Internationally Educated Nurses: Applying for Registration in Alberta

English: A view from the south of the University Hospital complex on the north campus of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

IMPORTANT: To work or accept employment in Alberta, Canada, Licensed Practical Nurses must have registration and a valid Practice Permit from the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA), as per the Health Professions Act (HPA) of Alberta.

Starting August 12, 2014, all internationally educated nurses (IENs) who wish to work as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Alberta must FIRST apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS).

Any applications that CLPNA receives from IENs on or after August 12, 2014 will be returned to applicants with instructions on how to apply through NNAS.

Applying to NNAS is for any internationally educated nurse (IEN) applicant who:

• is a graduate of a nursing education program outside of Canada; and
• is not currently registered to practice as a nurse anywhere within Canada as a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN).

If you do not meet the above criteria, see “If you are not eligible to apply through NNAS”

Already applied? Applicants who have already submitted their IEN Application for Registration and paid the required fee to CLPNA on or before August 11, 2014 will be assessed under our former process and will not be required to reapply through NNAS.

Did you read The LPN Profession in Alberta?

How to Apply

Effective August 12, 2014, all internationally educated nurses must follow these steps (in order):

1. Apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)

   1. Set up an online account with National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) at www.nnas.ca.
   2. Complete the online application.
   3. Pay the required fee.
   4. Follow the instructions about which documents to submit for verification.
   5. Once your file is complete, NNAS will evaluate it and provide you with online access to an Advisory Report, which contains the results of the evaluation. NNAS will also send a copy of this report to the relevant regulatory body.
   6. You can now apply directly to the regulatory body of your choice and pay their application fee. You will be able to do this from your NNAS online account.

2. Apply to the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)

   1. After submitting your NNAS Advisory Report to CLPNA, CLPNA will ask you to complete an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Application for Registration and pay the required fee.
   2. Once your file is complete, CLPNA will assess your file to determine whether you meet CLPNA’s:
      1. Registration Requirements for Internationally Educated Nurses (PDF)
      2. English Language Testing Standards
   3. CLPNA will notify you if you’ve been approved for registration and/or if further requirements need to be met.

Questions about the NNAS application process? Contact NNAS’s Customer Care Department at www.nnas.ca/help.

Questions about the CLPNA’s registration process? Contact CLPNA’s International Services Department at international@clpna.com or 780-484-8886.

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If you are not eligible to apply through NNAS

Those not qualified to apply through NNAS have several options:

• If you were previously registered/licensed as an Licensed Practical Nurse (or Registered Practical Nurse) in any jurisdiction/province in Canada, you may apply for registration using another route:

• I was Previously Registered/Licensed as a LPN in Alberta
• I was Registered/Licensed as a LPN in Another Canadian Province/Territory

• Individuals who do not meet NNAS or CLPNA’s registration requirements are advised to contact the schools below for the assessment of nursing credentials and/or clinical competence. Completion of a Practical Nurse program may be required.

Anyone who has not practiced as a nurse in the past ten (10) years is required to complete a full Practical Nurse program.

NorQuest CollegeOffice of Registrar
10232 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1L6
Phone 780-644-6000Intake: Continuous
Website: Practical Nurse Refresher

Bow Valley CollegeProspective Student Centre
332-6 Avenue SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 4S6
recruiting@bowvalleycollege.caPhone: 403-410-1402Intake: January, April, August
Website: Practical Nurse Diploma for Internationally Educated Nurses

FOR THOSE EDUCATED IN A NON-NURSING PROFESSION

Individuals not previously educated in nursing (ie. paramedics, physicians, midwifes, etc), but interested in becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Alberta, should contact NorQuest College or Bow Valley College to determine if any transfer credit may apply.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR IENS

English Language Testing Standards

The LPN Professional in Alberta

Related articles

• Benefits of an Online Nursing Degree

How to work as an international Trained Nurse in Ontario

Czech nursing students. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Ontario, nursing is one profession with two categories – Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs). RNs and RPNs study from the same body of nursing knowledge. Programs for RN students are longer and more in depth, while RPN students study for a shorter time, resulting in a more focused body of knowledge.

If you are an internationally trained nurse and you want to practise in Ontario you must register with the College of Nurses of Ontario. To find out how to register, view the career map in the ‘Tools and Information’ section of this page.

Tools and Information

The Ontario Government has partnered with the College of Nurses of Ontario to create a Career Map for internationally trained nurses. The Career Map explains in detail every step of the registration process including the language requirements, labour market conditions, the credential assessment process and other important information.

Getting Help

DID YOU KNOW?

HealthForceOntario offers a number of services to health professionals, including a recruitment centre and jobs listing service.

Entry to practice requirements: You can find information on how you can practise as a regulated nurse in Ontario on HealthForceOntario.

Bridge training programs: If you are qualified in your profession but new to Ontario, you may benefit from a bridging program. Bridging programs help qualified immigrants move more quickly into their professions without duplicating what they have already learned.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) for Internationally Educated Nurses

York University

This program helps internationally educated nurses obtain the credentials needed to practice as a registered nurse in Ontario. The program offers participants academic training, skills upgrading, language training and clinical experience.

Program graduates receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and are qualified to write the Canadian Registered Nurses Exam.

