Internationally Educated Applicants

Internationally Educated Applicants - Process

1. Application: Submit all required application documents to CRNM. Please see Internationally Educated Applicants Requirements page for additional information. 2. Review: Following receipt of requirements 1 through 5 (listed on the requirements requirements page), a file will be opened for you. If after one year from date of receipt of the above requirements no further documentation documentation is received by the College, the file will be closed. Following receipt of the additional registration registration requirements outlined on the requirements page, your application will be considered complete and assessment will begin. Your application will be assessed for evidence of competence to practice that is substantially equivalent to the competencies required of registered nurses in Manitoba. a. If competenc competency y to practice practice can be determ determined ined from from your documen documents, ts, CRNM CRNM will approve you for exam eligibility for a period of one year. You will be required to write the Canadian Registered Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE) within that year. b. If competency to practice cannot be determined from your documents, you will be referred to The to  The Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for assessment .  The result of that assessment will be returned to CRNM. Based on those results, CRNM will make a determination regarding competence to practice, and/or any additional educational requirements. requirements. i. If suffi sufficie cient nt evide evidence nce indi indicat cates es comp compete etence nce to to practi practice, ce, subs substan tantia tially lly equivalent to the required competencies, CRNM will approve you for exam eligibility for a period of one year. You will be required to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE) within that year. ii. ii. If furth further er educa educatio tion n is requi required red you you will will be be referr referred ed to comp complet lete e all of, of, or a portion of, Red River College’s Bridging Program for Internationally Internationally Educated Nurses. Upon successful completion of this program, CRNM will approve you for exam eligibility for a period of one year. You will be required to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE) within that year. 3. Examination:  You must successfully complete the CRNE. Applicants approved for the next writing of the CRNE are eligible for Graduate Nurse Application. 4. Registration: Upon successful completion of the CRNE you will be invited to apply for registration on the practicing register. Registration Registration fees will be due prior to approval to the practicing register. Internationally Educated Applicants - Requirements In order to practice as a Registered Nurse in Manitoba and use the designation “registered nurse”, “RN” or “graduate nurse”, “GN”, a person must register with the College of  Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) on the register of practicing registered nurses or the register of graduate nurses. These instructions are for active, practicing practicing registered nurses educated in a country, province or state outside of Canada who want to apply to write the Canadian Registered Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) in order to be eligible to apply for registration registration in Manitoba.  Your eligibility to register will be evaluated following successful completion of the following requirements:

1. Evaluation of Language Skills: If your first language is not English or French, you must demonstrate you can speak and write English or French well enough to safely practice nursing. Your ability to communicate well (written and spoken) is critical to the practice of nursing. You are required to provide one of the following sets of results (a, b, c, d, e, f, or g): a. Internet-Based TOEFL Minimum score of 79 with 26/30 in the spoken portion. b. International English Language Testing Source (IELTS) (academic version) Minimum overall score: 6.5 Minimum score on spoken English: 7.0 c. Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) Minimum overall score: 83% Minimum score on spoken English: 3.0 d. Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) – Red River College Listening: 9 Speaking: 8 Reading: 8 Writing: 7 e. Test de français international (TFI) Minimum overall score: 750 (institution code 9289) Results must be mailed directly to the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba by the test provider. Results submitted by applicants will not be accepted.

2. Application Form: Complete the Internationally Educated Nurse Application form.

3. Application Processing Fee: Submit the application processing fee of $105.00 ($100.00 plus $5.00 GST) in Canadian funds. Please pay by cheque or money order (payable to the College of  Registered Nurses of Manitoba) or with Visa or MasterCard. If paying by credit card, you must include your credit card number, expiry date and signature on the application form. Interac/debit and cash payments are accepted at the CRNM office. 4. Proof of Identification: Please send us a copy of one of the following: photocopy of passport, permanent resident card, driver’s license or other government-issued picture identification and a copy of marriage/ divorce certificate (if applicable to verify a name change). 5. Proof of Immigration Status:  You must provide a copy of current Canadian immigration documents (e.g., Canadian Citizenship, permanent residency documents, temporary resident visa, student visa or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). For information regarding immigration, visas or working and studying in Manitoba, please contact the Canadian Consulate in your country or Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The College does not provide information or assistance with immigration matters. Following receipt of requirements 1 through 5, a file will be opened for you. If after one year from date of receipt of the above requirements no further documentation is received by the College, the file will be closed. In order for an application to be considered complete and to be brought forward for assessment, the following additional documents are required:

a. Criminal Record Check:

