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The Requirements to Join the Register in Alberta: Internationally Educated Nurses

April 5, 2023

The College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) is not cutting corners on registering applicants, we have just made the process more efficient and responsive to the needs of our province. This brings the internationally educated nurse process in alignment with all other registration processes the CRNA has. All applicants are still required to meet the core registration requirements to obtain a permit and practice safely in Alberta. These requirements include: demonstrating currency of practice, good character, fitness to practise, passing a jurisprudence exam and having liability insurance.

Removing barriers to create predictable pathways to a permit does not remove the registration requirements that already exist. Each requirement must be met by all applicants to ensure the register has safe, competent and ethical nurses regardless of the application pathway they take. 

Registration requirements apply to all applicant types including: recent graduates seeking their first permit, renewing and returning nurses looking to continue their practice, and nurses transferring from any jurisdiction.

These are the requirements and evidence that a nurse transferring their permit from any international jurisdiction must provide to the CRNA. Applicants that do not meet the requirements are not eligible to practice.

Registration Requirements

Demographic Information

All applicants are required to complete demographic information.

  1. Applicants will enter this information in the CRNA’s online portal called College Connect.

Registration Exam

All applicants are required to complete the registration exam. This has been a requirement to practice in Alberta since 2015. The submission process will look different depending on whether an applicant has already passed the National Council Licensure Exam – RN (NCLEX-RN). 

  1. Applicants who have already completed the exam need to submit evidence to the CRNA. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) candidate report can be used as evidence. This can be emailed directly from the applicant.
  2. Applicants that wish to write the exam need to submit evidence to confirm their eligibility to receive an authorization to test. 
    1. Option One: Applicants from one of the nine identified jurisdictions can submit a verification of registration as evidence. This needs to be submitted directly from the other jurisdiction.
    2. Option Two: Applicants from any country can submit an educational credential assessment as evidence that they have completed an equivalent post-secondary program. This can be submitted directly from the applicant.

Post-Secondary Education

All applicants are required to complete equivalent post-secondary education. This requirement can be met in several ways. 

  1. If applicants complete the registration exam, it is considered that their post-secondary education is sufficient and, therefore equivalent. They can submit the NCSBN candidate report as evidence. This can be submitted directly from the applicant.
  2. If applicants are currently registered in one of the nine identified jurisdictions, their post-secondary education has already been validated by their current jurisdiction. They can submit a verification of registration as evidence. This needs to be submitted directly from the other jurisdiction.
  3. If applicants have completed an educational credential assessment, this can be used as evidence. 
  4. For other ways to satisfy the post-secondary requirement, click here.

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

All applicants are required to meet the English language proficiency requirement. This requirement can be met in several ways, and they need to attest to meeting this requirement in our online portal.

  1. If applicants complete the registration exam in English, they meet ELP.
  2. If applicants complete a post-secondary nursing program in English, they meet ELP.
  3. If applicants have practiced nursing in English, they meet ELP.
  4. For other ways to satisfy the ELP requirement, click here.

Currency of Practice

All applicants are required to meet the currency of practice requirement. Complete details of the requirement can be found here.

If applicants do not meet the requirement, they have the following options:

  1. Complete an assessment via the Alberta Registered Nurse Assessment Program (ARNAP).
  2. Complete nursing hours as a registered nurse in a jurisdiction where they are currently registered.
  3. Apply to the CRNA for the supervised practice program.
  4. Complete bridging education.

Criminal Record Check

All applicants are required to complete a criminal record check. There are two possible processes:

  1. If applicants are currently in Canada, they will complete the criminal record check using the online tool in the portal.
  2. If applicants have not yet moved to Canada, they must complete a criminal record check in their current location. This criminal record check then needs to be emailed to the CRNA. This can be emailed directly from the applicant.

Good Character

All applicants are required to complete the good character requirement. 

  1. They will need to attest to meeting this requirement in the online portal.
  2. Any information they attest to is subject to validation and audit.

Fitness to Practise

All applicants are required to complete the fitness to practice requirement.

  1. They will need to attest to meeting this requirement in the online portal.
  2. Any information they attest to is subject to validation and audit.

Jurisprudence

All applicants are required to complete the jurisprudence requirement.

  1. Applicants will need to complete two e-learning modules in the online portal.
  2. Once these modules are complete, the application will be updated automatically.

Liability Insurance

All applicants are required to hold liability insurance to obtain a permit.

  1. Applicants will need to purchase liability coverage by clicking on the link in the online portal.
  2. Once this purchase is complete, their application will be updated automatically.