Going to Canada

With RETROGRESSION ON, I  believe the next destination hub for nurses is CANADA.
Saskatchewan Canada is a good place to consider.
 
Their Nursing Registration for International educacted nurses is a little bit easy in terms of requirements and they do have a faster processing.
 
Please have the ample time to visit their official website and discover more.
 
www.srna.org
 
 
 
Good Luck and my Best Regards to everyone.
 
NOTE: Just like applying in USA, the process of seeking for registration in any canadian nursing regulatory bodies is almost same like USA, Varies slightly but generally same.  You can do it on your own, or can also hook to an agency who can process in your behalf.   Canadian employers are very much eager to welcome us. We can even apply direct with the facility online after seeking the eligibility.
 
 

Hi Nurseidol,
 
I am thinking of applying for Canada.  I am an LPN passer in Canada but have not registered my license because of my US immigrant processing. 
 
Do you think I can apply for an LPN position there.  You see, I had my IELTS last 2005 and I think I had take it again if I want to apply for Canada.
 
What do you think, do you know some agency who is willing to process my case without much money involve?
 
 
Thanks,

Hi Nurseidol.. and Yang (we have the same concern,the only difference is you are an LPN and i am an RN)..

true enough that until now i am still trying to accept the fact that may be america has no plans yet of opening her doors for legal immigrant nurses like us.. becoz of this thought i am planning to pursue other options while waiting for my chance of having my immigrant visa.

i just would like to ask, do you happen to know of agencies who are willing to pay for the whole application process for the federal skilled worker program of canada and even the CRNE registration? like those agencies who have sponsored nurses who applied for america...those agencies who paid for the nurses' nclex,ielts,and the visas processing fees. if it would not be too much to ask,can you please give me names of agencies/employers..

i would greatly appreciate to hear from you the soonest. thank you so much

Hello Peyton.

Apology since I am not so familiar with Philippine-based agencies that are sponsoring and deploying nurses to Canada.  

It is a good idea though to try venturing into Canadian Nursing considering the long-standing US visa retrogression.

Best of Luck.

NOTE:

I've gotten your PM. I'll have my response soon, soon as I'll get back from work. Thanks.

I'm still not applying for a visascreen certificate, thinking that it might be best to use the money($498) in applying for registration in Canada.
I'm also interested in applying for Canada.I have relatives there who are encouraging me to try to apply for an immigrant Visa. I've tried online and found out that you need to have atleast more than 1 year work experience(with salary). In that category I don't qualify..
According to my friend some states in Canada require foreign nurses to have additional units(education)before they can take licensure examination for nurses in Canada. Is it true.?
 
What are some of the differences with registration in Canada and in the USA? Are they requiring work experience for the eligibility?Can we take the exam here in the Philippines just like the NCLEX ?
 
I would greatly appreciate any response and additional information..Thank you in advance..

With retrogression still in effect, we suggest delaying applying for visa screen certification.  Same with applying for IELTS or TOEFL for visa screen certification purposes only. 

A lot of people now have visa screen certifications that has expired or will expire soon but still not in the US.  Same with IELTS w/c is usually only good for 2 years. 

-------

How about considering Queensland Australia? I do not think they have a strict requirement for experience.

Please visit the Going to Australia thread for more details.

Canada, like many other countries have regulations in accepting international applicants. And like many other Boards and Nursing Councils, with the exception of Quebec, an applicant need to sit for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination. This can only be given within the country itself. List of  required documentations can be best obtained in the specific Boards you would like to work. Links are found accordingly in our site. Take it from there. I hope I satisfied one aforementioned query. Cheers! 

hi nurseidol..

thanx for acknowledging.. i'll definitely wait for your PM. enjoy your break from work.

I'm still not applying for a visascreen certificate, thinking that it might be best to use the money($498) in applying for registration in Canada.I'm also interested in applying for Canada.I have relatives there who are encouraging me to try to apply for an immigrant Visa. I've tried online and found out that you need to have atleast more than 1 year work experience(with salary). In that category I don't qualify..According to my friend some states in Canada require foreign nurses to have additional units(education)before they can take licensure examination for nurses in Canada. Is it true.? What are some of the differences with registration in Canada and in the USA? Are they requiring work experience for the eligibility?Can we take the exam here in the Philippines just like the NCLEX ? I would greatly appreciate any response and additional information..Thank you in advance..

