Temporary Liscence for LPN's

[Jasmine29]

Hello everyone :)

It is my understanding that after I graduate this June, I will be given a temporary LPN liscence (part of the 600$ fee to write) until I can write my exam in September. My questions are:1) Can I leave the province and work elsewhere as an LPN with that temp liscence over the summer then just fly into Calgary to write my exam?(would other provinces hire me based on the temp liscence?(provided I pass in Sept?)

2) Could I secure an LPN position with AHS with my temp liscence? ( I know about the freeze, it doesn't apply to me as I am an NA with AHS already)

3) How long after I write in Sept can I expect to find out my pass/fail and get a perm liscence? I wanted to move out of province before xmas this year and I am thinking it's cutting it very close.

Thanks so much for any info.

Jaz

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Technically you're a graduate practical nurse until you have your license in your hand. It is possible to work in other provinces as a grad nurse, but it's not all that easy to find a position under those terms. Not impossible, but difficult. Several years ago our unit had a grad nurse from Ontario who started her position at the end of May right after graduation; she wrote and passed her exam in the fall in Alberta (the exam is a national one, so she was able to get authorization to test in Alberta by applying in writing to the CNO) and continued to work on our unit for about a year. The only issue she had was that she had to become licensed in Ontario before she could be licensed in Alberta so she had to keep working as a grad nurse for several weeks after she got her exam results and she had to pay for two licenses.

If there are open LPN positions in AHS there's no reason why you couldn't apply for them as an internal applicant. Grad nurses work on the floors all the time while waiting for their date with the exam.

The results usually take 3-6 weeks to get back to you, depending largely on how many people wrote. The winter exam is usually the quickest for results. Then it takes a couple more weeks to have your license in your hand. But usually employers will accept the evidence that you passed in the meantime.

There's no reason why you can't apply for positions here and in the province where you're thinking of moving even before you graduate. If you're lucky enough to be offered more than one position then you'll have your choice and that is definitely NOT a bad thing!!

[Fiona59]

A classmate of mine moved to Ontario immediately after graduation. She wrote her exam in the province she moved to without problems. Actually, she did her final placement there and only came back for the graduation ceremony.

It can be done.

[Jasmine29]

hmm.. thanks for the info:)

So if I read right.. I may not have to fly to Calgary to write but rather write in (ontario) the RPN exam there? Or maybe have some official to invigilate the Alberta exam for me? I will call the clpna on monday to double check. Either way i am going to brush off that old resume..update it and start firing them off. I swear these days..finding a full time LPN/RPN position in ontario is a diamond in the rough.. casual casual casual.. how can I afford to move for a casual position!?

BC seems to be the same.. interior health is only hiring casual. This is really discouraging!

Fiona, where in Ont did you friend move to?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

As I said in my post, the exam is a national one, it's the exact same exam written in every province on the same day. There usually isn't a problem getting permission to write in any other province, but it has to be obtained from the province where you were educated. CLPNA will be able to give you details on how it's done. Manitoba is still hiring LPNs if I'm not mistaken, and Saskatchewan might be too.

[Jasmine29]

ah..i see. Thanks again for the info!!