Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN)

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must have completed their entry-level nursing education program and must hold current licensure as a RN in either the USA, UK, Ireland, India, Philippines, Australia, or New Zealand to avail of this process.

Applicants are encouraged to review the College’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Fact Sheet for additional information.

The applicant would not qualify for this process if their license:

• Status is Temporary, emergency, conditional or restricted,
• has lapsed,
• is expired, or
• is not in good standing*.
• *Good standing means the applicant is not under review/investigation or is subject to any outstanding complaints with a nursing regulator and there are no conditions or restrictions on any nursing license or registration held.

The applicant will be required to successfully pass an RN registration exam (NCLEX-RN).  Some applicants may have already passed NCLEX-RN. For those who have not taken NCLEX-RN they may be eligible for an Interim (time-limited) License while they wait to take the exam.

Application Process

All applicants are required to complete an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) before they apply to the College. An ECA is used to verify the applicant’s education. Any costs are paid directly to the selected provider and are not part of the College registration fees. Applicants may apply to have their credentials assessed through one of the following designated ECA organizations.

• 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)
• International Credential Evaluation Service – British Columbia Institute of Technology
• National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)

Depending upon the information gathered more detailed information may be required.

If an applicant has already completed an ECA for immigration purposes, they can contact the ECA provider and request a copy be sent to the College.

The IEN must:

1 Complete the provisional registration application and pay the application fee ($172.50).

2 Submit two (2) of the following government issued identification documents:

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

3 Submit marriage certificate and/or legal change of name document (if applicable)

4 Submit a current Criminal Record Check (<6 months old).

Applicants must review the College’s CRC Factsheet for additional information.

• i. Applicants who are currently in Canada are encouraged to avail of the following 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. If an applicant obtains a CRC through local police or the RCMP the original hard copy of the CRC will need to be submitted to the College via mail or drop off.
• ii. Applicants who are not currently in Canada and do not have Canadian immigration status must provide a CRC for each country they have lived in.
  Applicants may be able to use CSI Screening for countries outside Canada. Contact CSI to explore options or obtain a CRC through local/national police services in the applicable country and mail the original hard copy document to the College.

5 Meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) through education, registration status, language proficiency testing, or experience.

• Applicants must review the College’s ELP Factsheet to determine if they need to submit a test of ELP or if they meet one of the other methods of demonstrating ELP.

6 Identify all jurisdictions where the applicant is currently and previously registered and licensed.

• In most instances, the College can verify the applicant’s current registration/licensure online. Applicants educated & licensed in India must request a Verification of Registration from the nursing council as licensure cannot be verified online. The College will notify other applicants 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 an applicant does not hold current registration/licensure in one of the designated countries (USA, UK, Ireland, India, Philippines, Australia or New Zealand) they are not eligible for the designated countries pathway.

7 Submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report to the College.

• Applicants must request that their ECA report be sent to the College directly by the approved ECA organization. Contact the ECA organization for information on the process to have the report released. Applicant copies of their ECA report will not be accepted.

8 Provide validation of completion of NCLEX-RN exam (if applicable)

• For those applicants who have already passed NCLEX-RN the College will notify you if further verification of exam result is required.

• For those applicants who have not yet written NCLEX-RN the College will notify you of the process to register for the exam.
  
  Note: applicants may be eligible to apply for an Interim License (IL) while they wait to write the exam or receive validation documentation from the jurisdiction where exam was written. The College will provide individuals with additional information on this process. An interim license is a time-limited permit to practice nursing as a graduate nurse in Newfoundland and Labrador while finalizing requirements for registration.

9 Nursing Employment Information & Practice hours

• Provide employment information for all nursing employer(s) in the last five (5) years.

• Applicants will be required to declare if they have ever been suspended or terminated from any nursing employment. If yes, the applicant will need to provide a brief explanation. The College will notify applicants when additional information is required.

• Applicant must declare the number of hours they practiced as an RN during the previous five (5) years.
  
  *Current registration/licence in one of the one of the designated countries (USA, UK, Ireland, India, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand) with self-report attestation of hours meets the College’s currency of practice requirement.
  *For subsequent annual licensure renewal all registrants must submit proof of practice hours directly from their employer(s).

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.

For those applicants deemed eligible for registration the College will notify you by email and direct you to the next steps to apply for licensure. The annual licensure fee is $412.47 plus Professional Liability Protection fee ($78.20) paid directly to the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS).

For those applicants deemed eligible for provisional registration (yet to write NCLEX-RN) the College will notify you by email and direct you to the next steps to apply interim licensure. An interim licence is a time-limited (4 month) permit to practice nursing in Newfoundland & Labrador while finalizing the registration requirements. The Interim licence fee is $156.40 plus Professional Liability Protection fee ($78.20) paid directly to Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS).

