Regarding visa status in Canada when taking CRNE

Published

Hello.

I am an International Student studying in the BSN program in the US.

I am also interested in going to Canada to become a nurse since the economy in the US is pretty bad and I don't think it will be that easy getting a job while I am on my OPT.

In terms of taking the CRNE, can I just apply for the exam (or apply to the nursing board in the province), stay in the US (since I am still in my OPT period during that time after I take the NCLEX in the US) and just come up to Canada to take the CRNE? Do I have to have a place I am actually staying at Canada? What if I have some relatives living in Canada on student visas or work permits? Does that also work?

Also, I heard that some people recommended being on work visas instead of visiting visas while taking the CRNE and the SEC or waiting for all the forms to be processed. But, without the Canadian Nursing license, what jobs would you get a working permit for since you can't work at the hospitals?

Thank you

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

You can visit Canada just to sit the exam. You do not have to be in Canada to apply to the provincial college of RN. If you have eligibility to sit CRNE you may get a temp license allowing you to work as a RN whilst waiting to sit CRNE the issue is finding employer willing to go the TWP route. If you have to do SEC then you can not get a temp license

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You can visit Canada just to sit the exam. You do not have to be in Canada to apply to the provincial college of RN. If you have eligibility to sit CRNE you may get a temp license allowing you to work as a RN whilst waiting to sit CRNE the issue is finding employer willing to go the TWP route. If you have to do SEC then you can not get a temp license

So everyone who has the eligibility to sit and take CRNE can apply for a temporary permit? Do you need to get an employer first before you get the permit or is it the other way around?

Does graduating from a Nursing program in the US (BSN) exempt you from doing the SEC by any chance? Does it depend on your grades, English proficiency or etc? (If I have to do it I have no complaints. I'm just curious)

Thank you for the information

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Up to the college whether you have to do SEC or not, we have had some US trained nurses post they had to do it. Depends on route you are taking to get into Canada ie TWP or PR. If PR via FSW route then only 500 places this year and expect them to go quickly as many have been waiting to submit application from before Christmas when list closed for RNs

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Up to the college whether you have to do SEC or not, we have had some US trained nurses post they had to do it. Depends on route you are taking to get into Canada ie TWP or PR. If PR via FSW route then only 500 places this year and expect them to go quickly as many have been waiting to submit application from before Christmas when list closed for RNs

I'm sorry but what is PR and FSW?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

PR is Permanent Residency and FSW Federal Skilled worker

All information like this is found on the CIC website

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But remember the job market up here isn't much better than in the US. Most Health Authorities will hire local new grads before an inexperienced IEN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
But remember the job market up here isn't much better than in the US. Most Health Authorities will hire local new grads before an inexperienced IEN.

regardless of the job market situation, in the US I don't even have a chance. I do not want to go to Graduate school right now and as a new BSN grad getting a H1b visa in the near future without proper experience is almost impossible. At least in Canada I have a few options and possibly a few more % chance than the US.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
PR is Permanent Residency and FSW Federal Skilled worker

All information like this is found on the CIC website

I will look at the CIC website for more information.

Thank you very much!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

For a work permit you need a employer and a LMO. For FSW which leads to PR you are required to have over 12 months experience if FSW1 and a employer if FSW2 and both have a wait of over 7 months or longer to get. You may have to consider moving back to your home country whilst waiting if you are not able to stay legally in the US. Also be aware there is a cap for FSW of 500 this year and expect this to go quickly as many have been waiting since the cap closed in Dec to reopen so they have everything ready and probably submitted their documents already

Up Vote Up Vote ×
For a work permit you need a employer and a LMO. For FSW which leads to PR you are required to have over 12 months experience if FSW1 and a employer if FSW2 and both have a wait of over 7 months or longer to get. You may have to consider moving back to your home country whilst waiting if you are not able to stay legally in the US. Also be aware there is a cap for FSW of 500 this year and expect this to go quickly as many have been waiting since the cap closed in Dec to reopen so they have everything ready and probably submitted their documents already

Silverdragon, does it matter where those experience comes from? for instance does it matter if the experience is from an english speaking country or not? Also, does the experience have to be specifically a nursing, aka a job for the RN's? what if I work as a certified nursing assistant or in some other healthcare related jobs?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
silverdragon, does it matter where those experience comes from? for instance does it matter if the experience is from an english speaking country or not? also, does the experience have to be specifically a nursing, aka a job for the rn's? what if i work as a certified nursing assistant or in some other healthcare related jobs?

experience has to be as a rn if that is the job you applying through not necessary in the same country or english speaking country. regardless ielts has to be taken to meet pr requirements unless you are fluent in french and have certificates to prove it. as per cic website

for your application to be eligible for processing, you must:

* include the results of your official language proficiency test, and

* have a valid offer of arranged employment, or

* have one year of continuous full-time paid work experience in at least one of the occupations listed here.

work experience minimum requirements

if your application is eligible for processing, it will then be assessed against minimum requirements.

your work experience must be:

* for at least one year, continuous, and paid (full-time or the equivalent in part-time), and

* skill type 0 (managerial occupations) or skill level a (professional occupations) or b (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the canadian national occupational classification (noc) list, and

* within the last 10 years.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who.asp

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion