registered nurse canada

- Nurse Education Requirements in Canada -
Registered Nurse
Licensed Practical Nurse

nurse education

Registered nurse education programs in Canada lead to baccalaureate degree.

Licensed practical nurse programs vary in length from one to two years and are usually in a community college setting.

The nursing profession is regulated in the public interest and nursing education programs prepare graduates to meet the nursing standards and competencies set by the regulatory nursing organizations.



If you want to become a nurse in Canada there are 4 things you should know:

  • to become a registered nurse the education requirement will be a university degree.

  • To become a licensed practical nurse the education requirements vary considerably across the country and range from one to two years of college education.

  • Hospital based programs for nursing education have been eliminated.

  • In order to become a nurse and get a nursing license you must have graduated from an "approved" or "recognized" nursing program.

What does "approved" or "recognized" mean?

The terms "approved" or "recognized" are used to identify nursing programs that meet the education standards set by the provincial regulatory nursing organizations because the nursing profession is regulated in public interest.

One of the ways that regulatory nursing organizations ensure the public is protected is to set standards for education programs. This ensures that graduates will be able to pass the Canadian nursing entrance test and meet all nursing standards of practice once they have a nursing license and are practicing in the nursing profession.

All registered nurse and licensed practical nurse education programs must have regulatory approval or recognition so that graduates can write the Canadian nursing entrance test. Graduates are not allowed to sit the exam unless they have graduated from a program that has met these standards. This is true for both the registered nurse and the licensed practical nurse programs.


Are You an Internationally Educated Registered Nurse?

When you apply to the provincial regulatory nursing authority you will be required to submit your transcripts from the school you graduated from. The nursing courses will be scrutinized for content and hours.

Content

Your basic nursing education must include a sufficient number of hours of nursing theory and practice. This includes:

Registered Nurse Education Facts

Fact #1

Once you have completed the Canadian nursing entrance test and passed, you never have to write it again!

Fact #2

Medical school education is not sufficient to qualify as an "equivalent" to nursing theory.
  • biological sciences
  • social sciences
  • physical assessment
  • health assessment
  • problem solving
  • research
  • legal and ethical issues in nursing
  • social and political trends affecting health care
  • health promotion and illness prevention
  • leadership theory
  • nursing across the lifespan
  • communication, specifically therapeutic communication within the professional helping relationship

Hours

Your transcript must show sufficient hours in both nursing theory and clinical courses with clients across the lifespan and include maternal/child, pediatrics, and mental health nursing.

Substantially Equivalent Competency Assessment (SEC)

Go from this discussion of nurse education requirements to the explanation of the SEC developed at Mount Royal College. It is currently being used in Alberta and British Columbia.

If your paper documentation is not sufficient evidence to show equivalency to that expected in Canada you may be required to take a substantially equivalent competency assessment (SEC). The recommendation for an SEC is made by the provincial regulatory body.

Re-entry nurse education programs

All nurses in Canada must maintain their competency to practice. The best way to maintain your competency is to practice nursing. There are, of course, a variety of reasons why your nursing practice may be interrupted.

If you have not practiced a minimum number of hours (usually between 1100 and 1700) in the last five years you will not be allowed to practice until you have completed a re-entry or "refresher course" to update knowledge and skills for contemporary nursing practice.

Re-entry nurse education programs must also be approved by the nursing regulatory body.



Current Nursing Shortage

Some provincial health authorities have decreased the number of nursing positions because of funding shortfalls. These are some of the political nuances of nursing in Canada.

The various career sections on health authority websites still show a wide variety of positions, but many of them are not entry level.

This is most likely a temporary situation and all predictions still forcast a nursing shortage for the future.

I will be monitoring this situation over the longer term.

A Canadian visitor says:

Bev:

I have read the pages on your site, and just thought you should know, that so far your website has been the most valuable information tool I have found. It is really hard to find the right information. I have just enrolled in a diploma program, RPN, and then I would like to follow through and get my degree.

Thank you again for your time, and for the great site, I am certainly going to pass it along.

Stephanie


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Copyright© 2009
This website is a private commercial enterprise and is owned and operated by Beverly Hansen OMalley.

It is not in any way affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by the government of Canada or any nursing regulatory organization in Canada.

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