Are you a nurse trained outside of Canada? If yes, you’ll be pleased to know your skills are in demand in Canada. Due to a shortage of nurses, internationally trained nurses are in demand to fill the gap.
This blog will explore why this is the case and provide you with the necessary details on how provinces in Canada are removing the barriers and introducing new processing, which is benefiting nurses looking to work in Canada.
Whether you’re currently living in Canada or considering relocating there, this is an exciting career opportunity that you won’t want to miss.
The number of applications from nurses wishing to work in Canada has increased due to the province’s efforts to lower barriers for foreign-trained nurses to practice in Canada.
On May 1, the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) in Atlantic Canada began its expedited registration and licensure process for foreign applicants from seven selected countries, including the Philippines, India, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand.
The new process has reduced processing time for nurses licensed in other areas of Canada from five days to just one, and it also reduces the processing time for applications from globally qualified nurses in those nations from months to a few weeks.
NSCN CEO Sue Smith said he is pleased to share what is truly a first-in-the-country approach to licensing foreign and Canadian nurses in Nova Scotia. The new strategy aligns with new initiatives from healthcare partners and will dramatically shorten the time it takes to become licensed, increase the number of nurses who can practice, and eliminate administrative requirements.
He further stated that all Nova Scotians should be happy about the speedier, safer application procedure for nurses who wish to work in that province.
Further, the province’s health minister Michelle Thompson highlighted the need for a quicker procedure after the COVID-19 pandemic. As per his statement, the entire province requires more nurses, and they felt the need to streamline the hiring process for nurses who want to settle down and start families in their region.
The amount of new applications received by the NSCN portal reached 8,821 in just one week following the start of the new procedure.
It was all about Canada’s East Coast but what about the west coast? The internationally qualified nurses who wish to work in British Columbia are receiving a $3,700 break from the province since it has eliminated the application and assessment costs on the West Coast, on the other side of the country.
Premier of British Columbia David Eby stated that there are qualified, professional nurses who wish to practice in British Columbia and support high-quality care, but a costly and challenging registration process prevents them from doing so.
He said they are ready to accept nurses prepared to provide care for British Columbians, regardless of where they received their training.
British Columbia is also waiving the $300 application fee for nurses who haven’t worked in their areas in a while, and they’re being given more than $4,000 in financial assistance to cover their evaluations and travel expenses to help them return to the industry.
Being a nurse looking to immigrate to Canada amidst the high demand, you should understand a few more things. What are they? Are you eager to know about all? Keep reading to learn more.
British Columbia Eliminates Application Fees and Provides Nurses With Financial Assistance
The province provides $10,000 in scholarships to help nurses who wish to return to work with any additional education they may need.
British Columbia’s Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, stated, “We are ensuring that individuals across the province have greater access to the healthcare services they need by reducing obstacles for additional nurses to join our healthcare workforce.”
He further said that “To fulfill British Columbians’ healthcare needs, our government will continue to take steps to hire and train more healthcare professionals. We are delivering on our promise to establish a durable health system for many years by making nursing jobs in British Columbia more accessible.”
British Columbia allocated $12 million in April of last year to fund scholarships for globally trained nurses, a new marketing initiative, the creation of Health Match BC to help these nurses with navigation, and a unified evaluation strategy.
The province then promised to invest an additional $1.3 million in September last year to create a new pathway to speed up the international nurses’ licensing process. To address the nursing shortfall in the healthcare industry, the government of Alberta in the Canadian Prairies is also courting nurses with international training.
The CRNA (College of Registered Nurses of Alberta) updated its application procedure last month. It made it simpler for nurses with international training to obtain the authorization they require to work in that province. Since then, the number of international-trained nurses applying to work in Alberta has increased dramatically.
The college’s executive director Andrew Douglas said, “The numbers have increased exponentially.”
On April 4, the modifications that will hasten the CRNA application procedure took effect. Since then, the regulator’s phone centre has had more than 7,000 questions, 1,200 people have reportedly started the application procedure, and the college has handed out 672 permits.
In contrast, the CRNA received only 582 applications during the four years that concluded last year.
Internationally trained Nurses are applying more frequently in Alberta
According to Douglas, the Philippines and India have been the most popular source nations for nurses looking to get their credentials recognized so they can work in Alberta over the past five years.
According to reports, Douglas remarked that the change allows more registered nurses to enter the health system to provide patient care. Since there are already labor shortages, this is crucial in bringing nurses to Alberta.
