Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN)

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the expedited Designated Countries Pathway, you must:

1. have completed your entry-level nursing education program in one of the designated countries, and
2. hold current licensure in good standing as an RN in at least one of the designated countries.

Required Documents

a. Two (2) government issued identification documents. Eligible documents include:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Driver’s License
• Permanent resident card
• Citizenship card
• Immigration card

b. Change of Name documentation such as marriage certificate and/or legal change of name document (if applicable)

c. A current Criminal Record Check (<6 months old). Please see the CRC Factsheet for additional information.

You are encouraged to use the online CRC service provider – CSI Screening – and select the Canadian Criminal Record Check (econsent). CSI will provide your results electronically to the College within 24-48 hours.

d. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)

An ECA confirms that you graduated from an accredited nursing education program and determines the general academic level of the credential in Canada.

The ECA can be obtained through the credential assessment organizations designated by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). If you have already completed an ECA for immigration purposes, you can contact the ECA provider and request a copy be sent to the College.

If you have not yet completed an ECA, you can use one of the following organizations and request that your report be sent to the College:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• Note: IQAS is unable to provide a copy of an applicant’s transcripts with an ECA report. Applicants who use IQAS, in addition to their ECA report, must request an official copy of their transcripts be sent directly to the College from their nursing education program(s).
• International Credential Evaluation Service – British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Note: ICES is unable to provide a copy of an applicant’s transcripts with an ECA report. Applicants who use ICES, in addition to their ECA report, must request an official copy of their transcripts be sent directly to the College from their nursing education program(s).
• National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)
• CGFNS International – Credentials Evaluation Services (CES)
• Note: applicants who have received a CGFNS CES report may request a copy of their report be forwarded to the College. Applicants will need to apply for re-evaluation service.

Associated costs are paid directly to the selected provider and are not part of the College registration fees.

Additional Documentation

You may also be required to submit additional documentation in order to complete your application. The College will notify you if the following documents are required:

1. English Language Proficiency (ELP)
   Review the College’s ELP Factsheet to determine if you need to submit a test of ELP or if you meet one of the other methods of demonstrating proficiency.
   
2. Verification of Registration
   You will identify all jurisdictions where you are currently and previously registered/licensed as an RN/NP on your application.
   
   In most instances, the College can verify your current registration/licensure online. The College will notify you when additional information is required and if a Verification of Registration from another regulatory body will need to be sent directly to the College.
   
   If you were educated and/or licensed in India, you must request a Verification of Registration from the nursing council as licensure cannot be verified online.
   
3. NCLEX-RN Exam
   If you have already passed NCLEX-RN, the College will notify you if further verification of your exam result is required.
   
   If you have not yet written NCLEX-RN, the College will notify you of the process to register for the exam following the review of your application.
   
   Note: you may be eligible to apply for an Interim License (IL) and practice as a graduate nurse while your wait to write the exam or receive validation documentation from the jurisdiction where exam was written. The College will provide eligible individuals with additional information on this process.
   
4. Nursing Employment History
   As part of your application, you will provide employment information for all your nursing employer(s) in the last five (5) years. You will also declare if you have ever been suspended or terminated from any nursing employment.
   
   If you answer yes, you will need to provide a brief explanation. The College will notify you if additional information is required.
   
5. Practice Hours (Currency of Practice)
   You will declare the number of hours you practiced as an RN during the previous five (5) years.
   
   Confirmation of your hours from your employer is not required for the application. However, for subsequent annual licensure renewal you must submit proof of practice hours directly from your employer(s).

Next Steps

Once all required information has been received and approved by the College, you will be provided with a decision within 5-7 business days.

Eligible for Registration (Practicing License)

If you are deemed eligible for registration, the College will notify you by email and direct you to the next steps to apply for a practicing license.

The annual licensure fee is $412.47 plus Professional Liability Protection fee ($78.20) paid directly to the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS).

Eligible for Provisional Registration (Interim License)

If your application is approved but you have not yet written the NCLEX-RN, the College will notify you by email and direct you to the next steps to write the exam and apply for an interim license.

An interim licence is a time-limited (4 month) permit to practice nursing while finalizing your registration requirements. The Interim licence fee is $156.40 plus Professional Liability Protection fee ($78.20) paid directly to Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS).

Eligibility Criteria

You are eligible to apply for registration using the general registration pathway if you:

1. were educated outside of one of the designated countries¹ and/or
2. you are not currently licensed in good standing² in one of the designated countries.

¹ The designated countries are USA, UK, Ireland, India, Philippines, Australia, or New Zealand

² Good standing means the applicant is not under review/investigation or subject to any outstanding complaints with a nursing regulator and there are no conditions or restrictions on any nursing license or registration held.

