So you want to work as a travel nurse in the US but are currently working in Canada? The process is quite complex and can seem overwhelming, so I’ll try to break down the steps.
Timing – A Year in the Making
The process of getting licensed and ready to look and submit for current jobs actively could take almost a year, depending on processing times. Some travel companies advertise expedited service, but unfortunately, there is no quick way to move the process along.
I would caution about having a company reimburse you upfront for the costs due to the length of time from initial application to working long; if you decide not to travel, you will ultimately have to reimburse them for the costs. The specific company may not have work in the location you want to go to when you are authorized to work in the US and fulfill a certain number of assignments with them.
Also, as other travel nurses will advise you, any company reimbursement for car rentals, licenses, etc., all come out of the ‘total pay,’ and you would get less pay as the company would deduct those costs from the package. Either way, technically, you pay for it as, sadly, it isn’t free. The expenses of getting licensed would be a deduction, though, on your tax return if a company didn’t reimburse you.
It is a big change from nursing in Canada but can provide a great experience. If you’ve been a nurse for at least 2 years and have steady experience in your specialty, then you may want to head south for a new adventure.
NCLEX and Licensing
The first step is to take the NCLEX exam. The majority of RNs in Canada took the CRNE, which was not recognized unless you took it in the 1970s. In 2015, the NCLEX replaced the CRNE in Canada as the national license exam. If you are like me, it may have been many years since you took the CRNE. There are many helpful resources (books, courses, tutorials, etc.) to help you study for the exam. The exam is very different from how nursing is practiced in Canada, and I recommend that you study and take the test lightly!
To take the NCLEX, you need to register with a US State Board of Nursing (BON) and apply for ‘Licensure by Exam for Foreign Educated Applicants.’ Here is where Canadian nurses can be frustrated. Every state board has different requirements for what they require on the application. Many require a Social Security Number (the equivalent of the Social Insurance Card in Canada), but some do not. Although you may not have any desire to work in your initial state, you can apply to endorse the license after your desired state (discussed below).
I was personally licensed in Minnesota, as they do not require an SSN for foreign applicants. I always recommend nurses check with the individual boards as their requirements can change often. Fill out the application as specified and mail in the documents requested.
Canadian License Verification
You will need to have your Canadian licenses verified by the provincial registration authority along with your school transcripts. Most charge a varying fee for that service and can take up to a month in my experience, to be processed and mailed out. These need to be mailed directly from the state board from the nursing authority or school or rejected.
Authorization to Test
Once all the required documents and fees have been approved, the BON will issue you the authorization to test (ATT), which allows you to register with Pearson Vue and take the NCLEX. It is only valid for 90 days, so you need to be ready to test quite soon.
You then register online for a testing date and pay the exam fees. After testing, you will be notified if you are successful or unsuccessful at the test. If you passed, you would be officially licensed in that state, but you will need to repay the fees to the BON and the exam fees to retake it if you are unsuccessful.
State Applications
If you did take the NCLEX and not the CRNE in Canada, you would still need to apply with a state in the US to be licensed in the US. You will need to contact the specific boards on their requirements and required forms to complete, as having nurses in Canada writing the NCLEX is still new.
The Visa Screen
Once you’ve passed the NCLEX and are officially licensed, you are now able to apply for your Visa Screen. The Visa Screen is a Homeland Security document screening process mandatory for foreign-educated nurses who want to work in the US. It is NOT optional, and you will be unable to get a TN visa without it. CGFNS (is the company that you apply for the visa screen with. It is $540, and you apply online and then print and mail off the required documents to the nursing authorities and schools.
Be warned this takes a long time (6 months or longer on average). I have found that once a document is received in their office, it takes around a month to be entered into your file. Once all the documents they require are entered into your file, you have the option to pay another $500 for expedited processing. Without expedited processing, it commonly takes 1-3 months to be approved.
Ready to work!
Once you have passed the NCLEX, have a state license, and Visa Screen, you can now look for travel nursing jobs and connect with companies and recruiters. I have completed many travel assignments. I always ask prospective recruiters and companies whether they work with Canadian nurses and are familiar with the TN process. Not all companies are. Asking in advance can save you time with those who don’t.
License by Endorsement
If you don’t intend to work in the state, you are licensed. You will need to ‘Apply for endorsement’ to the state you want to work in. You will hear many states are ‘Quick licenses or Walk through’ by US-trained nurses. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that it is not the case for nurses not educated in the US.
Board of Nursing Requirements
All BON have varying requirements, from fingerprinting, transcripts, wanting Canadian license verifications, etc. Also, if working in New York is your plan, be aware you will need to reapply for a New York state screening with CGFNS again ($465), and takes 6 months. Also, some states require a Certified Education Screening (CES) Professional Report from CGFNS for Canadian nurses, which is ($350). I always advise nurses not to agree to a job without having a license in hand. Some boards will grant a license but only within a few days of starting a job (AZ, for example).
TN Visa
So you have the NCLEX, Visa Screen, License(s), and contract…now it is time to get the TN visa. The TN visa is granted at the border only when you officially leave Canada and enter the US. You are not able to get it ahead of time, or they will reject your application. You will need to have the original paper copies of the following to present to the officer:
- TN letter from your company
- Visa Screen
- Nursing Degree
- License
Once you have the visa and are in your new city, you then take all the paperwork to the Social Security Administration office and apply in person for an SSN.
What I Wish I’d Known
While I have learned a ton while traveling and working in the US. There are, however, a few things that I wish I had known previously.
Shift Cancellations
One major difference between Canada to US nursing is that hospitals can cancel shifts if the census is low. You will have no sick time or paid vacation time which is different from Canada.
Previous Experience
You may find that many hospitals want to see the US nursing experience. Many times they will overlook your Canadian experience or previously completed travel contracts. Don’t give up. It may mean you need to take a contract somewhere other than your dream location to start with.
Credit Score
Keep in mind that your Canadian credit score doesn’t count here. You will start with zero credit. This means you will need to be prepared for high deposits for housing rentals, cell phones, cars, etc. Over time you will build your US credit score. You will also need to get a US bank account. Travel nurse companies will require a US account to deposit your pay.
As you can see, the process of becoming approved to work in the US is complex. I don’t regret investing. I have learned a lot, made lasting friendships, and had some wonderful experiences.
If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)
