Registration Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)
¤ Requirements for Registration
FOR NURSES WHO ARE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATES AND WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN REGISTERED IN A CANADIAN JURISDICTION
Applicants for initial registration as a registered nurse are requested to complete and submit an application to ARNNL so that eligibility for registration can be determined. All nurses who wish to practise nursing in Newfoundland and Labrador must obtain an interim license or a licence to practise from the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador (ARNNL) before commencing employment, which includes orientation. Interim licenses are issued in accordance with the ARNNL By-laws and a practising licence must be renewed by 31 March of each year.
The application package and required forms for nurses who are international graduates who have never been registered in a Canadian jurisdiction can be downloaded at: http://www.arnnl.ca/pg.php?r=53
Please review the following requirements prior to completing the application.
1. All applicants are required to meet the following:
a) Language Requirements
The applicant must be competent in the English Language: Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have completed their nursing education in a country where the everyday language is not English, are required to successfully complete a test(s) of English. The test with the acceptable scores are:
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score minimum of 550/213 plus TSE (Test of Spoken English) score of 200/50.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language (IBT)). Total minimum score of 86 with scores of 26 -speaking, 20 - listening, 20 - reading, and 20 - writing.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System - Academic) overall score of 6.5 with speaking score of 7
MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) score of 83.
Effective January 1, 2004 TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) score of 800 plus TSE score of 200/50.
CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses). Scores: Speaking - 8, Listening 9, Reading 8, Writing 7.
A copy of the official results must be submitted with the application. This is required before the application for registration can be processed. An original report of the test scores is also required to complete the application. Please request the testing company to send an original report of your scores directly to ARNNL.
Effective April 14, 2009:
* Test scores are valid for two years from the testing date.
* Applicants whose test scores expire during the application process will be required to repeat a Test of English prior to being approved to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam or being issued an interim license or registration with ARNNL.
b) Verification of Nursing Education
The applicant must have completed an approved/recognized post-secondary nursing education programme that included theoretical and clinical experience in nursing practice with adults, nursing practice with children, nursing practice with women and childbearing families, psychiatric and mental health nursing and, for graduates after 1 January 2000, in community health nursing. The programme must have prepared the graduate as a generalist with the competencies for entry into the nursing profession as defined and assessed by the Association.
If the applicant did not have the required theoretical or clinical experience and/or the competencies required for practice, the deficient area(s) may be achieved through formal or informal education and/or experiential learning as defined and assessed by ARNNL.
c) Verification of Registration
The applicant must have written and passed nurse registration examination(s) in original jurisdiction where the basic nursing education was completed.
The applicant must be registered as a general nurse in the country in which the basic nursing course was completed.
d) Reference and Verification of Nursing Practice Hours
The applicant must have satisfactory reference(s). Reference(s) from current and previous employer(s) are required to determine eligibility for an interim license. Effective April 1, 2010, all Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) are required to receive a satisfactory Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) reference in order to meet the requirements of the Article VI, Section 1(d) must have satisfactory reference for registration. The NL reference must be obtained prior to an IEN applicant writing the CRNE.
The applicant must have official documentation submitted directly from the employer(s) verifying the number of hours practised in nursing, broken down by hours per ARNNL licensure year, i.e. 1 April - 31 March, for the preceding sixty (60) month period. Or the applicant must provide official documentation of having:
completed a basic diploma or university diploma programme or baccalaureate nursing programme, or graduate programme in a health related discipline during the preceding sixty months (60) period, OR
successfully completed an approved nursing refresher or RN re-entry programme during the preceding sixty (60) month period, OR
enrolled in a university nursing programme, nurse practitioner programme or graduate programme in a health related discipline, and at the time of admission was eligible for a practicing licence, for a maximum of sixty (60) months.
e) Proof of Identification
The applicant must submit legal identification with the application form ( copy of birth certificate, marriage license or change of name document (if applicable)), together with a recent passport photograph. A photocopy of a photograph is not acceptable.
The applicant must submit a copy of the applicant's most recent nursing licence to practise.
f) Application & Fees
The applicant must complete and sign the application.
The applicant must pay a processing fee $169.50 with the application. The application will be returned if the fee is not remitted with the form.
Fees being remitted on a Canadian or US account may be paid by cheque or money order. A US cheque must state US funds. Fees remitted outside of Canada or US must be paid by money order in the amount of $169.50. Fee can also be paid by wire transfer, please see Part 6 of Application Form. All fees are payable to the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador.
g) Review of Application
On receipt of specific documents, your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for an interim license in accordance with ARNNL By-laws.
Allow a minimum of three months to process an application as a graduate of a non-Canadian school of nursing
h) Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE)
All applicants must write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination, which can only be written in Canada, within 8 months of being granted an interim license. An interim license becomes null and void for applicants who fail the CRNE. The applicant can no longer practice nursing in Newfoundland & Labrador until the successful completion of the CRNE. The CRNE may be written a maximum of three (3) times within two (2) years from and including the first writing. If still unsuccessful, the candidate will no longer be eligible to write the CRNE.
2. DOCUMENTS RECEIVED WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT.
3. The application will remain valid for two (2) years from the date that the signed application is received by the ARNNL.
Please obtain and review a copy of ARNNL BYLAWS, ARTICLE II Fees and ARTICLE VI Registration, available here prior to completing the application.
APPLICATION PACKAGE INCLUDES:
PART I APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
PART II VERIFICATION OF REGISTRATION
PART III VERIFICATION OF REGISTRATION OTHER THAN ORIGINAL
PART IV VERIFICATION OF BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM
PART V EMPLOYER REFERENCE REQUEST
PART VI PAYMENT FORM