How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse in 2023
Step-By-Step Guide on how to immigrate to Canada as a Nurse in 2023
Canada is in need of skilled nurses, and the government aims to bring thousands of nurses to the country in 2023 and beyond. It’s a brilliant opportunity to move to Canada and become a permanent resident and ultimately, a Canadian Citizen. You just need to know how to immigrate to Canada as a nurse and in this article, we will provide you with the details you need to know.
There are a number of pathways to immigrate to Canada as a Nurse, you may be qualified to come to Canada as a skilled worker through one of the many economic immigration programs at both the federal and provincial levels.
It goes without saying that Canada is among the most progressive societies in the world where you can practice your profession. Currently, Nursing is among the top in-demand jobs in Canada.
Even before the pandemic, Ottawa’s Job bank employment website was forecasting a shortage of 36,500 nurses for the period from 2019 through 2028.
As a trained Nurse, you could find work in Canada as a registered nurse, supervisor, allied primary health practitioner, licensed practical nurse, dental nurse, psychiatric nurse, or nurse aide. As an experienced Nurse aide, you could earn about $41,438, and as an experienced registered nurse, you could earn up to $128,700 annually.
At the upper end of the wage scale, a nurse in the Canadian territory of Nunavut can earn a median annual wage of $169,045 based on a 37.5-hour work week. The median annual wage for nurses across Canada is $78,000 based on that standard work week.
Before we list some of the main immigration pathways for nurses to immigrate to Canada, it is good to keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. Canada has more than 60 economic immigration programs. Because nursing is considered “skilled work”, and as such, nurses may be eligible for just about any program that has “skilled work” as a requirement.
If you want to immigrate to Canada in 2023, you need to know the different kinds of Nurses in Canada.
To Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse, you are required to be a licensed nurse in your home country. In addition, you will need to prove your competence, and that you are qualified to work at the same level as qualified nurses in Canada.
The following are the different kinds of nurses in Canada:
- Registered Nurses (RN):
RNs are Nurses who have completed a University Nursing degree and have therefore qualified to become General Registered Nurses. - Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN):
RPNs are Nurses who have completed a bachelor’s degree in psychiatric nursing or have a degree in general nursing and a post-graduate degree or additional study in psychiatric nursing. RPNs are regulated to practice in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. - Licensed Practical Nurses Canada or Registered Practical Nurses (LPN):
LPNs are nurses who have completed a post-secondary diploma program in nursing.
Step-By-Step Guide on how to immigrate to Canada as a Nurse in 2023
First Step in How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse. Foreign Nurses Need to Have Their Credentials Evaluated and Recognized.
The first step for a nurse intending to immigrate to Canada is to have his or her academic credentials evaluated to see if they are up to Canadian standards. The Canadian government recognizes five organizations for the assessment of foreign educational credentials.
They are:
- 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 (ICES).
Second Step in How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse:
Once the educational and background checks have been completed, the next step is for the prospective immigrant to have those nursing credentials recognized in Canada by the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), the organization responsible for doing this, and for your information, this step costs $650.
The next step in the process for the foreign national looking to immigrate to Canada as a nurse is to create a profile on the NNAS’s website and application page.
During this stage, you would be required to:
- Submit two proof of identity documents. Proof of Identity documents must be notarized, copies of original documents (signed, dated, and stamped) complete with your signature. This could be your Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Driver’s Licence, International passport, or any other government-issued identification. Notarized documents must be prepared by a government-approved Notary.
- Submit your Nursing Education form. You would download the form from your online profile account, then sign and send it to the school where you trained as a nurse. The form must be completed by each school official and sent directly from the school office to NNAS by mail or courier, along with copies of your academic records/transcript documents, nursing program curriculum/course descriptions, and or course syllabus.
- Submit Nursing Registration Form. Download, print, and sign this form then send it all to the nursing licensing authority where you were licensed or registered outside of Canada. NNAS will not accept your Nursing Registration Form if it is not sent directly from your licensing authority. If you have a diploma that allowed you to work as a nurse in your country, ask the school that issued the diploma to send an official copy (but not the original) of the diploma in its original language to NNAS.
