Newfoundland and Labrador Is Making It Easier For Internationally-Trained Nurses To Work In Province

Highlights

1. The latest amendments will help the College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador to register and license applicants more quickly. 
2. Plans to establish Designated Countries Pathway for nurses from seven countries including India. 
3. Education assessment for nurses will reduce to four weeks. 
4. The amendments to the Registered Nurses Regulations are expected to take effect in the fall of 2023.
5. Since April 2022, more than 500 new internationally-trained nurses have been added to the province’s healthcare system. 

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is making it easier for internationally-trained nurses to work in the province. Amendments to the Registered Nurses Regulations will streamline the registration and licensing process, making it faster and easier for nurses educated outside of the province to get certified to work in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The changes include:

• Assist in establishing a Designated Countries Pathway for nurses from the following seven countries to apply for a license in Newfoundland and Labrador:
• United States,
• United Kingdom
• India,
• Philippines,
• Australia,
• New Zealand, and
• Ireland;
• Reduce the time to complete an educational assessment for International Nursing Applicants from the countries identified above from over a year to as little as four weeks.
• Reduce costs for applicants. 

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, says the changes are part of the government’s commitment to attracting and retaining nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We know that our healthcare system is facing a number of challenges, including a shortage of nurses,” said Osborne. “These changes will make it easier for internationally-trained nurses to come to Newfoundland and Labrador and start working in our hospitals and other healthcare facilities.“

The new initiative is expected to help the province attract 200-300 internationally-educated nurses from India by the end of this year.

The government is also working on other initiatives to attract and retain nurses, including increasing the number of nursing school seats and offering financial incentives to nurses who work in rural and remote communities.

Emerging Registration and Licensing Practices in Other Canadian Jurisdictions

 Some specific examples of these emerging practices include:

• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia has developed the program, called the Welcome Collaborative, a streamlined approach to long-term licensure for physicians trained outside of Canada. This approach includes providing a comprehensive orientation program for physicians, reducing the required time physicians on a Defined licence must practise under supervision, and focusing on demonstrated competency rather than certification.
• In Prince Edward Island, the government will reimburse nurses for Language Proficiency Tests. 
• In Ontario, the government will allow nurses from other Canadian jurisdictions to work in the province without having to register with the applicable health regulatory colleges. Internationally educated nurses may register in a temporary class and begin working sooner while they work towards full registration.
• New Brunswick announced a new education model to support participants working part-time in the healthcare system which could result in more licensed practical nurses (LPN) and registered nurses (RN).
• Further, IRCC is now allowing self-employed physicians holding a temporary residency gain necessary work experience to qualify for permanent residency under Express Entry. 

These are just a few examples of the emerging registration and licensing practices in other Canadian jurisdictions. As the health-care workforce continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see even more innovative approaches to ensuring that qualified health professionals are able to practice in Canada.

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