BCCNM offers an expedited application process for eligible RNs from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom because evidence shows that nursing education and practice in these countries is somewhat comparable to RN practice in Canada.
Important: Who should apply
- Eligibility for expedited application process
- To be eligible to apply through this expedited process,
you must:
- Have graduated from an approved registered nurse education program in Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom that led to initial RN licensure.
AND
- Meet the currency requirement by completing the the nursing education program, or completing 1,125 verified practice hours within the preceding five years.
If you
do not meet these requirements, please apply through the regular
internationally educated RN application process.
- Eligibility for RN licensure
What you need to know
- Immigration
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We strongly recommend that you have the permits required to legally work in Canada before you apply to BCCNM to avoid delays in processing your application. Visit the
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website or the
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program for more information.
- Application fees
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- Scams targeting IEN applicants
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How to apply
To work through the licensing process as quickly as possible, we recommend that you apply and complete the requirements for BCCNM and Inspire at the same time.
- 1A. Apply to Inspire Global Assessments
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- Apply to Inspire Global Assessments (Inspire).
- Inspire will confirm your identity and evaluate your English language proficiency, your education credentials, and your nursing skills and knowledge through a competency assessment.
- Inspire will provide this information to BCCNM, and we will review it as part of our assessment.
- 1B. Apply to BCCNM
-
- Create a
BCCNM account (if you haven't already) and apply for practising licensure.
- 2. Verification of nursing practice and licensure
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- We will confirm any nursing practice and licensure.
- Licensing Services will provide instructions and forms to send to employers and nursing regulators.
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Forms must be sent to BCCNM directly from the employer or regulator and must be completed in English.
- 3. Required coursework
- To learn about the Canadian health care system and nursing practice, completion of
one of the courses is required. You can take the course at any time. Once you have completed the course, please ask the school to send BCCNM a confirmation of course completion:
- 4. Provisional licensure & transitional practice experience
- After you've completed your coursework, you will be eligible for a provisional licence while you complete a transitional practice experience (TPE).
Transitional practice experience requirements
- 250 hours of nursing practise, completed with one employer.
- TPE completion within one year of provisional licensure being granted.
- Employer submits a short
employee evaluation form after you have completed 250 practice hours.
Finding your employer
- You will need to find an employer to complete your TPE.
Health Match BC may be able to help you find an employer.
- Once you have an offer of employment, please sent your manager's name and contact information to
registrationmonitoring@bccnm.ca.
- 5. Regulatory exam
- When you are granted a provisional licence, we will send you instructions to register for NCLEX-RN, the RN regulatory exam.
- 6. Practising licence
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After you pass the NCLEX-RN and have satisfied all other requirements, limits, and conditions, you will be eligible for practising licensure. No action is required from you; we will notify you to confirm that your practising licence has been granted.
- 7. Familiarize yourself with nursing practice in British Columbia
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Assessing your application
- Good character
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Good character refers to having the qualities and traits relevant to nursing, such as:
- moral or ethical strength;
- integrity, integrity, candour, empathy and honesty;
- an appreciation of the difference between right and wrong; and
- the moral fibre to do that which is right and not to do that which is wrong.
To determine if you meet the good character eligibility standard, the information we consider includes:
- the completeness, correctness, and accuracy of the information you provided on the application form or in any communication with BCCNM;
- past or current regulatory investigations and outcomes;
- outstanding criminal charges, convictions for crimes, and other breaches of laws;
- past or current workplace investigations;
- concerns raised from educational institutions;
- any history of unethical or dishonest behaviour;
- disrespectful conduct when engaging with BCCNM;
- your explanation, and context, for past events;
- steps taken to rehabilitate after past actions and/or misconduct;
- character and employment references; and
- reflections and insights demonstrating an appreciation of the problematic nature and harms caused by past actions and/or misconduct.
- Capacity to practice
- Capacity is having the competence to practice without undue impairments by a health condition. If you have disclosed, or other information indicates you have, a health condition that may currently impair your ability to practice competently, the information we consider includes:
- complaints, in any jurisdiction, related to your competence and/or capacity;
- past or current regulatory investigations and outcomes;
- outstanding criminal charges, convictions for crimes, and other breaches of laws;
- past or current workplace investigations;
- concerns raised by education institutions;
- substantial breaks in practice;
- self-disclosure of a current, or recently manifested, physical or mental ailment, an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or problematic substance use, that may impair your physical, mental, or emotional ability or capacity, to practise;
- your explanation, and context, for a past event;
- information from treating physician(s), specialist(s), or other healthcare provider, who can provide an opinion as to your current health status, it’s potential to impair competence to practice, any recommendations for safe entrance into the profession, (we only request this information in certain circumstances);
- supports and/or strategies you have in place; and
- reference letters.
- Equivalency determination
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- An equivalency determination considers whether an applicant has the knowledge, skills, abilities and judgement substantially equivalent to what is expected of a graduate of a
BCCNM-recognized nursing education program.
- BCCNM will review competency assessment report, education, identity, language proficiency, licensing history, and practice experience holistically to determine whether the applicant meets the substantial equivalency eligibility standard.
- The applicant will be notified of the outcome of the equivalency determination and, if their education and practice are not considered substantially equivalent, transitional education or experience will be identified to address any deficiencies or gaps.
- Under the Health Professions and Occupations Act, applicants may be eligible to
apply for a reconsideration of a BCCNM equivalency determination.