- Submit your Nursing Practice / Employment Form. Sign and send this form to all the employers you have worked for in the past five years. The current year represents year one. NNAS will not accept your Nursing Practice/Employment Form if it is not sent directly from your employer.
- Submit your language proficiency test results. Almost all economic immigration pathways to Canada through the Express Entry program require language proficiency tests. It is essential then for you to prepare and take any of the acceptable language tests such as IELTS or CELPIP. You will need to complete the language test and have the results sent directly to NNAS from your approved language testing agency. If your first language is either English or French, you may not have to complete language testing if the main language where you live and work is English or French, and your nursing education program of instruction was in English or French.
Third Step in How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse:
Foreign Nurses Must Apply to Provincial Regulatory Authorities.
Once all documents have been received by NNAS, you need to submit your application and choose the provincial association and nursing group you are interested in.
So, you need to identify a Canadian province where your skills, qualifications, and experience as an Internationally qualified Nurse match the province’s specific requirements.
You can find the complete list of Canadian provincial nursing regulatory bodies and their specific requirements in the description section below.
After the NNAS assessment, you would then apply to the Nursing medical board in your chosen Province or Territory. NNAS will send completed files to the provincial regulatory bodies so that they can make the final decision about your eligibility to work as a nurse in Canada.
Every territory will use the NNAS report as the basis for bench-marking an applicant’s international nursing skills, experience, and qualifications against those laid down by their respective Nursing Boards.
You would be asked to commence with the registration process once your chosen provincial regulatory body receives the report from NNAS.
List of Provinces and their regulatory bodies involved in Nursing practices across Canada:
- British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals and Midwives;
- College of Registered Nurses of Alberta;
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta;
- College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta;
- Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association;
- Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses;
- Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan;
- College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba;
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba;
- College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba;
- College of Nurses of Ontario;
- Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec;
- Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec;
- Nurses Association of New Brunswick;
- Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses;
- Nova Scotia College of Nursing;
- College of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island;
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Prince Edward Island;
- College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador;
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador;
- Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut;
- Government of Northwest Territories, Registrar, Professional Licensing, Health and Social Services;
- Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut;
- Government of Nunavut, Department of Health;
- Yukon Registered Nurses Association, and;
- Government of Yukon, Yukon Department of Community Services.
Fourth Step in How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse:
After you have completed your Nursing registration with the Provincial regulatory body and you have secured a license, the next stage is to choose the immigration Programme that fits you.
Major immigration options available to prospective immigrants who want to come to Canada as a nurse:
Nurses may be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). These federal immigration programs are managed by the Express Entry system.
Express Entry programs for nurses.
Express Entry is an online system that manages immigration applications for the federal government. Prospective Canadian immigrants submit their profiles to the system and get a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Express Entry candidates get points based on their skilled work experience, age, education, and official language ability, among other factors. The highest-scoring candidates receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in bi-weekly Express Entry draws.
A nurse can qualify for express entry under the Federal Skilled Workers program if they meet the requirements. They are required to score 67 out of 100 possible points based on factors like their education, age, work experience, and language proficiency. The IELTS score requirement for nurses in Express Entry depends on the individual’s complete profile. You need to score at least 6.0 in each of the four language abilities to be eligible for Express Entry.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP):
Eligibility.
The FSWP requires an applicant to have at least one year of continuous work experience within the past 10 years in a skilled occupation. The work experience may have been completed abroad. An FSWP applicant also must score a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French on all four language competencies: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. In addition, they must score at least 67/100 on the six-factor test that assesses candidates’ education level, language skills, and if they have a job offer in Canada.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
Eligibility
The CEC requires one year of skilled work experience within the last three years. The work experience must have been completed in Canada. People applying with work experience at a NOC 0 or A skill level (such as registered nurses) must have at least a CLB 7. Those applying with NOC skill level B experience need a CLB 5.
Neither program requires a person to have a job offer, but having one may increase your likelihood to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Provincial Nominee Program
Although the federal government gets the final say on who can immigrate to Canada, the provinces can nominate certain candidates through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Some PNPs are dedicated specifically to nurses, others just require skilled work experience. Sometimes, PNPs will hold immigration nomination draws specifically for nurses.
