But you might be wondering why study nursing in Canada. With a large number of countries offering nursing courses, the idea of going along with Canada might seem a bit off. Well, Canada has in store a large range of factors that makes it a popular destination for many international students.
Lately, nursing requirements in Canada only seem to get bigger with different circumstances. Here are some reasons why you should pursue a nursing career in Canada:
1. World-Class Education and Training
Canada is recognized across the globe for its top education standard and heavy emphasis on training to make everyone sufficient. The academic standards of Canadian universities are globally recognized and prioritize on-hand training so that students develop expertise in the required field.
Specifically, in the context of nursing, this is even more evident. One of the greatest assets of Canada has to be its strong healthcare system. This means that it makes sure that the workforce gets all prepped up before setting their feet in the actual field. The nursing profession involves the health of many people.
That’s why nursing courses in Canada are perfectly created considering these aspects and have attracted a large number of international students.
2. Better Career Opportunities
Another reason behind the popularity of nursing courses in Canada is the access to promising job opportunities. The pursuit of the nursing profession opens an opportunity to work in a wide variety of sectors like Entrepreneur, Consultant, Military Nursing, Forensic Nurse, Holistic Nurse, Medical Writer, Supplemental Nurse, Research Nurse, and so on.
The salary of nurses also tends to be quite lucrative. However, the work experience and degree undertaken might bring some difference in the pay scale. Within the nursing courses, there are various subjects like nursing theory, nursing practice, professional issues, path physiology, human anatomy and physiology, psychology, and general education.
This wide variety of subjects within the nursing domain lets you access the field and secure a prospective job.
3. Stability and safety
Any person would aim for a stable profession. The nursing profession in Canada is supported with job security and benefits through unions along with liability protection from the organization. There is also a pension to back up your future.
Further, the environment of Canada is extremely safe, which is certainly a key parameter for any individual looking forward to pursuing a career abroad. The diverse culture of Canada has made it extremely safe for foreigners to be equally treated with respect and guaranteed with similar perks.
Is Nursing Requirements in Canada a reality?
The demand for nurses in Canada is not at all surprising. However, there might be some confusion as to whether nursing requirements in Canada are just a big fat rumor or do they have some reality behind them.
Before leaping to pursue a nursing career in Canada, it’s always a good idea to consider whether the requirements of nursing in Canada are based on facts and support the future of international students. The reality is, in fact, in your favor.
With the covid-19 changing the whole scenario of the healthcare system, the demand for nurses in Canada is quite high. The healthcare industry across the world requires strong and dedicated manpower to cope with the crisis of pandemics and provide much-needed assistance in the medical system.
Nurses are a vital part of this system and therefore, demands for nurse in Canada only seems to soar high during these times. Further, there is a growing trend of retiring workforce of nurses in Canada. The nursing profession is, indeed, a hectic job.
Before you opt for nursing schools in Canada, you should know that a nursing job demands great dedication and contribution from your side. So, normally nurses tend to opt for early retirement. The average workforce of Canada is 50 years old. This means that there remains room for new interested candidates, thereby increasing the scope of nursing in Canada.
What You Need To Know About Nursing Courses in Canada
Ready to set your foot in Canadian University for nursing? First and foremost, you need to make sure that your nursing degree aligns perfectly with the professional goals you have set for yourself.
To work as a registered nurse in Canada, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination(NCLEX) irrespective of the nursing courses undertaken in Canada. There are around 140 courses in different degree levels and specializations by various Nursing Schools in Canada.
The nursing schools provide students with an opportunity to choose from certificate or diploma programs to doctorate level in a wide variety of specializations. The widely popular specializations available for nursing courses in Canada are:
General Nursing
Practical Nursing
Nursing Assisting
Cardiac Nursing
Emergency Nursing
Gastroenterology Nursing
Nursing & midwifery
Nursing Specialists
Pediatric Nursing
Critical Care Nursing
Best Nursing Courses in Canada
Duration
Diploma in Practical Nursing
2 years
Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing
2 years
Bachelor’s in Nursing
2 years
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
4 years
Graduate Certificate in Enhanced Nursing Practice – Clinical and critical care
1 year
Speciality Nursing- High Acquity, BSc
1 year
Master of Nursing
2 years
Master of Science in Nursing
2 years
Master of Public Health in Nursing
2 years
Ph.D. in Nursing
5 years
Prerequisites For Getting Into Nursing Schools in Canada
With a pool of nursing programs in Canada, there remains a huge opportunity for interested individuals. However, they should meet all the necessary criteria as prescribed by the universities. You need to keep an eye on course requirements which tend to vary as per the nursing schools you applied to in Canada.
In general, these are the basic prerequisites you need to fulfill for getting into nursing schools in Canada:
For Nursing courses in Canada with Bachelor’s degree, you must have graduated from secondary school or must have taken Mathematics, English, Biology, and Chemistry as fundamental subjects at 12th standard.
As for Master’s degree courses, the interested individuals are expected to have a registered nurse license with a four-year bachelor degree’s in nursing while making sure that all the other necessary requirements are fulfilled. Further, some Canadian Universities also expect at least one year of clinical experience.
For those pursuing doctoral-level programs, the applicants are required to have a master’s degree in nursing or an equivalent degree.
Some nursing schools also offer a pre-nursing year opportunity for individuals not meeting the criteria and wishing to pursue the nursing profession in Canada.
You can’t miss out on the IELTS requirement as language is an essential aspect. Nursing universities in Canada also require you to have GRE scores for PhD programs. If you are looking to apply bachelor’s degree, then you should undertake CASPer(Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) exam.
