Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses

Mixed Delivery

This information is applicable to you if you are an internationally educated nurse (IEN) not registered to practice in Ontario.

IENs may require competency gap nursing education and/or evidence of safe nursing practice to be eligible to be registered by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

  • If you are an IEN seeking to become registered in the Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) class, Continuing Education at George Brown College can help you meet all safe practice, language fluency, and education/competency requirements.
  • If you are an IEN seeking to become registered in the Registered Nurse (RN) class, we can help you meet safe practice and language fluency requirements, but we cannot help you meet the competency gap requirements. The additional education required by the CNO to address the RN competency gaps is now offered through the Ontario Colleges Nursing Program Transformation Initiative: Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Upgrade Pathway. That program gives an IEN with RN competency gaps the opportunity to become registered as an RN but with no BScN credential. If you would prefer to pursue the BScN credential, you must complete our full (17- to 18-course) Academic Pathway for IEN Graduate program and then you can apply to a post-RN degree program. (Acceptance criteria to university is determined by the university.) For more information about how to determine if you are eligible for the Academic Pathway, see under Completion Details.

Nursing at George Brown College emphasizes holistic care, cultural diversity/sensitivity, critical thinking and reflective practice. Courses take a patient-focused, family-centred, and interprofessional approach and are offered in a flexible format: they may be offered during the day, on weekends, or during the evening and may be available through in-class, online, or hybrid deliveries. Current research, adult learning principles, social justice, best practices and lived experience provide the foundation for learning. For more information about nursing in Ontario, visit the CNO's Become a Nurse web page.

For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Notes

Financial Assistance:

You may be eligible for financial assistance, including the Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP). Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for details.

Intake Date(s)

Most courses are offered every term, and all letters of acceptance indicate the first term in which courses can be taken.

Admission Requirement(s)

You must secure formal admission (see How To Apply) before you can register for courses. Admission will only be considered if you meet the following requirements:

  • You must be an IEN.
  • You must have a letter of assessment or letter of direction from the CNO.
  • You must have a resumé/curriculum vitae (CV) outlining your previous nursing education and practice.
  • You must be eligible to study in Canada and be able to present proof of that eligibility (a copy of your landed immigrant/permanent resident/protected person status or a valid Canadian study permit).

How to Apply

You must complete the Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses PDF application form. Your completed application form and the required documents must be sent to Gayle Bradley at gbradley@georgebrown.ca. The required documents must be scanned copies and not photos.

You will receive an email response within 10 business days (excluding college closures) of the day we receive your application. If you receive a positive response, you will receive a formal letter of acceptance. You must also attend an online orientation session, which will outline key information about the program, including your clinical pre-placement requirements and details about your courses. The orientation will be on Zoom, and you will be notified by email with an invitation and a link to the Zoom meeting.

Completion Details

Your letter of acceptance will include a personal academic guide – developed specifically for you based on your CNO letter(s) – that contains the list of courses you will be required to complete. (The timeline for completing your courses is individualized based on your specific needs and is between you and the CNO.) That list of courses is provided in the recommended completion order. However, completion order is only limited by course prerequisites. Use the course links below to register for the courses listed on your academic guide. Keep in mind that most courses are offered both on campus and online (both versions are listed below), but you only need to complete one version of the course.

Your academic guide will also indicate what credentials you can request to receive (using the department contact information on this web page) once you have completed all the courses you are required to complete.

Courses (Links for registration as per academic guide)

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Clinical Placements (Links for registration as per academic guide)

Disclaimer: George Brown College reserves the right to add or delete programs and/or courses and to change campus locations and/or clinical placement sites depending on enrollment numbers and/or the availability of sites. Clinical placement site assignment is entirely within the discretion of the college and is based on availability. George Brown College also reserves the right to alter program requirements due to legislative changes and/or changes in the requirements of clinical placement providers or the CNO.

Disclaimer: Registered status is awarded by the CNO. The information provided here does not represent the extent of the requirements for registered status. The requirements are set by the CNO, not George Brown College, so you must follow the process listed on the CNO's website and meet the requirements applicable to you to achieve registered status. The CNO's policies are subject to change without notice, and George Brown College is not responsible for any information errors or inaccuracies that result from a change in the CNO's policy.

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Contact Information
Nursing Department
Email:
cenursing@georgebrown.ca
Phone:
416-415-5000, ext. 2073
Office(s):