College of Registered Nurses streamlining international application process

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This article was published 07/11/2022 (1160 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Changes are coming to nurse registration in Manitoba.

In a move that aims to make the registration process easier for internationally educated nurses to work in the province, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba is updating its application requirements.

It will no longer require proof of immigration status before international nurses can start an application process with the college.

The college is removing some requirements for updating and revalidating proof of identity and English-language proficiency at multiple stages of the application process and is working on a move that will allow nurses to retake their clinical competence assessment if they aren’t happy with the initial result.

The changes were announced in a news release Monday evening and come after the college lost a court challenge brought by an internationally educated nurse, who was unable to become registered to work in Manitoba despite undergoing additional training in Canada and obtaining certification to work in other provinces.

“The college recognizes the significant need for qualified nurses in Manitoba, and the changes announced today represent a significant step forward in streamlining the process for internationally educated applicants to become registered nurses,” Deb Elias, chief executive officer and registrar, said in the release.

“I made it a priority… to act on feedback we have received from internationally educated applicants to identify changes that balance the need for public protection with a renewed focus on applicants’ experiences throughout the process.”