US BSN-RN moving to Canada

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 17, 2016

Moved to the Nurse Registration forum

Look on a process of anywhere between 6 months (optimistic) and 18 months to go through the registration process. Depending on where in BC you may find issue getting a job and may have to consider starting casual and working towards part time before full time

dishes, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2016

You can search other threads on the topic of US educated nurses who are trying to become licensed in Canada by using the terms 'US NNAS' in the search tool in the top right hand corner.

Be prepared as your NNAS advisory report may show your education is comparable, but it is more likely that it will show that your education is somewhat comparable or not comparable to a Canadian entry to practice education. The NNAS assessment involves assessing entry to practice competencies, if your nursing program does not clearly specify the competencies in the curriculum, your education will not be considered comparable to a Canadian's.

RN_Pro · Dec 17, 2016

@kittygrl392

Budget to spend a minimum of $1500 CDN by the time you pay for NNAS, OSCE (which you will more than likely be required to do) and other expenses such as sending paperwork here and there.

I was educated in the US and my NNAS Advisory Report took about 6 months from the time I had all my paperwork submitted. Then the licensing body needs to review it and advise you on your next step, which takes a few weeks at a minimum. My Advisory Report said "non-comparable" and I was asked to take the IENCAP (OSCE). It took me over 6 months from the time I found out I need to take the OSCE to the time that I will have completed the OSCE (I haven't done it yet--I am scheduled for March 2017). Then it is 8 weeks for OSCE results and 8 weeks more for licensing body response to OSCE results.

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I want to share what I wish I had known earlier: don't plan to relocate once you graduate and if you do, don't budget around your income contribution, as it will be quite a while, likely more than a year, before you are able to be licensed. If the licensing body asks you to go back to school, then of course that will take even longer.

A very important thing to know is that licensing bodies don't generally let you take an OSCE/SEC to prove your knowledge, skill and judgement unless you have evidence of safe practice in the place where you received your education (US in your case). Without nursing experience which would provide you with evidence of safe practice, you likely will have to attend school in order to fulfill the Canadian equivalent education component (whereas passing the OSCE/SEC can fulfill this--for those permitted to take the OSCE/SEC). You can only apply through NNAS once so please make sure you have worked as a nurse in the US first or you will make your life unnecessarily difficult for yourself!