-sherry09

No need for speedy hurry to obtain the VSC now. I am afraid that you'll be amongst us who will later regret for securing such this early. The idea of redirecting the use of your financial resources in applying somewhere else like CANADA is indeed great.

With regards to the clinical experience requirement, this all depends on the regulatory body you wish to apply with. Best if you'll visit their website and know if they do consider applicants with no or little work experience. 

"According to my friend, SOME sates in Canada require foreign nurses to have additional units (education) before they can take the licensure examination in Canada. Is it true?"

Applications are being assessed individually. Your credentials like TOR must satisfy the requirement of the nursing regulatory body.  If CARNA requires further information in order to be able to determine competence to practice, a Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) assessment will be required.

I never heard of such thing, that you need to take some additional units (education) before one is made eligible to sit for CARNE. What your friend may seem to mean is the SEC thing.  Alberta may require their applicants to go for SEC before applicants will get eligible for CRNE specially for nurses educated in the Philippines.

There's no way for you to take the CARNA overseas since it is only being offered in Canada.

Good Luck and God Bless you

Hi sherry
I think what your friend meant by "some states in Canada require foreign nurses to have additional units(education)before they can take licensure examination for nurses in Canada" is that some state or region in Canada require safe nursing practice proof. For example, in Ontario, if you have not worked in nursing in the last five years and you completed your nursing program more than five years ago, you will be required to complete additional education. The length of the study required is based on the number of years that you have not practised.

Yes. I agree with Reychz. Your friend may have mean that way instead.

It is more like a Continuing education or a vivid nursing refreshment course. 

You may try to apply for Saskatchewan, Canada. I do believe the procedures and requirements are not yet that complex. They do not even require an applicant to go for SEC, not unless the nursing education obtained is completely different from that of Canadian Nursing education.

You may think, decide, and submit the application  now. Because requirements for registration is ever-changing. I heard from a friend that sooner or later, Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association will already require every international nurse applicant to go SEC. I am not sure if they already started implementing such.  I hope not yet

God Bless NURSES.

Yes, i think Sasketchewan would be the easiest to apply to. according to Dawn Aschenbrener, Sr Assistat, Regulatory Service of Sask RegisteredNurses Association, you may also use your volunteer RN hours as long as you were registered as an Rn at the time when you did the volunteer works

Yes, you're absolutely correct - Canada has a very user friendly system.  For more information on this, join us on 5/11/09 when we will discuss the Canadian immigration system, the new foreign worker program, current shortage occupations - how it works and if it might be right for you. Our Canadian affiliate, Udache Inc., will moderate. Contact  info@immigrationsolution.net

Leslie Davis, Manging Director
Healthcare Immigration...Outstanding Results
www.immigrationsolution.net

hi.

i want to aplly as a nurse in canada.
what would be my 1st step?
i really dont have any idea.
thanks.
hope you could help me.

*Originally posted by member dazzlingmariashley (special thanks) and re-posted on this thread.     

Canada is another option to apply.There's a lot of work for RNs in this country.Only thing is there is still a process to do in order to practice as RN.You need to determine what province you'd like to practice your profession and apply for eligibility so you know if you're able to seat for the Canadian Registered Nursing Exam.You may practice as LPN first provided if you got an employer to apply for your TWP(Temporary work permit), and later when you set foot in Canada progress to RN if eligible and given GN(Graduate Nurse) status to take the licensure exam.I am sharing this info as I got an employer in Alberta and even I am waiting for the retrogression, it will still take sometime, so you might as well look for alternatives.


Other provinces in Canada like Manitoba, and Saskatchewan mostly grant RN IEN(Internationally Educated Nurses), GN Status so if an RN got an arranged employed, they can work there with TWP and once licensed can already apply for PR(Permanent Residents).

Other detour of practice in Canada if you're not granted a GN status, because other provinces grant SEC(Substantially Equilvalent Competence) to other RNs, since you got an NCLEX, look for an employer in the job bank or local agencies here in the Philippines and apply LPN Post.Once you arrive there and had your license from U.S. verified you're automatically Licensed PN Nurse as they have like reciprocity with Nurses having US licenses.

