Its my break week (thanks to Yom Kippur) and I don't go on Allnurses that often but desperate times calls for desperate measures. I am not really sure that this would be a great place for my thread but since Canada really is international and so am I.
I'm a Malaysian citizen, studying in the US in a 4 year bachelor degree program and will be taking my NCLEX licensure very soon in the beginning of 2009. I'm at my senior year at Binghamton University and I am very excited about working as a registered nurse. I have always wanted to stay in the US and work but the current retrogression is not working out for me. So I decided to head to Canada.
This is the problem. I do not know where to start. I know most of my questions have been answered a MILLION times but it will be easier to get a quick, simple, straightforward reply from the experts, instead of browsing through a pile of threads for hours, time which I should put to good use instead of countless hours searching for unsure answers. I have gone through a lot of threads relating to Canada immigration policies and nursing related matters but I cant seem to find some of the answers I wanted. Another reason why I want to have this thread is because I want to summarize all my questions and compile all my questions into one thread so that I don't go crazy linking and bookmarking which thread to look for for a particular question. I apologize that this drive you moderators crazy but I rather spend time working on this thread rather than going thru threads that Im not even sure would answer my specific questions. I'm sorry for that. I am sure that people in my same situation would benefit from the questions I have.
Back to my questions, so I decide to move to Canada and immigrate there permanently. Lets say I graduated, and I am planning to take the NCLEX, I want to work in British Columbia or Ontario. I have not found an employer yet. I am not sure where I can find employers in Canada at the moment who would employ a US graduate - non citizen. Where can I find hospitals or employment agencies that would help me in my job hunt?
1. If I took the NCLEX, will I need to take CRNE just to prove my nursing skills and practice again? Is there such thing as a equivalent, and not have to take the CRNE? What about TOEFL, will I need to take it again even though I graduated from the United States?
2. In order to immigrate, do you need work experience as a nurse or other work in order to qualify? Does anybody know whether hospital employs fresh grad students out of nursing school? All i see in the thread I'd read are people who have long term experiences but nobody I found that are fresh grads from college. So there are questions don't apply to me Im afraid.
4. Do you need to be a Permanent Resident to be able to work as an RN in Canada? What are the requirements and what kind of paperwork does it entail?
5. Do you think I should get employed through a nursing recruitment agency? Whats the pros and cons? Are there any you could recommend?
I will think of more questions to ask but for now, this might be just it.
I know you will be tealling me that these have been answered a lot of times but if you would to be a great help, you would post links to the threads that would answer my specific questions, and that I would owe you in much gratitude!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
PNP takes approx 12 months where TWP is quicker. As I mentioned PNP is not a route I know much about but it is easy to go from PR with a TWP. Your 12 months on OPT will give you the time to complete requirements for Canada. We will be applying for PR soon and lived here since April but to apply for citizenship we have to be here I think it is 3 out of 5 years and any holidays/time taken outside of Canada is counted
Now I would see the sentence of providing work permit authorising you to work in Ontario as a requirement but would suggest you contact the nursing board and get the answer from them
I have been reading on this forum for over two years but never posted. I felt the need to do so with yours as you looked lost (like many others).
i am an international student like you here in the US and although this my fourth year i'am going for one extra year to be done with my BSN.
First of all, OPT like said Suzanne and SIlverdragon, is the first thing that you should worry about right now. It can take up to 6 months or sometimes more to get it so you should start applying for about 2 semester away from graduation. Make sure you do some good reading about how to apply and everything so that it doesn't take too long. OPT is not employer sponsorship. It is a requirement for you to be able to stay in the for a year after you graduate (and use for experience or paper processing for canada in your case, and mine too). Read on the uscis.gov and see the DSO at your school (but know what you need first because DSO sometimes dont even know what they are talking about).
One you get your OPT, take a deep breath and focus on the assessment of your credentials by whatever regulatory body oversees the practice of nursing in the province you wish to go.
Nothing can be really done as far as the process until you graduate. However you might want to contact the reg. body in BC to clarify the things you dont understand so that when you do apply you know excatly what to do. For example, myself I'm not sure if we do have to take an approved english test since our education was done here in the US; that's a doubt that I would like to clear out. If yes, then you could try to take the english test (toefl or whatever now so that by the time you graduate and are ready to apply you already have that and dont waste any extra time).