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 You will need to have a criminal records check done by the police agency in your home country. This process may include submitting fingerprints. The police agency in your home country can provide you with information on the process and tell you about any fees that you must pay to have this done. Once the criminal record check has been completed send us an original copy of the results. Faxes and photocopies will not be accepted. Verification of Registration: Complete the upper portion of the Request for Verification of Registration form and send copies to the licensing authority in the country/province/state you were first registered in and the licensing authority in all countries, provinces or states where you have been registered within the past seven years. Make copies of the form so you have enough to send away. Those jurisdictions will complete the form and return it directly to us. Verification of Practice Hours: Complete the upper portion of the Verification of Practice Hours form and send it to all of the employers you worked for as a registered nurse during the past five years. Make copies of the form so you have enough to send away. The employers will complete the form and return it directly to us. Assessment of Nursing Education: Complete the upper portion of the Basic Nursing Education Request for Transcript form and send it to the school where you received your basic nursing education. If  midwifery/obstetrics and/or psychiatric/mental health courses were completed following your basic program, also send a copy of this form to the school where you complete these courses. The schools will complete the form and return it directly to us. Documentation of Registered Nursing Experience and Practice: Document all of your registered nursing experience and practice since you graduated from your nursing program on the Documentation of Nursing Experience and Practice form. Please provide as much detail as possible. This information will be used in determining your substantial equivalency. Verification of Documents:  This verification is used to verify the authenticity of your documents. Complete and send the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) Application Form to IQAS for a basic assessment. You will need to send original transcripts of your entire educational history (including secondary education) to IQAS. They will return your original documents to you. If midwifery/obstetrics and/or psychiatric/mental health courses were completed following your basic program, send these transcripts (originals) to IQAS as well. IQAS will mail your completed assessment directly to us.

In the event that there are inconsistencies in any of the information that is provided to the College during the application process, the College reserves the right to require that additional supporting documentation be provided. This may result in your having to arrange for the College to receive information over and above that which is outlined above. Following receipt of the registration requirements outlined above, your application will be considered complete and assessment will begin. Your application will be assessed for evidence of competence to practice that is substantially equivalent to the competencies required of registered nurses in Manitoba. If competency to practice cannot be determined from your documents, you will be referred for a Competence Assessment at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  You will be notified when you are eligible to apply to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE). You must write and pass the CRNE in order to register with CRNM.

Internationally Educated Applicants - Clinical Competence Assessment n order to practice as a registered nurse in Canada, the nurse must be registered with the regulatory body in the province in which they work. One of the requirements for registration is that the nurse must show evidence of  competence to practice. Competence to practice refers to the integration and application of  the knowledge, skills, judgement and attitude required to carry out the role and work of a registered nurse. If an applicant is unable to provide documentation or evidence that he or she has been educated at, or attained experience at, the level required for registered nurse practice in Manitoba, a clinical competence assessment (CCA) will be required.  The Registered Nurse Regulation sec. 4.2 states that: An applicant who has received nursing education outside of Manitoba that does not fully meet the criteria set out in subclause (1)(a)(ii), or who cannot produce evidence of or information relating to his or her nursing education satisfactory to the board, may nevertheless be permitted to register if he or she a. has undergone an assessment of his or her prior learning as may be required by the board; b. if required, has successfully completed a course of instruction set by the board; and c. has satisfied all other requirements for registration. When a clinical competence assessment is required, it is considered mandatory and not subject to appeal. For internationally educated nurses (IENs), there are many challenges associated with entry to practice in a new country. Provincial regulatory bodies have documented that the IEN often has difficulty transitioning to practice in Canada. Low pass rates on the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam also reflect the often significant differences in how nursing is practiced in an IEN’s home country when compared to Canada.  The College’s objective is to ensure that the nurses we register have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe, competent, and ethical care to Manitobans. The CCA is one method of ensuring the delivery of quality care, and can help provide the applicant with the tools to succeed in practice in Manitoba. What is a CCA and why is it necessary? If, after review of the documentation you provided with your application, the College is not able to determine that your competence to practice is equivalent to the competencies required for all RNs in Manitoba, you will be asked to complete a CCA. The assessment will provide you an opportunity to demonstrate that you meet entry-level competencies in Manitoba. How do I apply for a CCA?  You must be referred by the College. Once you receive a letter of referral, you should call the telephone number provided to schedule your appointment. How long is the assessment? It is completed over a 3 to 5 day period.

