B.C. To ‘Streamline’ Process To Accredit Internationally Trained Nurses

After the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the chronic nursing shortage that has existed for years in British Columbia, the province is overhauling the process to accredit internationally trained nurses.

After the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the chronic nursing shortage that has existed for years in British Columbia, the province is overhauling the process to accredit internationally trained nurses.

The province will be streamlining regulatory assessments, removing some financial barriers and adding a navigation support tool.

Currently, there are significant regulatory barriers for internationally educated nurses due to exam and registration assessments.

Registration and licensing of IENs can take an average of 18 months to two years – with some nurses waiting even longer.

The expectation is the change will reduce waiting times, but it is unclear how long. The process will provide more frequent assessments so nurses will not have to wait under the current cohort system.

This one change could save one or two months in waiting.

The province will be providing $1.2 million to streamline the regulatory assessment.

There will also be more than $9 million in bursaries available to cover a majority of the costs applicants face. The funding will be available for all eligible international nurses interested in working in B.C.

This will include support for the national nursing assessment service application, English language testing and other costs