Should I get a specialty certificate in my country if I want to move to Canada?

[gracehe]

Hello! I have been an operating theatre nurse for two years. I'm able to both scrub and circulate for General Surgery cases. My exposure to other disciplines has been limited to what I've encountered in the emergency OT.

I will have the opportunity to get a specialty certificate for peri-operative nursing. During the course, there will be two months of cross-training to orthopaedics in my hospital. This will be followed by eight months of theory and clinical practice in other hospitals. This specialty course would be fully sponsored but I would be bonded to the hospital for two years after the training. Currently, I am serving a four years bond (two down, two to go). If I go for this course, I would be thirty years old when I finish the additional bond.

It is my dream to immigrate to Canada. The plan is to land in Toronto because I have family there. However, from what I read online, the job prospects do not seem good unless you are specialty-trained (ED, ICU, or OT).

The only compelling reason for me to do the specialty course is to gain knowledge and to increase my employability.

On the other hand, this specialty certificate is officially recognised only in my country. Would it help me in Canada, where the focus is on all things Canadian (I.E. Canadian Experience, Canadian Certificates)?

Also, I feel like it would be better to immigrate while I am younger and perhaps more adaptable.

My working environment has problems and I do not see much future in staying for long in my current workplace. It is depressing to see many good and experienced staff leave while I am tied down with a bond.

To sum up, I'm not sure whether I should do the specialty course and be bonded another two years. What are your opinions? I know life won't be easy in Canada, but I'm prepared to face the challenges to realise my dream.