How Do I Move to Canada as a Nurse? Canada is one of the best countries to live in. It was ranked the best country to live in, second only to Switzerland. You can find opportunities here and improve your life with employment as a nurse or any other profession you choose.
The country also offers many opportunities to its citizens and people from other countries. If you are looking for a place to live and work, this is the best place. There are so many job vacancies in Canada for nurses and other professionals.
The country also has a meagre crime rate, and its people are friendly toward foreigners. Nurses are in high demand in Canada, especially in urban areas where most are concentrated. The country is looking for qualified nurses from continents such as Asia and Africa.
Steps to Find Jobs and Move to Canada as a Nurse
If you’re interested in finding jobs in Canada as a nurse, it’s essential to do your research. The first step is checking job vacancy listings on monster.ca, kijiji.ca and indeed.ca. You can also check newspaper classifieds for positions at local hospitals or clinics near your home.
Once you’ve found some possible opportunities and contact information for the hiring company (if applicable), send them an email expressing your interest in working there with your resume and cover letter attached if they haven’t sent one along with their ad!
If they respond quickly, then great! But if not, keep updating both of them regularly until you finally get hired as an employee at that organization!
Get your Credentials Assessed by the Canadian Government
If you want to immigrate to Canada as a nurse, the first step is to get your Credentials Assessed by the Canadian Government and validate the document through the education minister in your country. Credentials Assessment is a process that evaluates your education and experience. It’s an important step in the immigration process because it determines whether or not you qualify for permanent residency in Canada.
Credentials Assessment can also help determine if there are other requirements necessary before applying for Canadian Permanent Resident status (such as being able to speak English or French).
The Canadian Government has a free service called Credentials Assessment available where they will assess any document that proves your qualifications, such as diplomas and transcripts from universities/colleges, certificates showing training programs completed, and letters attesting knowledge gained through experience working at hospitals or clinics.
For the evaluation of foreign educational credentials, the Canadian government recognizes five organizations:
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 are all part of World Education Services (ICES).
After the educational and background investigations are completed, the potential immigrant must have their nursing qualifications recognized in Canada by the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which costs US$650.
Apply for the work permit in the eligible province of Canada
You can now apply for a work permit if you have passed the IELTS exam. The work permit is a document that allows you to work in Canada legally.
The process can take up to six months and costs around 200 dollars. You must provide documents such as a passport, a copy of your degree certificate and an official letter from a recognized university/college stating that you have completed your nursing degree with good grades.
You need to apply for a work permit in the province of Canada where you want to work as a nurse. It is important to note that the time it takes to process your application may vary from province to province.
You must also ensure that all the documents are in order before submitting them because officials at the immigration office will check them.
The application process is similar to the one in the UK and US, but it will take longer than either country. Once your application is approved, you can move to Canada.
You may also qualify for a work permit if:
- You have a valid passport with an unexpired visa
- Your employer has arranged an offer letter from their company or organization (for example, if they’re hiring someone from overseas)
- You have the skills and experience that Canada needs. You can apply for a work permit within 90 days of arriving in the country or immediately if your employer has arranged for an offer letter (see above). If you’re considering moving to Canada, talk with an immigration lawyer first.
- You have enough money to support yourself while you’re in Canada
- You have enough money to pay for your trip to and from Canada. You’re not planning on working in specific fields (like agriculture or fishing)
- You are not subject to any security and criminal checks in Canada
In Canada, there are three types of nurses.
Registered Nurses (RNs): Registered Nurses in Canada: RNs are Registered Nurses who have finished a University Nursing degree and are competent to practice as General Registered Nurses.
Registered Psychiatric Nurses: Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Canada. RPNs are Registered Nurses with a bachelor’s degree in psychiatric nursing or a general nursing degree and a postgraduate degree or extra studies in psychiatric nursing. RPNs are licensed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
LPN Nurses are also known as Registered Practical Nurses in Ontario. LPNs are nurses who have completed a nursing post-secondary diploma program.