The regulator’s announcement of a simplified procedure comes as the province works to expand access to its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for healthcare professionals, refugees, and company owners eager to operate in rural areas.
In a separate announcement last month, the province said it would nominate healthcare workers for up to 30% of this year’s Express Entry allotment under its Dedicated Healthcare Pathway.
Alberta Immigration states that qualified professionals include “doctors, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and clinical social workers.”
Eligible healthcare professionals must have verifiable proof that they meet the requirements set by the applicable regulatory organization to be able to practice in Alberta. They also need to have an offer of employment from an employer in the province’s healthcare industry.
Through the numerous economic immigration programs offered at the federal and provincial levels, including the Express Entry system, one of the PNPs, or the Skilled Worker program in Quebec, foreign nationals with the credentials to work as nurses in Canada can use their expertise to look for jobs there in Alberta and obtain their permanent residency.
If a nurse’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) profile receives a high enough ranking, they may frequently be qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program through the Express Entry system. If they receive a score of 50 or higher on the province’s selection grid, nurses can also be admitted to Canada through the Skilled Worker program in Quebec.
All registered nurses with university degrees in nursing, registered psychiatric nurses with undergraduate or graduate degrees in psychiatric nursing, licensed practical nurses, or registered practical nurses in Ontario with post-secondary nursing certificates are welcome in Canada.
The Credentials of Nurses who wish to practice in Canada must be Recognized
To determine whether a nurse’s academic credentials meet Canadian criteria, the first step in considering Canada as a place to immigrate is to examine them.
The Canadian government approves five organizations to evaluate credentials from international universities:
- World Education Services (WES);
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS);
- Comparative Education Service (CES);
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) and;
- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).
The potential immigrant’s nursing credentials must next be recognized in Canada by the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which is a process that costs U.S. $650 after the educational and background checks have been finished.
The second stage in the procedure is to build a profile on the NNAS application page for the foreign person seeking to become a nurse immigrant to Canada.
The application requires the following:
- Two pieces of identification must be submitted and notarized, along with copies of the original, duly-signed, date-stamped documents.
- A completed nursing education form that can be downloaded from the website filled out, and signed before being sent to the school where the nurse was educated for that school’s officials to complete and then send directly to NNAS along with academic records or transcripts, course curriculum, and course descriptions and syllabi.
- Submission of the nursing registration form, which should be sent to the nursing licensing organization where the nurse is currently registered in their home country;
- The nursing practice/employment form, which the potential immigrant must complete and submit to NNAS along with a signed copy to each employer in the last five years they have worked for.
- The IELTS language test results must be sent directly from the prospective immigrant’s IELTS test taker to NNAS from a recognized language-testing organization or company.
Nursing Organisations in the Provinces and Territories accept completed applications
The nurse can submit their application and select the nursing group and provincial association they want to apply to once everything has been completed and the NNAS has received the necessary paperwork.
The nursing group and provincial associations include:
- British Columbia’s College of Nursing Professionals and Midwives ;
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta;
- College of Registered Nurses of Alberta;
- College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta;
- Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses;
- Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association;
- Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan;
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba;
- College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba;
- College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba;
- College of Nurses of Ontario;
- Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec;
- Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec;
- Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses;
- Nurses Association of New Brunswick;
- Prince Edward Island’s College of Registered Nurses;
- Prince Edward Island’s College of Licensed Practical Nurses;
- Nova Scotia College of Nursing;
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s College of Licensed Practical Nurses;
- Newfoundland and Labrador’s College of Registered Nurses;
- Government of Northwest Territories, Registrar, Professional Licensing, Health, and Social Services;
- Northwest Territories and Nunavut’s Registered Nurses Association;
- Government of Nunavut, Department of Health;
- Government of Yukon, Yukon Department of Community Services., and;
- Yukon Registered Nurses Association
In conclusion, it is clear that internationally trained nurses are highly sought after in Canada. With the ageing population and increasing healthcare needs, there is a growing demand for skilled, experienced nurses who can provide high-quality care.
Whether you are a nurse already trained abroad or considering pursuing a career in nursing in Canada, many opportunities are available.
By subscribing to Dynamic Group’s monthly newsletter, you can stay up-to-date with the latest healthcare trends and continue to develop your skills, and you can position yourself for a successful and rewarding career in this field.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today at 011-41170411 or consultation@dss-hr.com.