Website: http://nurs.info.yorku.ca/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing-for-internationally-educated-nurses/
Contact: Heather Maunder
Telephone: 416-736-2100 ext. 30009
Email: ien@yorku.ca
Location: Toronto

Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN)

Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology

This program helps internationally educated nurses meet the regulatory requirements to become registered nurses and registered practical nurses in the province of Ontario. The program provides participants with academic and occupation-specific language training, registration exam preparation support as well as supervised clinical placements and mentorship opportunities.

Website: www.fanshawec.ca/programs-courses/gateway-international-professionals/professional-bridging-programs/nursing-credenti
Email: bien@fanshawec.ca
Telephone: 519-667-2392
Location: London

Practical Nursing Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Nurses

Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology

This program offers courses in occupation-specific language, workplace culture and communication, technical skills, clinical practice in simulation labs, Canadian work experience opportunities, employment preparation workshops and exam preparation.

Centennial College also offers pre-program courses for internationally educated nurses waiting for their Letter of Direction from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). The pre-program prepares internationally educated nurses for success in Centennial College’s main bridge training diploma program.

Website: http://www.centennialcollege.ca/Programs/ProgramOverview.aspx?Program=9352
Email: healthstudies@centennialcollege.ca
Telephone: 416-289-5303
Location: Toronto

Building Internationally Educated Nurses’ Intercultural Competence through Technologically Enhanced Learning

York University

This program is designed to increase internationally educated nurses’ intercultural awareness using technology enhanced learning. This program is a component of York University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses program, and is available to participants of the program.

Website: www.intercc.info/
Contact: Dr. Patricia Bradley
Telephone: 416-736 2100 ext 33182
Email: bradleyp@yorku.ca
Location: Toronto

CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses

CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses

This program provides exam preparation, nursing-specific language training, counselling, financial advice, workshops, job shadowing, networking opportunities and job shadowing through health agencies in Ontario. CARE now has locations in Toronto, Brampton, Hamilton, Kingston and London.

Contact: Susan VanDeVelde-Coke, Executive Director
Website: www.care4nurses.org
Email: zramji@care4nurses.org
Telephone: 416-226-2800 ext 226
Location: Toronto, Hamilton, Peel, London, Windsor

Academic Pathway for Nurses Graduate Certificate

George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology

This program helps internationally educated nurses prepare for registration and employment by providing academic coursework, clinical placements, training workshops as well as mentoring and job search support opportunities. On-line courses will be developed and delivered in order to increase the flexibility of the program for participants. Completing the program leads to a nursing graduate certificate.

Website: http://coned.georgebrown.ca/owa_prod/cewskcrss.P_Certificate?area_code=PA0042&cert_code=CE0133
Email: gbradley@georgebrown.ca
Telephone: 416-415-5000 ext. 2872
Location: Toronto

Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) & English as a Second Language (ESL) Nursing Project

Hamilton Health Sciences

This program is for internationally trained registered nurses and registered practical nurses working at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre. The program provides services to address training and employment needs from recruitment and orientation to full clinical integration. The program also includes clinical assessment, clinical skills development, problem-solving, communication skills training, team relationships, professionalism and managing conflict in a hospital setting.

Website: www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/body.cfm?id=2257
Contact: Daniela Dijmarescu, Project Manager
Telephone: 905-521-2100 ext. 77512
Email: dijmares@hhsc.ca
Location: Hamilton

IEN Bridging Program

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

This program helps internationally educated nurses meet the requirements necessary to qualify for the registration examination and to practice in Ontario either as registered practical nurses (RPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). The program includes enhanced occupational-specific language training, in-class academic or simulated laboratory training, clinical placements, cultural competency, workplace preparation and registration exam support.

Website: www2.algonquincollege.com/healthandcommunity/
Contact: Michelle Morley, Coordinator
Email: morleym@algonquincollege.com
Telephone: 613-727-4723 ext. 5339
Location: Ottawa

Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses

Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology

Mohawk College's Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses program now provides distance education and online learning opportunities to internationally educated nurses in the Niagara, Kitchener-Waterloo, Halton, and Peel Regions.

This program helps internationally educated nurses prepare for licensure. The program offers prior learning assessment, academic and occupation-specific language training, and work experience opportunities. Upon completion of the program, graduates also receive an Ontario College Certificate from Mohawk College.

Contact: Nancy Brown-Fellows, Program Manager
Telephone: 905-540-4247 ext. 26737
Website: www.mohawkcollege.ca/continuing-education/bridging-international-nurses-certificate.html
Email: http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/continuing-education/contact-us/contact-nancy-brown-fellows.html
Location: Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, Niagara region

"Test for Success": Multifaceted Program to Promote Internationally Educated Nurse Success on the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE)

York University

The "Test for Success" curriculum has been embedded in York University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses program. A website has been created for participants to learn effective test-taking strategies and take practice tests in preparation for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination. This component is available only to participants of the BScN for Internationally Educated Nurses program.

Website: http://nurs.info.yorku.ca/
Contact: Dr. Patricia Bradley
Telephone: 416-736-2100 ext. 33182
Email: bradleyp@yorku.ca
Location: Toronto

Regulatory Body

College of Nurses of Ontario
101 Davenport Road
Toronto, ON M5R 3P1
Telephone: 416-928-0900
Toll Free 1-800-387-5526
Fax: 416-928-6507
Email: cno@cnomail.org
Website: www.cno.org

To learn about occupations in Canada, visit Job Bank.Learning More

This site will help you identify the name of your occupation in Canada. It will also give you important information about your profession in many regions of Canada, including job duties, skill requirements and wage rates.


Source: http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/working/OI_HOW_WORK_NURSE.html