U.S. educated RN coming to Ontario, Canada

[ZB-RN]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and would like to get some opinion and advise.

I received my ADN from a community college in NYS and passed NCLEX in August 2014. Right away I did RN to BSN program at Hunter College that I finished this August.

Meanwhile being in school, I got married to a Canadian and now we are moving to Ontario since my Bachelor's is done.

I am submitting an application through NNAS to get the initial appointment with CNO.

I do not have experience with the exception of several internships done while in school.

Did anyone had the same experience applying for RN license in Ontario recently? Advantages/Disadvantages? Obstacles? How long did it take for you?

I am interested in pursuing emergency nursing and if anyone knows certifications/courses that I can obtain while waiting to license that will help me get a job, that would be amazing.

Thanks all,

Zoya

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the Canadian forum

CNO will take a long time and jobs may not be as easy to find

[dishes, BSN, RN]

You can use the search button in the top right hand corner to find threads on US educated nurses and NNAS. A few posted that their NNAS results showed their education was not comparable to a Canadian BScN.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Since you are a recent graduate, the CNO will likely assess you for eligibility at LPN status. In order to practice as an RN in Canada, a BSN is required.

Diploma nurses are considered and often meet requirements for RN status but these nurses have years of prior experience. Contact the CNO directly to discuss. Jobs are not easy to find, even for locals.

[ZB-RN]

You can use the search button in the top right hand corner to find threads on US educated nurses and NNAS. A few posted that their NNAS results showed their education was not comparable to a Canadian BScN.

Thank you dishes, I am reading a lot of posts, trying to build a picture of the process in my head.

[ZB-RN]

Since you are a recent graduate, the CNO will likely assess you for eligibility at LPN status. In order to practice as an RN in Canada, a BSN is required.

Diploma nurses are considered and often meet requirements for RN status but these nurses have years of prior experience. Contact the CNO directly to discuss. Jobs are not easy to find, even for locals.

My 1st education was not a diploma degree, it was Associate's 2 year RN. Now I completed bridge program and have BSN.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

CNO does not give direction to applicants, if you contact them they will refer you to NNAS to have your education assessed for equivalency. If your education is not comparable to BScN, the CNO will not automatically assess you for RPN, you wiil need to apply to NNAS to have your education assessed for equivalency to RPN. Keep in mind that while all this assessing is going on, time is ticking and if you cannot show RN experience or graduation within 3 years, you will not be eligble to be licensed. Suggest you hold off moving to Canada and work as a RN in the US while your application is being assessed.

[ZB-RN]

It seems like assessment will take a while but I am going to start now so no time is wasted.

Another question. U.S. licenses are lifetime, but have registration that expires every 3 years or so. What is the best answer in the licensing part of the application? If anyone is aware please let me know.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I am not sure, is NNAS asking for the date you were initially licensed?

[ZB-RN]

Yes, you have to put a dates when you took NCLEX, when you passed it. Another question states is this a lifetime practice license/registration... In NY State the license itself is lifetime, but the registration does expire every 3 years or so.... So I am a bit confused by this question.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Seems like you would answer that it is a lifetime registration, as (I am assuming) you have not had any action taken against you and have not had your licence suspended. Here in Ontario, we keep the same registration number throughout our career, we renew our licences each year and maintain the same registration number, the only way our number changes is if our licence is suspended or not renewed.

[dayandnight]

If you have any questions, the best thing would be is to contact NNAS directly

I also studied in the States and was lucky not to take the SEC assessment (OSCE in Ontario) for foreign graduated nurses, but you might have to take it. I've seen some US educated RN take it and some don't. It's very hard to pass and you might need to take a refresher program. In Ontario I heard it's quite hard to pass the OSCE. The refresher course is 1 year if you don't pass the assessment but also don't completely fail it.

AFTER the SEC assessment and needed refresher courses then they check your NCLEX and give you the license if you have already passed the NCLEX.

It took me about 1 year for my entire registration to be processed, but at that time, Canada did not have NCLEX so I had to also take the CRNE (Canadian RN exam).

ALSO, I don't know what your status in Canada is but you need at least a work permit or an actual Permanent Residency to register in Ontario as a nurse. The other provinces work quite differently and you can register without a proper working permit.