Where is the assessment done? Assessments are conducted at the Assessment Centre for Nursing at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada). What is the cost of the assessment? At this time, there is no charge. However, there are other costs you will be required to cover such as travel, food, and accommodation. I am a registered nurses living abroad and I need a VISA to enter Canada for my CCA. What do I do?  You should contact the Canadian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in your country of residence regarding the application process. The College is not directly involved with visa applications, but can supply a Letter of Invitation stating that you require a CCA. What areas of nursing are assessed?  You may be asked to complete assessments in any or all of the following areas: • • • •

General Nursing Maternal Newborn Nursing Child Health Nursing Mental Health Nursing

How are these areas assessed?  The assessment is comprised of: • • • • •

Written Diagnostic Exam Clinical Judgement Scenarios Assessment  Triple Jump Scenarios Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Self Assessment

What areas of skills and knowledge are assessed? • • • • •

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general and/or specialty nursing knowledge pharmacology and medication administration pathophysiology knowledge of the Canadian healthcare system and current nursing practices basic and advanced clinical skills as well as use of current technology in nursing practice health history and health assessment knowledge and skills clinical judgement and critical thinking skills with evidence based practice therapeutic communication practices cultural competencies

What is involved in each of the components? Written Diagnostic Exam  The written diagnostic exam includes both multiple choice and short answer questions that test general nursing knowledge. Clinical Judgement Scenarios  This is an interview style assessment that evaluates your ability to make sound clinical  judgements in situations that are complex and have no “simple” answers. These situations

will assess the ability of the candidate to think deliberately and critically through a nursing situation, apply essential and relevant knowledge, consider possibilities and options and take reasoned, reflective, and insightful decisions and actions. View an example here. Triple Jump Assessment During this interview, problem solving and critical thinking skills are tested. The candidate is presented with a brief client situation, asked to generate a problem list, identify and collect relevant data, revise the problem list, develop an intervention/management plan, and then self evaluate. View an example here. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)  This assessment is conducted in a lab setting, where a candidate will role-play a nurse in response to client/family health situations and demonstrate his or her abilities to apply knowledge by holistically caring for this client/family. The exercise assesses nurse-client relationships, critical thinking and clinical judgement, health assessment and nursing skills, pharmacology and pathophysiology, and decision making in rapidly changing situations. Self-Assessment  This provides an opportunity for the candidate to describe how they have met the professional standards during nursing practice in their country of origin. How do I prepare? •

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Go to www.mtroyal.ca , Internationally Educated Nurses Assessment Centre for details and practice situations; Go to www.crnm.mb.ca to review the documents entitled Entry Level Competencies for Registered Nurses and Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses; Refer to the Canadian Nurses Association website to review the CNA Code of Ethics document; Review nursing textbooks, published in the last five years, that cover the knowledge and procedures of medical/surgical nursing practice; If referred for a focused or specialty assessment, review a current textbook on maternal-newborn health, child health, and/or mental health nursing;  To familiarize yourself with Canadian health care equipment and supplies that you could be exposed to in your OSCE assessments, refer to the Nursing Picture Dictionary Tutorial

What happens once the assessment is completed? Approximately four weeks following the assessment you will be informed of the outcome which will include one of the following: 1. Competencies are met. For an internationally educated nurse, this means that eligibility to write the CRNE is granted. For a former Canadian Registered Nurse, this means that he/ she is eligible to apply for registration on the practicing register of  registered nurses. 2. Gaps in skills and knowledge are found. An internationally educated nurse must complete a prescribed course of study prior to eligibility being granted for CRNE. A former Canadian Registered Nurse would not be eligible to apply for registration on the practicing register until a prescribed course of study has been completed. 3. Gaps in skills and knowledge are too significant to be addressed by a course of study, and applicants will be advised of other options should they wish to pursue eligibility to write the CRNE or apply for registration on the practicing register. Internationally Educated Applicants – Forms & Fees

