International nurses with credentials from abroad get fresh backing from Canada's government
The Pre-Arrival and Post-Arrival Supports and Services Program (PASS), offered by the CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses and funded by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is a valuable resource for nurses educated abroad who aspire to integrate into the Canadian workforce. This program is free for eligible nurses.
For those outside Canada with a confirmed permanent residence, the PASS Pre-Arrival Program offers a wealth of services. These include employment referrals, interview assistance, and live and recorded webinars about the nursing registration process, the Canadian healthcare system, labor market trends, and alternative non-licensed positions. The program also provides online communication courses specific to the nursing field, individualized case management, and mentorship support through the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), customized by destination province and/or nursing specialization.
The communication courses provided through the PASS program total 84 hours in length. They cover topics such as verbal and non-verbal cross-cultural communication, Canadian nursing vocabulary, inter-professional practice, communicating with healthcare teams, health teaching and assessment, documentation and reporting, therapeutic communication and conflict resolution.
To be eligible for the PASS program, nurses must have completed a recognized nursing education program and have been approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to immigrate to Canada. The intake form requires documentation that you have completed your nursing education, as well as evidence showing that you have received permanent residence (PR) confirmation. Acceptable documents for PR confirmation include the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), a single-entry PR Visa, a PR Visa pick-up notification letter, a passport request letter indicating PR Visa issuance, an IRCC request that you complete a PR medical examination, or an IRCC invitation to obtain pre-arrival services.
For nurses currently located in Canada, the PASS Post-Arrival Program offers similar services, including guidance on obtaining licensure through provincial regulatory bodies and additional support measures to aid in the settlement journey. Post-arrival, the case manager can also suggest additional support measures to aid in the settlement journey.
To apply for the PASS program, simply fill out the online intake form available on pass4nurses.org. Once your application has been reviewed by a PASS case manager, you will be contacted with the next steps. The PASS program is committed to helping international nurses integrate into the Canadian workforce and providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