Once you apply with all the paperwork with the reg. body (and hopefully it would go smooth if you have everything; assessment is much faster when graduating from an approved nursing program in the US) after of course having received your RN license, then just wait and document yourself on the requirements for TWP visa so you know what to expect in case you have a positive answer. In the mean time, if all goes well you should get your OPT and look for employer here in the US and start working. Once your credentials are deemed equivalent and are approved for sitting for the CRNE, you can apply for a temp. registration with the reg. body (I believe you are interested in BC). Once you get, you will to find an employer in BC and hopefully it will be easier since you would have the temp registration to work as an RN. At that point, the employer will have to do his part of the paperwork so that you can both enter into an agreement for you to work under his supervision for canadian employer reference. With that you can apply for a temp. work visa, if you are approved you'll also receive a temp. residence for the length of your visa that is going to be employer tied.
Once you get there, and you to the supervised hours and get your employer's reference, you'll get full registration to practice and you can start the process of applying for a permanent residence. You do not need employer sponsorship for that (does not exist in canada for temp residence I believe even though having a job/job offer gives a small boost to your application for perm. resident as a skilled worker).
My advice, read, read and read, and do not always rely and posts on forum as your source of knowledge. Officials institutions have website, do the reading over there and if need is, call or email them.
I know it's also nice to read other people's experience but make sure you always verify the information at the right source.
I'm a year and a half away from graduation so there is nothing I can do but focus on school and wait, but it is important to be proactive (I like the work prophylaxis....) and do things in advance as much as you can or at least be well informed well in advance so that when the time comes you know what to do. Map out a plan or checklist with steps or probable dates and that will help you out.
Be confident and patient. everything will be alright no matter the outcome.
I feel you, and it's hard we you dont have the means to give direction that you would like to your life but let's all be patient and do our part of the job the right way, and God will take care of the rest.
First of all, OPT like said Suzanne and SIlverdragon, is the first thing that you should worry about right now. It can take up to 6 months or sometimes more to get it so you should start applying for about 2 semester away from graduation.
That's not true. You will get your OPT within 3 months, not 6. BUT, you must successfully secure a job in the US within 90 days after the date of your OPT, or else it will be terminated.
That's not true. You will get your OPT within 3 months, not 6. BUT, you must successfully secure a job in the US within 90 days after the date of your OPT, or else it will be terminated.
You're right, things changed a bit since I had looked it up. Thanks for noticing. This post is about a 1yr and half old lol!
i am in the same position right now but i am graduating from an Associates degree program i did apply for the OPT but with the Current situation i cant evenfind a job witht the OPT. is canada accepting new grads, were u able to find a job there. please share your experience. thanks
I don't believe any provinces in Canada will accept an associates degree, you need to have a BSN. Check with the college of nurses in the province you want to move to.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
No Canadian province will accept an ADN for entry to practice for a new grad. This has all been covered here already. CRNE - Page 2- Nursing for Nurses
i am in the same position right now but i am graduating from an Associates degree program i did apply for the OPT but with the Current situation i cant evenfind a job witht the OPT. is canada accepting new grads, were u able to find a job there. please share your experience. thanks
Canadian new grads are having problems in many provinces finding that first job. So, it'd doubtful that non-residents would be hired before locals.
Wow..This retrogression is sure causing an influx of nurses into Canada. I guess I just find it somewhat disappointing that Canada has become a last resort option for some people affected by the retrogression. It seems that they want to work in Canada, and are only to leave once they get their hands on a green card. Unfortunately, I have read that some Canadian nurses are struggling to find work in some areas and there are limited positions. I would assume that it would be more difficult for someone who is not a citizen to find work when there are qualified citizens that can't find work or else it would just be unethical.
Silverdragon102, BSN
1 Article; 39,477 Posts
PNP takes approx 12 months where TWP is quicker. As I mentioned PNP is not a route I know much about but it is easy to go from PR with a TWP. Your 12 months on OPT will give you the time to complete requirements for Canada. We will be applying for PR soon and lived here since April but to apply for citizenship we have to be here I think it is 3 out of 5 years and any holidays/time taken outside of Canada is counted
Now I would see the sentence of providing work permit authorising you to work in Ontario as a requirement but would suggest you contact the nursing board and get the answer from them