Steps to Move to Canada as a Nurse
Step one:
The first stage is determining if your educational background satisfies the standards necessary for nursing practice.
Your qualifications will be evaluated by World Educational Services, a company approved by the Canadian government to do education checks and verification in this phase, which is a must.
The following step is to have your nursing credentials accepted in Canada. You must register for an online account here since the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) oversees this procedure.
In essence, NNAS converts your credentials to a North American standard, compares it against it, and assesses whether it satisfies the Canadian requirement. Paying the CAD 650 assessment cost to NNAS is the first necessary step in obtaining your Canadian visa and nursing registration in Canada.
Step two:
Once your NNAS evaluation is complete, move on to step two: apply for NNAS by creating a profile on the NNAS application website.
You would have to, throughout this phase, submit:
- Two identity documents must be submitted. Your birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver’s license, international passport, or any other government-issued documentation may be used as proof of identity. These papers must be notarized copies of the originals that are complete with your signature and are signed, dated, and stamped. A government-approved official must create notarized documents.
- A completed nursing education form may be obtained online, filled out, and signed before being delivered to the school where the nurse was taught. Officials from the school will complete an email to NNAS together with academic records or transcripts, course content, course descriptions, and syllabi.
- Submit the nursing registration form to the nursing licensing body where the nurse is currently licensed in his or her native country.
- The nursing practice/employment form must be completed and submitted to NNAS by every employer the nurse has worked for during the last five years after being signed by them.
- The IELTS language test results for the prospective immigration applicant must be transferred directly to NNAS through an authorized language-testing firm or organization.
Immigration Pathways to Canada for Nurses
If you’re a nurse and want to immigrate to Canada, there are several ways that you can do it. The Canadian Government is accepting more nurses than ever, so it’s essential for nurses worldwide who want to work in Canada and those already here looking for opportunities with other employers.
Also, Immigrant workers with the necessary qualifications to work as nurses in Canada can always use their skills to find work and gain permanent residency through the many economic immigration programs available at the federal and provincial levels, such as the Express Entry system, one of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), or the Skilled Worker program in Quebec.
Nurses can commonly qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker program through the Express Entry system if their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is high enough.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program under the Express Entry program allows foreign workers who have completed their education and training in another country or region outside of Canada to come to live permanently in Canada.
Under this program, they must meet specific requirements, such as
- speaking English or French fluently, at least at an intermediate level.
- completing an accredited nursing program within three years of applying for permanent residence status through this route;
- having worked full-time for one year after graduation from an accredited program;
- holding a valid nursing license issued by another country;
- being able to pass both written and practical board exams required by each province/territory where licensed
Nurses who earn 50 points or above on the province’s selection grid may also be eligible to immigrate to Canada under the Skilled Worker program.
Each province in Canada has its PNP, leading to permanent residency in Canada. Registered nurses with a university degree in nursing, registered psychiatric nurses with a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in psychiatric nursing, and licensed practical nurses with postsecondary degrees in nursing are all accepted in Canada.
Are there shortages of nurses in Canada?
Nursing is currently one of the most in-demand careers in Canada. It is anticipated that Canada will require up to 60,000 nurses by 2020, which is expected to grow over the following ten years.
You might find work in Canada as a registered nurse, supervisor, allied primary health practitioner, licensed practical nurse, dental nurse, psychiatrist nurse, or nursing aide.
As an experienced nursing assistant, you might make around $41,438 per year; as a professional registered nurse, you could earn up to $128,700 annually.
You must be a licensed nurse in your native country to immigrate to Canada as a nurse. In addition, you must demonstrate your competence, demonstrating that you are qualified to perform at the same level as qualified nurses in Canada.
Conclusion
You can now take the first step towards changing your life. You may want to start with a job search or look into different immigration pathways such as study permits, reuniting with a family member, and working in the United States and other countries.
