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Certification Process for Nurses in Canada

Certification Process for Nurses in Canada


By Eli Levit

The pathway I’ll describe here is the one I personally followed to verify my nursing license from Israel for use in Canada via the United States, including the option to take the NCLEX exam.

There are several routes to license verification — through the U.S., Australia, etc.
My pathway bypasses many of Canada’s requirements for international nurses and allows obtaining a license while still in Israel, through the province of Alberta:

  1. Open a file with WES and request that your education evaluation (course-by-course) be sent to Alberta.

  2. Open a file with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) and follow the listed steps — it’s quite straightforward.

  3. Receive authorization to take the exam.

  4. Register and pay through the Pearson website to take the NCLEX exam in Israel.

Note: Alberta has recently updated its process since I completed mine.
It’s now possible to send your academic transcripts through WES directly to the Alberta nursing college, receive approval to take the exam through the province itself, and complete verification directly — without going through the U.S. route.
Visit the Alberta nursing association’s website for full details.

For those still interested in obtaining a license that’s valid in both Alberta and New York State (U.S.), here’s an expanded explanation:

Please note — immigration and license verification are two entirely separate processes.
For my immigration process, I worked with Michal Ohayon and Svetlana Damb from UCI.

Also note: this is the exact process I personally followed. I don’t claim that it’s the best or most suitable for everyone, and I take no responsibility for any step in the process. You must research and verify each step yourself.

Visit the nursing regulatory authority websites for every province you’re considering — each province has different requirements (very important!).
Each pathway also varies slightly depending on your education background (generic B.A., bridging program, etc.).

Just because my process went smoothly doesn’t mean yours will. My entire process took about eight months from opening my file with CGFNS to receiving my license in Alberta — considered quite fast.
I won’t list fees, as they change frequently and I honestly don’t recall all the amounts.

Step-by-Step Process (via New York)

  1. Open a file with CGFNS through the New York Board of Nursing (U.S.), fill out personal details (degree info, educational institution, etc.).
    After completing the forms and payment, you’ll typically receive three forms:

    • One for your educational institution

    • One for the Israeli Ministry of Health

    • One for a notary

    The New York pathway does not require an English test (don’t check any English test boxes).

    a. Education form – take it to your nursing school so they can fill it out and send it directly to CGFNS.
    b. Ministry of Health form – email it to the Nursing Administration at the Israeli Ministry of Health after paying a 245 ILS fee.
    Payment details: bank transfer to Israel Post Bank, branch 001 Jerusalem, account number 0-025961.
    Email the receipt and your details to [email protected] and indicate where the form should be sent.
    c. Notary form – I used CGFNS’s online notary service, which involves a short Zoom verification call. The notary then sends the signed document directly to CGFNS.
    Notary website: https://secure.notarycam.com

  2. Once all documents reach CGFNS and are approved, they’ll be sent to the New York Board of Nursing.
    Open a file on the board’s website: https://www.op.nysed.gov/registered-professional-nursing
    Follow the steps carefully. You’ll need to complete two short online courses and tests:

    • Child Abuse

    • Infection Control
      You’ll also need to fill out your personal information and other required details.

  3. Pay for the NCLEX exam through Pearson VUE:
    https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.page

  4. Once the New York Board approves your eligibility, they’ll send you an ATT (Authorization to Test) via email.
    You can then register on the Pearson website and select a test date. The exam is administered in Ramat Gan, Israel.

  5. Exam Preparation:
    I studied with Archer Review: https://archerreview.com/login
    They’re excellent — review all materials, watch tutorials, and practice as many sample questions as possible. That’s the key to passing.

    After taking the exam, you can pay a small fee to view unofficial results within 48 hours on Pearson’s website.
    About a week later, you can search for your name in the New York Board of Nursing license registry.
    If your name appears — congratulations, you’re officially licensed!
    If not, just wait patiently.
    About a month later, I received my official printed license by mail.

Licensing in Alberta After the NCLEX

  1. After passing the U.S. exam, open a file with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA):
    https://connect.nurses.ab.ca/home
    The process is simple — fill out personal details, pay the fees, complete 2–3 online courses, and purchase professional liability insurance (required before submitting your application).

    At this stage, I asked the New York Board of Nursing to send an official copy of my license to CRNA for verification.

  2. About 10 days later, I received my Alberta nursing license.

  3. Important: Please don’t send me private messages — this guide is meant for sharing questions, forms, and peer support within the group.

