The province is making it easier for internationally educated nurses to
work in B.C.’s health–care system with new financial supports and a
faster, more efficient assessment pathway.
Internationally educated nurses (IENs) will no longer be required to
pay application and assessment fees upfront, which cost more than
$3,700. These fees will be covered directly by the Province in order to
remove financial barriers for internationally educated workers who want
to work in B.C.
“Supporting nurses is key to our work to making health care
accessible to all British Columbians. Still, the demand for nurses is
outpacing the supply,” said Premier David Eby. “There are talented
and skilled nurses with the right experience who want to practise in
B.C. and support high–quality care, but they are kept on the sidelines
by an expensive and complicated registration process. Whether a
nurse was trained in or out of the province, we are ready to welcome
those who are ready to care for British Columbians.”
The Province is also providing new financial support to nurses
returning to practice after a period of absence. Nurses looking to
return to practice will no longer be required to pay a $300 application
fee, and more than $4,000 in financial support will be available to
cover assessment and eligible travel costs for nurses taking
assessments in order to re–enter the workforce.
Nurses returning to practice will also be eligible to access as much as
$10,000 in bursaries for any additional education required for returning
to practice.
“The Province is committed to making it easier and less costly for
internationally educated nurses and return–to–practice nurses to become
licensed to practise in British Columbia and join the health workforce,”
said Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Senior’s Services
and Long–Term Care. “As a nurse educated outside of Canada, I have
first–hand knowledge that it could take years for an IEN to be granted
registration. I am glad to see the progress made by the BC College of
Nurses and Midwives, and the Nursing Community Assessment Service
to streamline the process for credential and competency assessments
for IENs. The contribution of IENs to our health care is far reaching.
They bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to their
work. I am proud of our government’s commitment to welcoming more
people to join the nursing profession so that our public health system
can be well–supported in the long run.”
This announcement is part of B.C.’s broader Health Human Resources
Strategy, which was announced on Sept. 29, 2022. The strategy
supports patients by ensuring they get the health services they need
and are cared for by a healthy workforce. It focuses on 70 key
actions to retain, recruit and train health–care workers, while
cover assessment and eligible travel costs for nurses taking
assessments in order to re–enter the workforce.
Nurses returning to practice will also be eligible to access as much as
$10,000 in bursaries for any additional education required for returning
to practice.
“The Province is committed to making it easier and less costly for
internationally educated nurses and return–to–practice nurses to become
licensed to practise in British Columbia and join the health workforce,”
said Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Senior’s Services
and Long–Term Care. “As a nurse educated outside of Canada, I have
first–hand knowledge that it could take years for an IEN to be granted
registration. I am glad to see the progress made by the BC College of
Nurses and Midwives, and the Nursing Community Assessment Service
to streamline the process for credential and competency assessments
for IENs. The contribution of IENs to our health care is far reaching.
They bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to their
work. I am proud of our government’s commitment to welcoming more
people to join the nursing profession so that our public health system
can be well–supported in the long run.”
This announcement is part of B.C.’s broader Health Human Resources
Strategy, which was announced on Sept. 29, 2022. The strategy
supports patients by ensuring they get the health services they need
and are cared for by a healthy workforce. It focuses on 70 key
actions to retain, recruit and train health–care workers, while
redesigning the health–care system to foster workplace satisfaction and
innovation. (news.gov.bc.ca)
innovation. (news.gov.bc.ca)