Complete these forms if you obtained your nursing education outside of Canada and have obtained registration as a registered nurse in a jurisdiction outside of Canada. •

Internationally Educated Nurse Application Package

Please note: As of June 7, 2010 the application process for international applicants has changed. These changes are reflected in the Internationally Educated Nurse Applicant  Package. nternationally educated applicants must also complete an application for assessment of  nursing education documents. This is done through a separate organization. You must apply for this assessment separately. To apply, follow this link: International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) Graduate Nurse Application Form (PDF Form) Complete these forms if you have been approved for the next writing of the CRNE and wish to work as a Graduate Nurse in Manitoba while waiting to write the CRNE or while waiting for results of the CRNE. Please refer to the Registers page for more information about the Graduate Nurse Register. •

Graduate Nurse Application Form

Fees Item Application Processing Fee*

Fee

When?

$105.00

Due with application

Exam Fee (CRNE) for 2010

$531.70 (includes administration fee)

Due with CRNE Application

Graduate Nurse Registration Fee (per 4 month period)

$112.50

Due with your Graduate Nurse Application (if you wish to work as a Graduate Nurse in Manitoba)

Note: Above fees include GST. * This processing fee is required on all “ initial” applications to the Graduate Nurse Register. Should you be applying for “renewal” on the Graduate Nurse Register this fee is not required. Practicing Register Fees  These fees are due after passing the CRNE and meeting all other requirements for registration. You will be notified when these fees are due. When Registering Between  Jan 1 - Mar 31 Apr 1 - Jun 30  Jul 1 - Sep 30 Oct 1 - Dec 31

Fee $337. 49 $270. 42 $203. 34 $136. 26

Payment Options

Cash Debit Card Cheque or Money Order Visa or MasterCard

In person only In person only In person or by mail In person, by mail or by fax

Internationally Educated Applicants – Frequently Asked Questions

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Application packages can be downloaded here. The Instructions included outline all the requirements of your application. Applications may be submitted by mail or fax. What should I pay? When is payment due? An application processing fee of $105.00 (including GST) is required in order to open a file in your name. Payment should be provided along with your complete application package. Additional information about future fees can be found here . CRNM accepts Visa, MasterCard, personal cheque, Debit card and Cash. What happens once all of my documents are received? See here for information related the application process. Once all of the required documents are received and are in good standing, your application is considered complete and will be assessed for evidence of competence to practice that is substantially equivalent to the competencies required of registered nurses in Manitoba. Can I submit photocopies of the required documents? CRNM will require originals of the following documents: Verification of Registration, Criminal Record Check, Language Evaluation, IQAS Assessment, Basic Nursing Education and Request for Transcript form. All other documents can be submitted by fax or photocopy. My nursing program/nursing experience was completed in English. Do I need a Language Evaluation?  The requirements for initial registration as a registered nurse are as follows: if the applicant’s first language is not English or French, the applicant must be able to speak and write either English or French with reasonable fluency. First language is defined as: the language you primarily use for reading, writing, listening and speaking; and the language you first learned and understood in childhood or the language you know best and are most comfortable with. Please refer to the Language  Testing Fact Sheet for more information. Is the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (CRNE) available outside of Canada? Currently this examination is not offered outside of Canada. How do I get a Visa? All questions relating to immigration matters should be directed to Immigration Services. Please also refer to our Resources for Internationally Educated Applicants page for helpful links. Is work experience as a registered nurse a requirement for registration? Applicants are required to have worked a minimum of 1,125 hours of registered nursing practice in the past five (5) years or 450 hours of registered nursing practice in the previous 2 years. We do not require practice hours from applicants who have graduated from a basic nursing education program within the past four years. What is a Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA)? If, after review of the documentation you provided with your application, the College is not able to determine that your competence to practice is equivalent to the competencies required for all RNs in Manitoba, you will be asked to complete a CCA.  The assessment will provide you an opportunity to demonstrate that you meet entrylevel competencies in Manitoba. In other provinces, a CCA is called a Substantially Equivalent Competency (SEC) assessment. Please see our Clinical Competence Assessment page for further details.

Questions? Please contact: Registration Services  Telephone: (204) 784-5181  Toll free (Manitoba only): (800) 665-2027 ext. 181 Fax: (204) 775-7117 Email: [email protected]