Nurses Immigrating To Canada

Steps to Follow to Become a Nurse

Foreign-born workers hoping to establish themselves in Canada as nurses must first follow a few simple steps:

  1. Research each provincial association
  2. Self-Assess and Apply to a Province
  3. Once your temporary permit is granted, apply for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE)

For more information on Canadian permanent residency (without a job offer):
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Nova Scotia Regional Labour Market Demand Stream [TEMPORARILY CLOSED]

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 Provincial Information

Each province has different procedures and specifications for nurses applying to work in Canada. Consult the table below for province-specific information pertaining to nursing applicants.

Province Procedure Processing

Time

Fee Language Proficiency Test Additional 

Qualifications

PNP

Option

Application Forms
Alberta

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 3-6 Months $525.00 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version)

 

Minimum Scores

   

 Generally people from Philippines, India and Nigeria must complete Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) assessment. Yes  http://bit.ly/JfmUZm
British Colombia

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience.

If deemed qualified they will receive approval, if not they will be asked to do a Substantially Equivalent Competency (SEC) Assessment.

3-6 Months $560.00 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version)  

Minimum Scores

No bias toward one country.

Everyone is assed individually. 

Yes http://bit.ly/K0dc13 
Manitoba

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 4-6 months $525.00 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version) 

French: TEF

 

Minimum Scores

 

 No bias. Each applicant is assessed individually. No  http://bit.ly/KfK5Dr 
New Brunswick

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 4-6 Months

 

$452.00 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version) French: TEF

Minimum Scores

   

Generally people from Philippines, India and Nigeria must complete Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) assessment.  Claims unbiased.   Yes http://bit.ly/KXnfBn 
Newfoundland and Labrador

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 3-6 Months (Possibly more due to backlog) $169.50 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version) or TOEFL

Minimum Scores

Generally people from Philippines, India and Nigeria must complete Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) assessment   Yes  http://www.arnnl.ca/pg.php?p=9
Nova Scotia

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 6-8 Months $469.20 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version)

Minimum Scores

 There is no bias, Each Applicant is assessed on an individual basis by an “Assessment Consultant”  Yes  Part 1: http://bit.ly/KkBLEB
Part 2: http://bit.ly/JM0EeM
Part 3: http://bit.ly/KO7fFx
Part 4: http://bit.ly/JuisHq
Part 5: http://bit.ly/KdHhtZ
Ontario

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Each applicant receives a personalized application.

While they do not provide a lot information they do seem to be more organized than the other provinces.

3-5 months once all information is received.

 

RPN: $226.00

RN: $678.00

NP: $226.00

   Each applicant is assessed individually and there is no public information as to problems between countries.  Yes  Must Request Form: http://bit.ly/JAfEgK
Quebec

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience and go through integration program 3-6 Months $594.99 French Nurses educated in certain countries* are entitled to take the integration program in a hospital, while others must take it in a classroom   Yes  Must Request Form: http://bit.ly/JSOjqm
Prince Edward Island

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 4-6 months once all documents are received

 

$500.00 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version) or TOEIC

Minimum Scores

 No bias Yes – but require min. of 50 pts on Self-Assessment Form  http://bit.ly/Ku7zYn 
Saskatchewan

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Provide Evidence of RN certification, education and work experience 4-6 months

 

$525.00 English: CELBAN or IELTS (Academic Version)

Minimum Scores

 Generally people from Philippines, India and Nigeria must complete Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) assessment.  Yes  http://bit.ly/KfKG8a

* Those trained in Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Spain, Israel, India, Lebanon, Philipinnes, Italy, Brasil can learn directly in a hospital, others learn in classroom settings

For more information on coming to Canada as a nurse, contact FWCanada or fill out our online assessment form.