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SEAL WHITE CENTRAL BACKGROUND.PNG
Canadian Experience Program for Internationally Educated Nurses

Are you a Registered Nurse who is new to Canada and looking for Canadian experience to put on your CV to find employment in this province? Have you not yet found employment in Canada as an RN because you lack of RN experience in this country? CRMC has a program specific to your needs. You can gain RN experience at our facility through our Canadian Experience Program (CEP), which will transition you from internationally trained to a Canada-experienced RN. You will be able to use this to find employment as a Registered Nurse elsewhere after you complete the CEP. In addition, you will gain hours necessary to renew your license with the CRNA. The nurse manager will help you to achieve all your competencies and build your CV and personal portfolio to maximize your chances of success at your next job interview after you complete the CEP. This program is offered free of charge but it is non-remunerated! Please, note that this program is only available to internationally-educated RNs who have never worked as Registered Nurses in Canada before. Please note that we reserve the right to admit applicants at our sole discretion.

!!ATTENTION!!

Between July 1 and September 30 each year, we can only accept new applicants who have at least 450 hours of verifiable RN practice (from anywhere in the world) within the past two years. This requirement exists because, without these hours, it is not possible to renew the annual RN permit in Alberta. We strongly encourage all applicants to apply for admission to the CEP-IEN as soon as they receive their initial RN permit from the CRNA and not to delay until the next renewal period!!!

Our program now has THREE pathways:

The first pathway (OPTION 1) is for those who have less than 3,000 hours of RN practice since graduation or simply wish to get enough hours to renew their RN permit in Alberta.

The program of the pathway for Option 1 allows you to:

The second pathway (OPTION 2) is available to those who have more than 3,000 hours of RN practice since graduation; this pathway allows applicants to train to become RN prescribers, be placed as volunteer RN prescribers at one of the participating sites in South Calgary, and be prioritized for admission to the NP program of Athabasca University on completion of 5,000 hours of RN practice at these locations.​

Those interested in this program require a Bachelor of Nursing with a GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4 certified by WES Canada.​

For more details about Option 2, please click here.​​

The third pathway (OPTION 3) is available to those who have less than 3,000 hours of RN practice since graduation but wish to become Family Nurse Practitioners after completion of the CEP-IEN through D'Youville University, in the USA, at the end of the CEP. Those interested in this program require a Bachelor of Nursing with a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4 certified by WES USA and an unrestricted license as an RN in Ontario in addition to the CRNA license for Alberta (where they will complete their practicums).

In addition, Option 1 includes also the following online and in-person courses that will help you build on your knowledge and skills and improve your CV:

  • Diploma in Clinical Nursing Skills - Accredited by the MEDCoE of the US Army

  • Nursing Studies, Communication and Transcultural Factors - Accredited by the MEDCoE of the US Army

  • Consent Training in Health Care - Accredited by Apex Learning

  • Physical Examination - Accredited by the MEDCoE of the US Army

  • BLS Provider certification - Accredited by Heart & Stroke

  • English Language for Healthcare - Offered by Study Hub (for graduates who come from non-English speaking countries)

In order for you to apply for entry to either of the three options of this program, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. You must be already licensed by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta and hold a full and unrestricted RN license. A Graduate Nurse (GN) license is not accepted for this program

  2. You must be one of the following

    • a Canadian citizen (Canadian citizens will be required to send in a copy of their Canadian passport and Alberta Driver's Licence)

    • a Permanent resident of Canada (Canadian permanent residents will be required to send in a copy of their foreign passport, PR card, and Alberta Driver's Licence)

    • a US or Mexican citizen on a current USMCA permit (You will be asked to send a copy of your passport, USMCA permit, and Alberta Driver's Licence)

    • an Israeli citizen on an Open Work Permit (You will be required to send a copy of your passport, Open Work Permit, and Alberta Driver's Licence)

  3. You must be a resident of either Calgary, Okotoks, Diamond Valley, High River, Chestermere, Priddis, Airdrie, or Bragg Creek ​

  4. You must sit the Duolingo English Test (DET) and obtain 130 points in each of the four components of the test within 6 weeks prior to admission to this program; those who score between 120 and 129 points may be considered if they successfully pass the interview with one of our Professional Development Liaison Nurses. Alternatively, you may choose to sit the Pearson Test of English (PTE) and obtain a minimum of 66 points overall (58-63 Listening, 59-64 Reading, 67-82 Speaking, 69-67 Writing); those who score between 55 and 65 points overall may be considered if they successfully pass the interview with one of our Professional Development Liaison Nurses. - WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OTHER ENGLISH TEST RESULTS FOR ENTRY TO THIS PROGRAM(Remember to list Cranston Ridge Medical Clinic as the institution to receive your score)

  5. You must pass our interview and all stages of our hiring process

  6. You must obtain a clear FAMA-enhanced background check (applicants will have to pay $100 admin fee for this step)

  7. You must be immunized by the first day of training - applicants may download the form here

  8. You must hold a BLS license that is valid on the first day of the program from Heart & Stroke or the American Heart Association

  9. You must complete the WHMIS certification​​​

If you are a prospective applicant and require more information, please contact our Professional Development Liaison Nurses listed below: 

RN Reynalyn Yagyagan - reynalyn@cranstonridgemedical.com

RN Maria Valerio - maria@cranstonridgemedical.com

Option 1 is a 480-hour program. The first 160 hours are completed full-time over four weeks (40 hours per week). After finishing the CEP, applicants may choose to continue in the Post-CEP Retention Program (PCEPRP). This option allows participants to keep their skills current, accumulate the practice hours needed to renew their licence, or complete requirements for a top-up degree while seeking paid positions elsewhere. The PCEPRP can be done full-time or part-time, with a minimum of 5 hours per week. This schedule ensures participants meet the 1,125-hour practice requirement over five years for CRNA licence renewal. At times, the PCEPRP may also be remunerated.

CRMC is also looking for other clinic partners to expand this program to other locations in Alberta.

Please note that if you hold only an RN Diploma (and not a BScN, BSN, or BN), it is very unlikely you will find employment in Canada as a Registered Nurse. You may still apply to this program; however, we strongly recommend that you complete the Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing at Athabasca University. You may also choose to remain in this program until you finish your RN-to-BScN top-up degree, as current nursing practice in Canada is required to complete the Athabasca program. The tuition for the Post-RN Bachelor of Nursing at Athabasca University is approximately $13,000 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Alberta.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO EXPAND IT AND FIND OUT MORE OPTIONS ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR RNs
AT CRANSTON RIDGE MEDICAL CLINIC
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CEP-IEN Pathways Options.drawio.png

Only for IENs with Canadian citizenship:

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ADMIT APPLICANTS AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION!

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