RequirementsWork Visa & Immigration Program for Foreign Trained Nurses
Nursing is a regulated profession in Canada!
The Nurses (Registered) Act and Rules permits only currently registered nurses to use the title "Registered Nurse" or "RN".
To qualify for registration in Canada, an International Nurse must complete a nursing program comparable to one in Canada, provide evidence of recent practice and achieve a passing score on the Canadian Examination. However, if an offer of employment exists, the International Nurse has the chance to start working on an interim permit before taking the Canadian Exam.
Some Provincial Registered Nurses Associations, based on an offer of employment from a Canadian Health care facility allow the International Nurse to practice on an interim permit before the Canadian Examination if the other requirements for registration were met and the applicant has not previously failed the examination.
The basic requirements for our Canada Work Visa Program are:
Completion
of a Nursing Education program of minimum 3 years
Minimum two years of recent work experience in a clinical setting.
Good character - based on references, no record of outstanding criminal charges
or convictions relevant to the practice of Nursing
Fitness to engage in the practice of Nursing - based on satisfactory employment
references, registration
in good standing in other jurisdictions and no health problems that impair ability to practice
Fluency
in English; if native language is not English, passing scores at:
TOEFL Paper=550 / Computer=213 AND TSE=50 or Academic IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 with a band score of 7 on the speaking test and no band score less than 6. Please note that we can start the program without the English tests, but you will need to pass them with the above scores BEFORE coming to Canada.
The Provincial Nursing Association will not issue an interim permit without proof of fluency in English !
Please also note that for our CANADA PROGRAM the CGFNS / NCLEX tests are NOT necessary
(however the candidates who have passed one of these tests will be given preference)
ATTENTION!!
The candidates should be prepared that, in case the licensing board does not find their education equivalent with the one of the Canadian graduates, they will have to take additional courses!
Generally nurses from Eastern Europe are lacking hours of Psychiatry and Pediatry. The board might ask the candidate to take additional classes; that can be either in Canada or Home country.
STEP ONE:
In order to make a preliminary assessment of your
eligibility please e-mail us your detailed
Resume at
kanada@atlas.sk or fax it to : +421 55 6445786 Be
sure to include your education, detailed work experience with duties and
responsibilities for every position, full address, e-mail, home and work phone
number. We will get back to you with detailed information on our
Program.
STEP TWO:
We may contact you for a first interview. The
successful applicant will receive a letter with instructions and detailed info
on the documents required to be submitted to us in order to start the Canadian
licensing process. Depending on your qualifications and work experience, we will match you with one of the Canadian Employers
that are participating in our Program and we will contact the Registered
Nurses Association from the Province where the Employer is located. The Registered Nurses
Association will mail
you the application for registration forms.
STEP THREE:
Once the Provincial Registered
Nurses Association has found you eligible for an interim permit we will
contact
the Canadian Employer
and arrange for a phone interview.
STEP
FOUR: The
successful applicant will receive by mail a Letter of Offer from
the Employer. You will have to sign it and take it
to the local Canadian
Consulate General along with
your credentials, fees, proof of medical examination. Here you will submit an application for a
temporary Work Visa.
STEP FIVE: Once
the visa has been issued you will have to apply
for a Social Insurance
Number and confirm employment start date and travel plans with us.
How long does the application process take?
The application process is separated into two components:
1. Nurse Registration - The length of time for registration depends upon how quickly we receive your documents required for registration with the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia/College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia. First time registrants in Canada typically take 4-5 months for processing, depending upon which eligibility requirements have to be met.
2. Work Visa - Following confirmation of registration, application information is assessed by Human Resources Development Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. For nurses seeking employment in Canada on a temporary Work Visa, approval typically takes 2-3 month.
How do I start the application process?
n order to make a preliminary assessment of your eligibility please e-mail us your detailed Resume at: kanada@atlas.sk or fax it to : +421 55 6445786
Be sure to include your education, detailed work experience with duties and responsibilities for every position, full address, e-mail, home
and work phone number. We will get back to you with detailed information on the following steps . We're waiting to hear from you!
Government departments require payment for service. Fees are typically charged for assessment and processing of immigration applications and visa documents. There may also be a charge associated with the medical examination undertaken in your home country. Membership fees for nurse registration in Canada are managed by the Provincial Licensing Boards.
You can calculate the basic fees as follows:
$50-$200 licensing board assessment fee (depending on the province)
$150 work visa fee
$100-$200 medical exam fee
We are also charging a fee for its services.
We are an Immigration Consultancy firm and we are charging a fee for licensing and immigration counseling intended to help you become eligible for a Registered Nurse position and consequently come to Canada on a Work Visa.
Please contact us with details to make you an estimation of our fees in your particular case.
Do I have to write an exam in Canada?
Yes eventually you will. The Provincial Licensing Board will assess your school credentials to compare to the Canadian requirements for registration. But the great thing about our program is that gives you the chance to start working on an interim permit before taking the Canadian Exam.
Who will act as the Employer in your Canada Program for International Nurses?
In order to be eligible for a Work Visa you will need a Letter of Offer from a Canadian Employer. Depending on your qualifications and work experience, We will match you with one of the Canadian Employers that are participating in our Program. They are represented by Health care facilities from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, interested in foreign trained applicants.
Am I eligible for relocation assistance?
For some candidates (depending on experience, specialization, etc.) the employer may offer relocation assistance up to $5,000 CDN (airfare, medical examination and visa fees etc). The employer may also provide up to two weeks free accommodation upon arrival in CANADA. Please note that both the relocation and the accommodation assistance are not an obligation of the employer and will be negotiated between you and the employer during the phone interview.
What will I be paid? What is a nurse's salary in Canada?
The salary varies depending on specialization, shift, candidate's experience and employer's location on a range between $21.5-$32.5 CDN. In British Columbia for example, Registered Nurses have a new Collective Agreement (effective August 9, 2001). Under this agreement, an RN gross salary will range between CDN $3,593 and CDN $4,657 per month starting October 1, 2001. There are 9 pay levels for RNs, based on previous experience:
| Current Rate |
hourly (CAN$) |
|
Level
1 |
$24.70
|
|
Level 2
|
$25.65
|
|
Level
3 |
$26.60
|
|
Level
4 |
$27.55
|
|
Level
5 |
$28.51
|
|
Level
6 |
$29.45
|
|
Level
7 |
$30.41
|
|
Level
8 |
$31.31
|
|
Level
9 |
$32.42
|
How about my family? Is it possible for them to accompany me to CANADA?
Yes, they can. Your spouse and children under 21 can accompany you on a visitor visa. Immigration Canada has also recently introduced a pilot program for spousal employment authorization (EA). For a spouse to be eligible the principal applicant must hold an EA that has a duration of a period of at least six months. The spouse must have obtained a written job offer from an employer before he or she can apply, but can apply once the family is already in Canada.
I still have questions. Who should I contact?
For further information and support regarding the licensing and/or immigration process, feel free to drop us a line at kanada@atlas.sk
