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INFORMATION FOR
FOREIGN REGISTERED NURSES ABOUT CANADIAN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
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INFORMATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL NURSES APPLICANTS ABOUT NURSING IN CANADA
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Where can I find out how to obtain a visa to study in Canada?
Contact a Canadian embassy or consulate regarding the criteria and procedures to
obtain a visa to study in Canada.
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Where can I find out how to obtain a visa to work as a nurse in Canada?
Contact the Canadian Consulate nearest you for information regarding immigration or visas. It is very likely that an offer of employment will be required.
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Where do nurses work in Canada?
Canada has had a publicly funded system of hospital and medical care since 1968. The majority of nurses work within the publicly funded sector of health care, a minority work in the private sector and a small number of nurses are self-employed.
Because health is a provincial jurisdictional area, the health care delivery system is not centralized and there is no one place where nurses can apply for work. They must apply directly to individual employers. The Canadian Hospital Association publishes a large directory that lists and gives addresses for hospitals, health centres, nursing homes, health associations and health education programs. This directory may be available through a public library or Canadian Consulate.
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What are the employment prospects in Canada?
The nursing employment situation in Canada is improving after several years of health care restructuring and hospital downsizing. Nurses with skills and experience in specialty areas (e.g., emergency, critical care and operating room) and those willing to work in smaller communities or isolated communities are in the most demand. The Canadian Nurses Association is predicting a continued shortage of nurses for the future.
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Where can I obtain information about becoming licensed to practise
nursing in Canada?
In Canada, nursing registration or licensure does not occur nationally. Candidates must be
licensed or registered in the province or territory in which they will practise nursing.
Whether nurses are licensed or registered depends on the specific legislation in the
province or territory. For a list of registering/licensing
authorities, please click on the link. Contact the appropriate registering/licensing
authority to request application forms.
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Where can I obtain information about becoming licensed to practise nursing in Canada?
Unlike many other countries the registration of nurses does not occur at the national level. In order to practise nursing you must be licensed or registered in the province or territory in which you will work. Click on
Registering and Licensing Authorities to request
application forms. Licensing or registering bodies can also provide information
about employment opportunities. They may have a referral service or be able to
direct you to appropriate journals to find advertised positions or employer
contacts.
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Will I need to write an examination to become licensed to practise in
Canada?
All Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec require that candidates write the
Canadian Registered Nurses Examination as part of the registration or licensure
process. At present, this examination can only be written in Canada on the
recommendation of a provincial or territorial nurses association. CNA publishes The Canadian RN
Exam Prep Guide, which you will find useful in preparing for the exam
and is available for purchase in the publication section of this web site. Please
contact L'Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec
for information about the registration/licensure examination in the province of Quebec.
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Will I need to write an examination to become licensed to practise in Canada?
Canadian provinces and territories, with the exception of Québec, require that you write the Canadian Registered Nurses Examination as part of the registration or licensure process. At present, this examination can only be written in Canada on the recommendation of a provincial or territorial nurses association. The Canadian Nurses Association publishes The
Canadian RN Exam Prep Guide, which you will find useful in preparing for the exam. Québec nurses have their own exam.
For further information, contact Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec.
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What languages do I need to know in order to become a registered nurse?
Language proficiency is required to become registered or licensed in Canada. Bilingualism
(French and English) is an asset. Candidates must have knowledge of French to practise in
Québec. In New Brunswick and Ontario, candidates must be proficient in either French or
English. Employment and nursing education programs for unilingual French speaking nurses
are available in Québec and in certain areas in New Brunswick and Ontario. In these
provinces the Canadian RN exam may be written in either French or English. In the other
provinces and territories of Canada proficiency in English is the requirement.
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What languages do I need to know in order to become a registered nurse?
You require language proficiency to become registered or licensed in Canada. Bilingualism (French and English) is an asset. Candidates must have knowledge of French to practise in Québec. In New Brunswick,
Manitoba and Ontario, candidates must be proficient in either French or English. Employment and nursing education programs for unilingual French speaking nurses are available in Québec and in certain areas in New Brunswick,
Manitoba and Ontario. In these provinces the Canadian RN exam may be written in either French or English. In the other provinces and territories of Canada proficiency in English is the requirement.
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Can I work as a psychiatric/mental health nurse?
In Canada, registered nurses provide psychiatric/mental health services in a variety of settings. These nurses often have post-basic education and may also hold Canadian Nurses Association's specialty
certification in psychiatric/mental health
nursing. Registered mental health nurses from other countries may not have the broad education required for licensure as a registered nurse in Canada.
Canadian nursing education takes place at the post-secondary level. The nursing programs include classroom theory and supervised practice for nursing roles and responsibilities including: disease prevention and health promotion; the nursing care of sick children, adults and the elderly; mental health and psychiatric nursing; and maternal-child (or obstetrical) nursing. The programs also include general arts and science courses. For further information about
nursing education programs in Canada, please click on the link.
Registered psychiatric nursing is a separate profession in the four western provinces of Canada. Please go to
www.psychiatricnurse.ca/ for further information and depending on where you would like to live in Canada, you should contact the specific provincial organization.
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Can I practise midwifery?
Midwifery is a recognized profession in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta,
Manitoba and Quebec. Other provinces are considering legislation. For further information, please refer to the list of Colleges of Midwives.
For prior learning assessment, please click on the link for Registering/Licensing
Authorities.
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Related Links
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Related Links:
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