Required Documents

Your application will not be reviewed until the following documents are received:

a. Two (2) government issued identification documents. Eligible documents include:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Driver’s License
• Permanent resident card
• Citizenship card
• Immigration card

b. Change of Name documentation such as marriage certificate and/or legal change of name document (if applicable)

c. A current Criminal Record Check (<6 months old). Please see the CRC Factsheet for additional information.

You are encouraged to use the online CRC service provider – CSI Screening – and select the Canadian Criminal Record Check (econsent). CSI will provide your results electronically to the College within 24-48 hours.

d. A Verification of Registration document will be required from the jurisdiction where you originally registered and from each jurisdiction where you are currently registered or licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse. The verification of registration from another regulatory body will need to be sent directly to the College.

e. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
An ECA confirms that you graduated from an accredited nursing education program and determines the general academic level of the credential in Canada.

The ECA can be obtained through the credential assessment organizations designated by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).  If you have already completed an ECA for immigration purposes, you can contact the ECA provider and request a copy be sent to the College.

If you have not yet completed an ECA, you can use one of the following organizations and request that your report be sent to the College:

• World Education Services (WES) 
• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• Note: IQAS is unable to provide a copy of an applicant’s transcripts with an ECA report. Applicants who use IQAS, in addition to their ECA report, must request an official copy of their transcripts be sent directly to the College from their nursing education program(s).
• International Credential Evaluation Service – British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Note: ICES is unable to provide a copy of an applicant’s transcripts with an ECA report. Applicants who use ICES, in addition to their ECA report, must request an official copy of their transcripts be sent directly to the College from their nursing education program(s).
• National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)
• CGFNS International – – Credentials Evaluation Services (CES)
• Note: applicants who have received a CGFNS CES report may request a copy of their report be forwarded to the College. Applicants will need to apply for re-evaluation service.

Associated costs are paid directly to the selected provider and are not part of the College registration fees.

Additional Documentation

You may also be required to submit additional documentation in order to complete your application. The College will notify you if the following documents are required:

1. English Language Proficiency (ELP)
   Review the College’s ELP Factsheet to determine if you need to submit a test of ELP or if you meet one of the other methods of demonstrating proficiency.
   
2. NCLEX-RN Exam
   If you have already passed NCLEX-RN, the College will notify you if further verification of your exam result is required.
   
   If you have not yet written NCLEX-RN, the College will notify you of the process to register for the exam following the review of your application.
   
   Note: you may be eligible to apply for an Interim License (IL) and practice as a graduate nurse while your wait to write the exam or receive validation documentation from the jurisdiction where exam was written. The College will provide eligible individuals with additional information on this process.
   
3. Nursing Employment History
   As part of your application, you will provide employment information for all your nursing employer(s) in the last five (5) years. You will also declare if you have ever been suspended or terminated from any nursing employment.
   
   If you answer yes, you will need to provide a brief explanation. The College will notify you if additional information is required.
   
4. Practice Hours (Currency of Practice)
   You will declare the number of hours you practiced as an RN during the previous five (5) years.
   
   Confirmation of your hours from your employer is not required for the application. However, for subsequent annual licensure renewal you must submit proof of practice hours directly from your employer(s).

Next Steps

Once all required information has been received and approved by the College, the applicant will be provided with a decision within 5-7 business days.

Based on a review of your nursing education program and currency of practice hours there are a variety of pathways to registration:

Meet Education Requirements

a. If you have currency of practice,

• you may be eligible for an interim license and be given authorization to write the NCLEX-RN exam (if you have not already passed the exam)

b. If you do not have currency of practice:

• you may be eligible for an interim license to participate in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEPP) with NL employer to gain currency of practice, OR
• you may be required to complete an IEN bridging/re-entry program

Does Not Meet Education Requirements

The following options are available depending on the outcome of the review of your application:

a. Competency Based Assessment

• You may be required to complete an assessment of your competencies using the Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS). The outcome of the NCAS will determine whether you are required to complete bridging education to address competency gaps. OR
• You may be eligible for interim licence with conditions (IL-C) to participate in Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEPP)
• You may have an option to complete NL employer specific orientation to address gaps identified through NCAS assessment depending on competency gap analysis.

b. Missing Specific Content Areas

• If you are missing specific content areas from your nursing program (e.g., pediatrics), you may be eligible for an interim licence with restrictions (IL-R) that will allow you to practice while you complete the required education.

c. IEN bridging/re-entry program

• You may be required to complete the IEN bridging/re-entry program.