Individuals who practise without a valid practicing or interim licence will be subject to an Unauthorized Practice Fee ($100/shift worked with a maximum fee of three times the regular licensure cost) and subject to discipline where the period of practice exceeds 3 shifts from and including the 1st shift.

Eligibility Criteria

You were educated as a Registered Nurse and completed your nursing education outside of Canada, US, UK, Ireland, India, Philippines, New Zealand, or Australia.

Applicants are encouraged to review the College’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Fact Sheet for additional information.

The applicant is not eligible for this process if:

• Not educated at the RN level but were educated as a practical nurse, midwife, or completed as your entry to practice a specialized nursing education program in psychiatric, pediatrics or learning disability nursing.
• Licensure status is not in good standing*.
  *Good standing means the applicant is not under review/investigation or is subject to any outstanding complaints with a nursing regulator and there are no conditions or restrictions on any nursing license or registration held.

Application Process

All applicants are required to complete an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) before they apply to the College. An ECA is used to verify the applicant’s education. Any costs are paid directly to the selected provider and are not part of the College registration fees. Applicants may apply to have their credentials assessed through one of the approved designated ECA organizations.

• 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)
• International Credential Evaluation Service – British Columbia Institute of Technology
• National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)

Depending upon the information gathered more detailed information may be required.

If an applicant has already completed an ECA for immigration purposes, you may be able to contact the provider and request a copy be sent to the College.

The IEN must:

1 Complete the provisional registration application and pay the application fee ($172.50).

2 Submit two (2) of the following government issued identification documents:

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

3 Submit marriage certificate and/or legal change of name document (if applicable)

4 Submit a current Criminal Record Check (<6 months old).
Applicants must review the College’s CRC Factsheet for additional information.

• Applicants who are currently in Canada are encouraged to avail of the following 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. If an applicant obtains a CRC through local police or the RCMP the original hard copy of the CRC will need to be submitted to the College via mail or drop off.
• Applicants who are not currently in Canada and do not have Canadian immigration status must provide a CRC for each country they have lived in.
  Applicants may be able to use CSI Screening for countries outside Canada. Contact CSI to explore options or obtain a CRC through local/national police services in the applicable country and mail the original hard copy document to the College.

5 Meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) through education, registration status, language proficiency testing, or experience.

• Applicants must review the College’s ELP Factsheet to determine if they need to submit a test of ELP or if they meet one of the other methods of demonstrating ELP.

6 Identify all jurisdictions where the applicant is currently and previously registered and licensed.

• A Verification of Registration document will be required from the jurisdiction where originally registered and from each jurisdiction where the applicant is 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.

7 Provide validation of completion of NCLEX-RN exam (if applicable)

• For those applicants who have already passed NCLEX-RN the College will notify you if further verification of exam result is required.

8 Submit copy of Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report to the College.

• Applicants must request that their ECA report be sent to the College directly by the approved ECA organization. Contact the ECA organization for information on the process to have the report released. Applicant copies of their ECA report will not be accepted.

9 Nursing Employment Information & Practice hours

• Provide employment information for all nursing employer(s) in the last five (5) years.
• Applicants will be required to declare if they have ever been suspended or terminated from any nursing employment. If yes, the applicant will need to provide a brief explanation. The College will notify applicants when additional information is required.
• Applicant must declare the number of hours they practiced as an RN during the previous five (5) years.
  * Current registration/licence with self-report attestation of hours meets the College’s currency of practice requirement.
  * The College will notify applicants if verification of practice hours documentation is required by current or previous employer(s).
  * For subsequent annual licensure renewal all registrants must submit proof of practice hours directly from their employer(s).

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:

• Meets Education requirements and currency of practice requirements: Eligible for interim licence and authority to take NCLEX-RN exam.
• Meets Education requirements but does not meet currency of practice requirements:
  • May be eligible for interim licence with Conditions (IL-C) to participate in Supervised Practice Experience Program (SPEP) with NL employer to gain currency of hours (450 hours), OR
  • May be required to complete IEN bridging/re-entry program
• Does not meet education requirements.
  • May be required to complete an assessment of your competencies (NCAS – Nursing Community Assessment Service) and based on your performance may be required to complete bridging education to address competency gaps and/or may be eligible for interim licence with conditions (IL-C) to participate in Supervised Practice Experience Program (SPEP) with NL employer to gain currency of hours (450 hours), OR
  • May be eligible for interim licence with restrictions (IL-R) – specific to applicants who are missing specific content areas from their nursing education program (e.g. pediatrics), OR
  • May be required to complete the IEN bridging/re-entry program, OR
  • May have an option to complete NL employer specific orientation to address gaps identified through NCAS assessment depending on competency gap analysis.