Wanted: Canadian licensure

[TayTayRN]

I am a nurse in the United States and I anticipate a move to Canada in a year or so but I'm not sure yet about the details. Can I begin the process of getting licensed before I have any job prospects? How long does it usually take to get licensed? If it matters on the Province I think it will be Quebec but I'm not entirely sure. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

[itsmejuli]

I'm a Canadian citizen and a US permanent resident, I completed LPN education and licensing in Florida. I'm in the process of returning to Canada and applied to the Alberta College of PN. I had to submit an application along with educational transcripts and employment history. I'm waiting on the assessment to be completed so that I can write the Canadian board exam.

Applying for RN license is a similar process. Look for the links to the province you're interested in here https://allnurses.com/canadian-nurses/links-provincial-colleges-303171.html

[loriangel14, RN]

You need to contact the college of nurses in the province where you plan on working and apply for a nursing license. They will assess your education and experience and determine if you are eligible to write the CRNE exam which is the national nursing exam. I think that Quebec has a different exam just for them. If you are going to work in Quebec they also require that you pass a French language exam that is apparenetly quite difficult.Generally you are required to have your BSN in order to be licensed in Canada.Good luck.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

The process can take from several weeks to several months, depending on the speed with which your current BON, any other BONs wyou've had registration with and your educational institution are at getting the documentation required into the hands of the College of Registered Nurses in the province of your choice. Lori is correct about Quebec having a different exam, and although the exam may be written in English there is still a requirement to prove fluency in French - oral, written and reading comprehension. You will be given some time, I believe it's up to 2 years, to pass the exam. Also, Quebec's education system is different from the rest of North America so their assessment of your education may take some time. You do not need to have begun your job search before you apply for registration in any of Canada's provinces, since the Colleges of Registered Nurses don't concern themselves with that part of it at all, they don't care if you ever get a job. In fact it is sometimes easier to find work if you're already well down the path to registration, since the employer will then not have to "wait" for you.

[TayTayRN]

Thanks everybody! Sounds like I'm going to be working in Vermont or New York and commuting...