which are reciprocity states for Canadian RNs?

[GingerSue]

In one of the ads it says:

"In certain U.S. states, you can use your Canadian license to gain a U.S. license through reciprocity, as these states honor nursing licenses obtained in other countries without making you test again."

Which states will honour Canadian RN licenses without having to write another test?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Since this thread has nothing to do with working as a nurse in Canada, it has been moved to the International Forum for more exposure.

[suzanne4, RN]

And that is very old ad, that is for sure. More than four years. If they are spending the money to advertise, you would think that they would provide current information.

The US government has required the Visa Screen Certificate for the past few years and this requires that one actually write the NCLEX-RN exam or the CGFNS to obtain. The Canadian license does not meet the requirements for this.

Before the VSC was required, quite a few states actually accepted the Canadian license for reciprocity such as NY, MI, PA, MN, etc.

In order to get a visa to work in the US, a Visa Screen Certificate must be in hand. Even a few years ago, those that came to the US using their Canadian license to obtain the US one found themselves in a real pickle because in order to renew their TN Visa they had to produce the VSC. There was much moaning going on and much written on this site because of it, but those that wished to remain here had to write one of the two exams. Each that I know of wrote the NCLEX as the CGFNS exam is only offered a couple times per year.

[GingerSue]

thank you for the information;

the ad was one that appeared yesterday on AllNurses (so I clicked on the link to read what it had to say).

[suzanne4, RN]

If you remember the name of the company please let me know so that we can follow up on it.

Definitely old information. The VSC is needed by all to get the TN Visa.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

In one of the ads it says:

"In certain U.S. states, you can use your Canadian license to gain a U.S. license through reciprocity, as these states honor nursing licenses obtained in other countries without making you test again."

Which states will honour Canadian RN licenses without having to write another test?

That was true at one time but is not true now.

I do not recall the whole list, but it was possible to work in PA without doing the NCLEX in 2002-2003. I knew many Canadian travelers doing that.

However, at that time, all of them were studying for the NCLEX as some legislation had been passed (nationally), requiring all nurses working in the USA legally to have passed the NCLEX. I do not recall the date that it was to take effect.