  4. If I remember any additional details, I’ll update this guide later.

Useful Websites

  • https://start.cgfns.org/?ref=cgfnsconnect

  • https://www.wes.org/

  • https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.page

  • https://archerreview.com/

  • https://www.uworld.com/home.aspx

  • https://home.pearsonvue.com/

  • https://secure.notarycam.com/session/get-started

    Certification Process for Nurses in Canada
    By Eli Levit

    The pathway I’ll describe here is the one I personally followed to verify my nursing license from Israel for use in Canada via the United States, including the option to take the NCLEX exam.

    There are several routes to license verification — through the U.S., Australia, etc.
    My pathway bypasses many of Canada’s requirements for international nurses and allows obtaining a license while still in Israel, through the province of Alberta:

    1. Open a file with WES and request that your education evaluation (course-by-course) be sent to Alberta.

    2. Open a file with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) and follow the listed steps — it’s quite straightforward.

    3. Receive authorization to take the exam.

    4. Register and pay through the Pearson website to take the NCLEX exam in Israel.

    Note: Alberta has recently updated its process since I completed mine.
    It’s now possible to send your academic transcripts through WES directly to the Alberta nursing college, receive approval to take the exam through the province itself, and complete verification directly — without going through the U.S. route.
    Visit the Alberta nursing association’s website for full details.

    For those still interested in obtaining a license that’s valid in both Alberta and New York State (U.S.), here’s an expanded explanation:

    Please note — immigration and license verification are two entirely separate processes.
    For my immigration process, I worked with Michal Ohayon and Svetlana Damb from UCI.

    Also note: this is the exact process I personally followed. I don’t claim that it’s the best or most suitable for everyone, and I take no responsibility for any step in the process. You must research and verify each step yourself.

    Visit the nursing regulatory authority websites for every province you’re considering — each province has different requirements (very important!).
    Each pathway also varies slightly depending on your education background (generic B.A., bridging program, etc.).

    Just because my process went smoothly doesn’t mean yours will. My entire process took about eight months from opening my file with CGFNS to receiving my license in Alberta — considered quite fast.
    I won’t list fees, as they change frequently and I honestly don’t recall all the amounts.

    Step-by-Step Process (via New York)

    1. Open a file with CGFNS through the New York Board of Nursing (U.S.), fill out personal details (degree info, educational institution, etc.).
      After completing the forms and payment, you’ll typically receive three forms:

      • One for your educational institution

      • One for the Israeli Ministry of Health

      • One for a notary

      The New York pathway does not require an English test (don’t check any English test boxes).

      a. Education form – take it to your nursing school so they can fill it out and send it directly to CGFNS.
      b. Ministry of Health form – email it to the Nursing Administration at the Israeli Ministry of Health after paying a 245 ILS fee.
      Payment details: bank transfer to Israel Post Bank, branch 001 Jerusalem, account number 0-025961.
      Email the receipt and your details to [email protected] and indicate where the form should be sent.
      c. Notary form – I used CGFNS’s online notary service, which involves a short Zoom verification call. The notary then sends the signed document directly to CGFNS.
      Notary website: https://secure.notarycam.com

    2. Once all documents reach CGFNS and are approved, they’ll be sent to the New York Board of Nursing.
      Open a file on the board’s website: https://www.op.nysed.gov/registered-professional-nursing
      Follow the steps carefully. You’ll need to complete two short online courses and tests:

      • Child Abuse

      • Infection Control
        You’ll also need to fill out your personal information and other required details.

    3. Pay for the NCLEX exam through Pearson VUE:
      https://www.ncsbn.org/nclex.page

    4. Once the New York Board approves your eligibility, they’ll send you an ATT (Authorization to Test) via email.
      You can then register on the Pearson website and select a test date. The exam is administered in Ramat Gan, Israel.

    5. Exam Preparation:
      I studied with Archer Review: https://archerreview.com/login
      They’re excellent — review all materials, watch tutorials, and practice as many sample questions as possible. That’s the key to passing.

      After taking the exam, you can pay a small fee to view unofficial results within 48 hours on Pearson’s website.
      About a week later, you can search for your name in the New York Board of Nursing license registry.
      If your name appears — congratulations, you’re officially licensed!
      If not, just wait patiently.
      About a month later, I received my official printed license by mail.

    Licensing in Alberta After the NCLEX

    1. After passing the U.S. exam, open a file with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA):
      https://connect.nurses.ab.ca/home
      The process is simple — fill out personal details, pay the fees, complete 2–3 online courses, and purchase professional liability insurance (required before submitting your application).

      At this stage, I asked the New York Board of Nursing to send an official copy of my license to CRNA for verification.

    2. About 10 days later, I received my Alberta nursing license.

    3. Important: Please don’t send me private messages — this guide is meant for sharing questions, forms, and peer support within the group.

    4. If I remember any additional details, I’ll update this guide later.

    Useful Websites

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