September 21 and just found out this morning I passed! :)

It's in the CNO's FAQ section about the CPNRE: FAQs: Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination

I think they are sending the results to your inbox on the CNO website this time.

At the hospital where I'm employed, we have one week of corporate orientation, one week of interprofessional orientation, and then 4 buddy shifts with another RPN on your specific unit.

I was told by one of our instructors that the passing score for the exam is 67% or above and that's why it's 67% for our program. I sincerely doubt the average score is only 68%.

Hey, Ottawa RPN/RN2B! You say it's "a lot of work." What type of work? Is there a lot of homework or paper writing? Studying chapters and doing exams? Are exams online or in person somewhere and proctored? How does the clinical portion work? Sorry for so many questions, but the website is not very clear on these things. Thanks!

If you are still 2 years away from your associate degree in the US, sounds like you still have at least 3-4 years to go anyway to get a BSN. I suggest to apply to BScN programs in Ontario. That way, you are guaranteed to be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN when you are finished. If you do your education in the US, you will have to go through a long and grueling process with the College of Nurses Ontario (took over a year for them to assess mine), who may or may not accept your education. I am licensed in two states in the US as a practical nurse and have over 10 years working experience, but the CNO did not accept my education because I went to nursing school when it was a one year program and now it is two. I am currently in my first semester of a practical nursing program in Ontario. I have 3 more semesters and a consolidation to get through before I can be a practical nurse here. After my experience, I would urge you not to take the risk of doing your education in the US. It seems like it will take the same amount of time for you either way. Alternatively, you stand a good chance of working as a practical nurse in Ontario with your associate degree, but it sounds like you really want to be an RN. Good luck!

I understand that some women don't want a male caregiver, but many of us women (yes, I'm a woman, so I'm not sure what you meant by that last line) don't judge healthcare providers, or anyone for that matter, on gender. It's not a good idea to tell men that they can't or shouldn't go into OB/GYN if that is what they are interested in. The patient can opt out if she so desires. I don't see a problem with that.

On a positive note, one of the ladies I know from the forum is a US trained BScN RN and she was approved by the CNO with no problems and had 3 different job offers to choose from within weeks of getting her permanent residency! She lives in Ottawa I believe.

You can start the process with the CNO before you have permission to work in Canada. The process takes a long time. They completed my entire assessment before I ever had permanent residency and never once asked for it or a work permit. Now, if they had found me eligible to take the CPNRE (I'm a US LPN) and and allowed me to register, I would likely have had to have one of those going for me. I think from start to finish for the CNO to assess my credentials took around 14 months. Getting a PR through Family Class for a US citizen takes 6-10 months (apply outland). It took me almost two years because I wasn't married to my partner and we had to live together for a year to qualify to apply under common-law status. Since you are married, you can apply right away. PM me if you need any help with CIC and immigration stuff. I have a ton of knowledge and experience with it and I can direct you to an excellent forum for immigrants.

I know it happens, but I find it quite strange considering the number of male OB/GYNs there are in practice.

I'm wait listed for the St. Lawrence College/Laurentian University collaborative program in Kingston. I really hope I can get off the wait list! My admissions adviser keeps saying she is very optimistic about it. As a back up though, I've accepted an offer for the RPN program there. I really want the BScN degree. I was a practical nurse for many years in the US, but my dream was always to go on for the BScN and become an RN!

If you've been living together for more than one year, you can go ahead and start the process for permanent residency. The only catch is, whether you are married or not, you have to prove to CIC that you intend to move back to Canada right now and it sounds like you don't. You would probably be able to get some sort of working visa though if your education is accepted by the BC college of nurses. I don't know about Australia or BC, but I know Ontario accepts bachelor's level RNs from the US without issue. So, like others, I would suggest you apply with the College of Nurses of British Columbia first.

Yes, I took the offer for the practical nursing just in case. I wish I had more options than just Kingston, but as a mature student, I have a husband, kids, and a house here and can't pack up and move to another city. Kingston is a nice town though. I am glad to live here.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I've only applied to Kingston campus. I just found out I got into the practical nursing program and wait listed for the BScN program! I really want the BScN, but the admissions adviser said she is really optimistic that I'll get off the wait list in May. Hope she's right!

I just found out yesterday I've been accepted to the St. Lawrence RPN program! I really wanted to do their BScN program, but I'm wait listed there. My admissions adviser says she's really optimistic that I'll get in the BScN program though if I can just be patient.

Has anyone else here applied to the BScN program at St. Lawrence for Fall 2016? From what I understand, they start sending out offers after March 10, right? I'm really anxious to find out if I'm in! I was a licensed practical nurse in the US for over a decade before I moved to Canada, but only did the one year program, so I've not been able to work as a nurse in Canada. I've always wanted to go back and get my BScN though, so it just gave me the extra push to go for it. :)

I didn't have to take the HOAE test for St. Lawrence either. I actually had never heard of it until I just read this thread.

Ok, sounds good! Thanks for the info!

I've been following this thread for awhile. I'm pretty worried. I applied to Queen's, both the advanced standing and the regular 4-year program as my second choice and I've still not heard a word. Is it normal to still have "decision pending" this late? I'm feeling pretty discouraged! I've had to apply as an international student, since my permanent residence application is still being processed (I'm from the US). Do you think this may be a factor?

So, after reading this thread, I gather I should have no trouble finding a job as a PSW? I'm a licensed practical nurse in the US, but the Ontario College of Nurses wouldn't accept my credentials to sit for the RPN exam. I'm attempting to get into a BScN program, but wanted to work in the medical field doing something related in the meantime. My practical nursing education was 12 months of full-time study and I've had an additional 2 semesters of general course work at university. Also, 12 years working as a practical nurse in the US.

Private school? Huh? The only college I was interested in was Queen's or St. Lawrence, where I would finish my bachelor's degree. I was just hoping in the meantime I could get a job working as a PSW with my experience and international education as a practical nurse or even a medical receptionist maybe. Going to college to be a PSW or even an RPN would be a step backwards for me at this point.

Well, I just spoke with a rep at Trillium College about how my practical nursing education might translate to PSW and she said it won't. I would have to do the 25 week course from the beginning, as would anyone else educated outside Canada. So, I can say that unless you find a PSW job that doesn't require a certificate, you will not be able to work as a PSW/CNA in Canada with US credentials.

Hi! I'm in a similar situation, although I'm an LPN in the US. I had a one year program for practical nursing back in 2002 and 12 years of working experience. I was told that I could not sit for the RPN exam in Ontario because my program length was inadequate and I have the same "incompetencies" as you basically.. ethics and personal responsibility. Nevermind that I scored 100% on the CNO's jurisprudence exam. I'm pretty angry. I was told I'd have to basically start practical nursing school from the beginning. I have also been told by some nurses that I could try to get a job as a PSW, however, all the jobs I've seen require a PSW certificate and you need to do the 25 week program for that, even if you have international education that surpasses it. Both of those options are working backwards for me. I've applied to Queens university to just go for my BSN, hoping for acceptance. What country are you from? Do you have a 4-year degree or the 2-year associate degree like they offer in the US? Have you tried applying for an RPN license? I can totally empathise with you on this. After being a nurse for 12 years it has become part of my identity. It's the only career I've ever known. Then, to be told by Ontario that I'm nothing here.. it's so devastating. I have no other skills. I feel like I'll be lucky to get a job in retail or fast food at this point. Such a waste of good skills! I could do a med pass in my sleep.

Ah, that's definitely a barrier for me then.