Other provinces that you might want to look into are Nova Scotia and British Columbia.Nova Scotia accepts application fron RN IEN without experience unlike the other 3 provinces, they require at least 1125 working hours post licensure.Alberta and BC are the two provinces that grants SEC to RNs but Manitoba , SK and NS mostly grants GN status to Nurses.Fees for applying for eligibility are shouldered by RN applicants even you have agencies.Ontario province, you need to undergo with their bridging programs.For other provinces just check their websites.

It is good to know and explore other options when situations won't permit RNs to practice other places.Somehow, being an RN is still one of the most hottest jobs in the world.
For further info check this links.

www.jobbank.gc.ca/search_en.aspx (DIRECT HIRE EMPLOYERS)
www.cic.gc.ca (VISA INFORMATION)
www.hrsdc.gc.ca (FOREIGN WORKERS INFO)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions.asp (EMBASSY INFO)

CANADIAN NURSING ASSOCIATION Members
Provincial and Territorial Members

BRITISH COLUMBIA
College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia
2855 Arbutus Street
Vancouver BC V6J 3Y8
Tel: (604) 736-7331
Fax: (604) 738-2272
E-mail: info@crnbc.ca

ALBERTA
College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta
11620 - 168 Street
Edmonton AB T5M 4A6
Tel: (780) 451-0043
Fax: (780) 452-3276
E-mail: carna@nurses.ab.ca


SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association
2066 Retallack Street
Regina SK S4T 7X5
Tel: 1-800-667-9945 / (306) 359-4200
Fax: (306) 525-0849
E-mail: info@srna.org

MANITOBA
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
890 Pembina Hwy
Winnipeg MB R3M 2M8
Tel: (204) 774-3477
Fax: (204) 775-6052
E-mail: info@crnm.mb.ca

ONTARIO
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
158 Pearl Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 1L3
Tel: 1-800-268-7199 / (416) 599-1925
Fax: (416) 599-1926
E-mail: info@rnao.org

NEW BRUNSWICK
Nurses Association of New Brunswick
165 Regent Street
Fredericton NB E3B 7B4
Tel: (506) 458-8731
Fax: (506) 459-2838
E-mail: nanb@nanb.nb.ca

NOVA SCOTIA
College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
Suite 600, Barrington Tower
1894 Barrington St.
Halifax NS B3J 2A8
Tel: (902) 491-9744
Fax: (902) 491-9510
E-mail: info@crnns.ca

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island (ARNPEI)
53 Grafton Street
Charlottetown PE C1A 1K8
Tel: (902) 368-3764
Fax: (902) 628-1430
E-mail: anpei@pei.aibn.com


NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
55 Military Rd
St. John’s NL A1C 2C5
Tel: (709) 753-6040
Fax: (709) 753-4940
E-mail: info@arnnl.nf.ca

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Box 2757
Yellowknife NT X1A 2R1
Tel: (867) 873-2745
Fax: (867) 873-2336
E-mail: admin@rnantnu.ca


YUKON
Yukon Registered Nurses Association
204 - 4133 - 4th Avenue
Whitehorse YT Y1A 1H8
Tel: (867) 667-4062
Fax: (867) 668-5123
E-mail: admin@yrna.ca

Hi nurse idol thank you very much for the reply. I want to ask how long will it take for the registration? I already passed my IELTS July 2007 if i will process it this week do you think they are going to ask me to take IELTS again?

Thanks!

Hi nurse idol i had my ielts 2007 but i am applying for Canada are they going to request me to take another ielts? How long will it take for the registration to process?

Thanks and God Bless.

Hi nurse idol i had my ielts 2007 but i am applying for Canada are they going to request me to take another ielts? How long will it take for the registration to process?
Thanks and God Bless.

-nursing

I  cannot answer your question regarding the IELTS matter. It seems that it's so near to getting expired.  All of the nursing regulatory bodies in Canada requires  IELTS that is not more that two years old with an overall band of at least 6.5 and a score of 7 in Speaking component.

Your IELTS will be expiring this coming July 2009. You have few days left before it will be expired. I suggest that you try to inquire with the responsible nursing regulatory board if it can still be utilized, otherwise you have to re-take.  Pray that it will be considered. You shoud have applied earlier.
 
The registration timeframe varies, largely depends on where you'll be seeking for registration. Again NOVA SCOTIA is known for speedy registration process.
 
Good Luck and God Bless