Nursing schools in Canada also expect you to have these necessary documents:
Certificate of standard language tests (TOEFL, IELTS)
Authentic Transcripts
Statement of Purpose(SOP) and Letter of Recommendations(LORs)
Proof of CASPer’s exam for bachelor degree
Registered Nursing Certificate ( a current RN) for master’s degree course
Research Paper( on accomplishment) for PhD courses in Canada
Cost and Time Span of Studying Nursing in Canada
The dream of pursuing nursing in Canada certainly seems promising. Easier said than done, it all comes with several factors to be considered. Cost and time are those factors to look out for as you will have to spend a considerable amount of money and time during your nursing profession journey.
The cost of studying for a nursing degree in Canada can largely vary due to the types of nursing programs and the university chosen. Normally, pursuing a nursing program in Canada involves four years for undergraduate programs and would get adequate training to work as a registered nurse. As for postgraduate studies , the time can be one or two years.
Looking forward to fulfilling nursing requirements in Canada, then consider these cost parameters:
1. Tuition Fee
The tuition fees will largely vary as per the subjects undertaken and the Canadian universities chosen. Generally speaking, the tuition fees for Bachelor’s degree varies from 52,000 CAD to 169,000 CAD. Meanwhile, the tuition fee for a master’s program tends to be 37,000 CAD on average.
On the other hand, tuition fees for Ph.D. courses fall somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 CAD per year.
2. Living Cost
Living cost is something that cannot be overlooked on your Canadian journey. You have the option to go for on-campus residence facilities and off-campus accommodation facilities.
On-campus accommodation can cost you somewhere between CAD 8000 to CAD 10,000. Further, Off-campus accommodation will cost you about CAD 400 to CAD 800 based on the location.
Homestay is another safest alternative available for international students. The host family will provide you with one individual room, one to three meals per day, and internet access. It will cost you a monthly fee of around CAD 750-950.
3. Travel Expenses and Health Insurance
The travel expenses largely depend on your location. Students prefer to take bus or meter passes with expenses of around CAD 80 to 110 per month.
Students are also eligible for provincial health insurance. It covers your emergency and essential preventive services. You also have the option to choose private health insurance with expenses of around CAD 600 to 1000. This includes dental services, hospital room services, ambulance services, and medications.
What To Look For in Canadian University to study Nursing?
Before deciding on Canadian University for nursing, you need to consider various aspects. Careful consideration and detailed research are the foundation for building a strong nursing career. Do consider these things while deciding on your nursing profession:
1. Goal
This is crucial before hopping into any university for nursing in Canada. You need to make sure what you want to achieve with your degree. With a wide variety of nursing subjects, it is important to consider what you want to pursue in the future.
To work as a registered nurse, you would require Associate Degree in Nursing or Nursing Diploma. It will take around 18 to 24 months to obtain the permit.
2. Meet The Requirement of the University
For you to be enrolled in the university of your choice, you must fulfill the requirements set by the university. The criteria could demand certain grades, language requirements, cost, and many more.
The syllabus of nursing schools can vary. So, pay attention to the curriculum of the nursing schools. A good way of finding a great nursing curriculum is looking for NCLEX pass rates. The experience of the faculty member also plays a significant role.
3. NCLEX Rate
NCLEX(National Council Licensure Examination) is the exam undertaken for obtaining permits of nurses in Canada. This exam is extremely important if you want to work as a registered nurse in Canada. Before taking this exam, you are required to apply to a province/ territory where you wish to work.
The Bottomline
Nursing is probably one career that will continue to raise the faith in humanity. With the ever-growing nursing requirements in Canada, keen international students have a golden opportunity in front of them. You are likely to encounter a lot of obstacles and opportunities during this journey. But that’s what makes the journey worth remembering.
So, for all of you planning to study nursing in Canada, pay attention to mentioned factors and step ahead with courage. CIC Education Hub provides you with the needed guidance and consultation to make your journey to Canada a smooth one and convenient.
FAQs on Study Nursing in Canada
1. Is Nursing a good career in Canada?
The massive demands for nurses have made nursing a great career option for many interested individuals. With Covid-19 and the damage it had to witness over the years, the scope and value of nursing finally seem to be understood. This is the reason for the large variety of nursing schools in Canada.
2. How many hours can a nurse work per week in Canada?
The working hours of nurses are largely dependent on where they work. Work shifts normally include 5 days working eight hours per day or 4 days working ten hours per day. The standard time is 40 hours per week. The working hours are pretty flexible making the scope of nursing in Canada more prominent.
3. How much cost is required to study nursing in Canada?
The cost to study nursing in Canada is a collection of a large number of factors and hence relying on parameters might not be the correct approach to analyzing it. In general, the cost of nursing courses in Canada ranges from 52,000 CAD to 169,000 CAD for a Bachelor’s degree and 37,000 CAD for a master’s program. As for a Ph.D. course is concerned, it is between 10,000 to 20,000 per year.
4. How long does it require to study nursing in Canada?
Generally speaking, the time required to complete nursing usually depends upon the nursing courses chosen in Canada. The universities in Canada offer nursing with options of Bsc nursing for four years. If you are considering postgraduate programs, then it can take around 1 to 2 years. The university and subjects also make a significant impact on the time taken.
5. How much is the salary of nurses in Canada?
Qualification and experience in the nursing profession play a key role in the pay of nurses in Canada. The average nurses’ salary in Canada is $70,661 per year or $36.24 per hour. The salary of entry-level positions is estimated to be $52,715 per year. The experienced nurses manage to make around $90,429 per year on average.