Many provinces have more than one program that welcomes nurses. Sometimes PNPs draw candidates from the Express Entry system and invite them to apply for a provincial nomination. If these candidates are nominated, they get 600 CRS points added to their Express Entry score. This award is more than enough to allow the candidate to be invited to apply for permanent residence.
NOC code and skill level are important for eligibility for immigrating to Canada as a Nurse
Nursing falls into one of two categories in the Canadian government’s National Occupation Classification (NOC). Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses fall under NOC skill level A and the code is NOC 3012. Licensed practical nurses, NOC 3233, fall under skill level B.
These codes and skill levels are important in determining which immigration programs you are eligible for, what other criteria you must meet for a particular program, and whether you were invited to apply in a given provincial immigration draw. Keep these in mind as you learn more about Canadian immigration programs for nurses. This code differs according to your occupation description.
Here is a list of some of the PNP pathways for nurses to immigrate to Canada in 2023.
- Ontario:
Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream for foreign skilled workers already in the Express Entry pool;
- British Columbia:
BC PNP Skills Immigration Stream through Health Care Professional Category under its Skilled Immigration and Express Entry pathways;
- Saskatchewan:
The International Healthcare Workers Expression of Interest “EOI” system is open to the health sector occupations including nurses in Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
- Nova Scotia:
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) stream is one the best to immigrate to Canada as a skilled nurse;
- Manitoba:
Nurses are one of the Rural In-demand Occupations in Manitoba through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, the Skilled Workers Stream.
- New Brunswick:
Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and personal support workers are in high demand in New Brunswick.
- Quebec
Quebec Skilled Worker: Quebec operates its own immigration system. While Canada still has the final say on Quebec immigration applications, certain programs like the PNP and Express Entry are not available in Quebec.
Nurses may also be eligible for the Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW) program if they score at least 50 points on the Quebec Selection Grid. The Quebec Skilled Workers Program doesn’t require a minimum required IELTS score. But, depending on your profile, you may be required to have at least a certain score to qualify. You don’t need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your degree. And you don’t need to declare proof of funds for this immigration option.
How can you benefit from this opportunity of how to immigrate to Canada as a Nurse in 2023?
Please, bear in mind that almost all the economic immigration pathways to Canada through the Express Entry program require language proficiency tests. It is essential then for you to prepare and take any of the acceptable language tests such as IELTS. We will recommend that you click on the link below to do an online self-assessment to gauge the level of your English language proficiency.
Secondly, you can go to the second item on the list below to review free sample IELTS test questions to help you prepare.
- The CLB-OSA is an online self-assessment tool for people who are interested in assessing their English as a Second Language (ESL).These tests are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and will assess your language proficiency in reading and listening.
- Sample test questions.There are two types of IELTS tests to choose from, IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests but different Reading and Writing tests. Make sure that you prepare for the correct version of the test.
What’s Next on How to immigrate to Canada as a Nurse in 2023?
If you meet the eligibility requirements and are interested in applying to immigrate to Canada as a nurse, Contact Chugo Immigration Services at 1 403 836 1861 (WhatsApp) or book a Book Consultation for more information on how to apply and to find out if you are eligible.
Once you have completed your IELTS, contact us so that we can guide you in choosing the best pathways as well as help you through the Canadian immigration application process.
What are your other options for Canadian Immigration?
Let us help you to navigate any of the following pathways to Canadian Immigration:
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Humanitarian and Compassionate
- Study to Immigrate
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
- How to Become a Canadian Citizen: Applying for Canadian Citizenship
- Family Sponsorship
- Spousal Sponsorship
- Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Workers Program
- Caregivers
- Canada Business Immigration Programs
- Refugee and Asylum
- Visa rejections and Appeals
Chugo Immigration Service is authorized to offer Canadian Immigration and Citizenship services under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Principal Consultant, Pius Chukwuma Ekwulugo RCIC, is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and has helped many foreigners to start a new life in Canada. We will help you too!
