Nursing in Canada (FAQs)

How long does the process take?
The process is separated into four components:

- Nurse Registration: the length of time for registration depends upon how quickly the provincial licensing board receives all the required documentation; the process usually takes 3-6 months.

- Job placement: depends on your qualifications, work experience, references and the healthcare job market demand at the time of your eligibility to practice on interim permit. A good nurse gets a job offer in 3-6 months from the moment of her job application, especially if the nurse has experience in one of the nursing specialities in demand in Canada: Intensive Care, Cardiac Care, Emergency, Operating Room. Nurses without extensive experience usually get a job in 6-12 months or more.Applicants must also be aware that due to the continuously changing healthcare job market in Canada, placement is not guaranteed for all applicants. The Canadian healthcare employers usually pick the best international nurses, who are able to prove extensive hospital experience, have excellent work references, are fluent in English and can adapt fairly quickly to the Canadian healthcare setting. Generally if the nurse does not receive a job offer with 12 months, the possibility of getting a job is low and we advise the applicant to increase her chances by taking a speciality course and/or obtaining more experience in one of the the nursing specialities in demand in Canada.

- HRDC confirmation: once a job offer is received the application is assessed by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) which will confirm the job offer once enough proof was provided that no Canadian applicants were found for the job; the approval process takes usually 3-4 weeks.

- Work visa application: once a HRDC approved job offer was received by applicant, the work visa process can take 2-8 more weeks


Do I have to write an exam in Canada?
Yes, you will have to take the Canadian RN Examination within 8 months after landing in Canada. The provincial licensing board will assess your school credentials and compare them to the Canadian requirements for registration. In case you meet the requirements you will be declared eligible to write the Canadian RN Exam.

Am I eligible for relocation assistance?
For some candidates (depending on experience, specialization, etc.) the employer may offer relocation assistance and in some cases temporary accommodation upon arrival in CANADA. But these are not an obligation of the employer and we generally advice candidates not to mention this request to the employer until they are informed that they have passed 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 $21.8-$32.5 CND.

What is the cost of living in Canada?
Will I be able to save some money while working in Canada?
Take note that the cost of living differs from one Province to another, and is higher in larger cities than in small towns. Toronto is the most expensive city to live in Canada, follwed closly by Vancouver, on the West Coast.

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 since 1998 a 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 written from an employer before he or she can apply, but can apply once the family is already in Canada.

I am interested in Immigration to Canada. Can I get the Permanent Resident status in Canada?
Once you are fully registered and permanently employed in Canada you are eligible to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency / Landed Immigrant Status, which can lead to Canadian Citizenship after 36 months of Canadian residency. However we advise you to complete first one year of employment in Canada before applying for residency, as this will greatly increase your chances of being accepted.

How much will the whole process cost me?
- assessment and processing of work visa, payable to Immigration Canada is currently CAN $150 - the medical examination undertaken in your home country; fee varies from CAN $150-$100- assessment fees for nurse registration in Canada, payable to the licensing board; fee varies from CAN $150-$250 - other expenses are the plane ticket and some pocket money that you will have to bring to Canada for your basic needs until you will receive your first paycheck.


Source: newsolutionscanada