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Read moreUpdates to IEN Application Process
Since the fall of 2022, the College has announced a series of major updates to the application processes for internationally educated nurses, including new ways to demonstrate language proficiency, additional flexibility around the clinical competence assessment, and to help offer similar employment opportunities to IENs while they navigate the application process.
The College is committed to ongoing modernization of its application processes to ensure the timely handling of applications for registration as a registered nurse in Manitoba. Following extensive review of its processes, available evidence and consultations with applicants and stakeholders, The College implemented numerous changes delivering on our commitment to ensuring patient safety as well as helping to address the significant health human resource challenges in Manitoba.
How to apply
Steps to apply as an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN)
- Apply through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)
- Apply/open a file with the College
- The College reviews your application file:
- Nursing education comparability and Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) eligibility
- Nurse Re-Entry Program (NREP) eligibility
- Complete the CCA
- Complete any required courses in the NREP at RRC Polytech
- The national registered nurse exam (NCLEX-RN) and Graduate Nurse (GN) registration
- Registered Nurse (RN) registration
See more: IEN Application Process Infographic
Major updates and initiatives supporting streamlined IEN application process
NNAS Expedited Service accepted for IEN applicants
This change is effective October 2, 2024, and IEN applicants will transition to this new process. With this expedited service, NNAS will issue applicant advisory reports within five days of all documents being received.
Previously, 80-90% of these advisory reports were issued from NNAS within 12 weeks of receipt of documentation. The new process removes the requirement for applicants to gather curriculum documents and will allow the applicant to open an application with the College earlier. It will also reduce the overall burden on applicants including a lower overall cost for IEN applicants in Manitoba.
Updated ways to demonstrate English language proficiency
The ways that an applicant can demonstrate English language proficiency have been significantly updated since the fall of 2022, with a major update implemented August 1, 2024. As a result of a national review of language testing benchmarks, as well as the College’s own review of additional ways to demonstrate language proficiency, there are now 8 different ways that an applicant can meet the requirements for RN registration in Manitoba: In addition to the updated testing scores shown below, applicants can now demonstrate their language proficiency via current or previous registration as a nurse in Canada, nursing education completed in Canada or internationally, international nursing practice in English within the past 2 years, and an employer attestation letter. Further details on all accepted language proficiency measures and requirements are outlined in our language proficiency policy.
Updated language testing benchmarks
The language testing scores accepted by the College are outlined here, and reflect the results of a national study the College participated in looking at the current language proficiency requirements for competent registered nursing practice in Canada. The results of this study brought about changes to the listening and writing test scores accepted for the IELTS Academic test, as well as the listening scores accepted for the CELBAN test, and in May 2024, introduced the OET:
IELTS Academic | CELBAN | OET | |
Reading | 6.5 | 8 | C+ |
Listening | 7.5 to 7.0 | 10 to 9 | B |
Writing | 7.0 to 6.5 | 7 | B |
Speaking | 7.0 | 8 | C+ |
Overall | 7.0 |
In addition, as of May 2024, the College now accepts a combination of results from 2 sittings of the same test in order to meet the minimum benchmarks. See our language proficiency policy for more information.
Updates to Nurse Re-Entry Program (NREP) and Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) eligibility
Option to complete full Nurse Re-Entry Program instead of a CCA
In September 2022, the College made updates to the IEN application process allowing qualified applicants to choose to do the full slate of NREP courses at RRC Polytech in lieu of a CCA, giving flexibility to applicants who may prefer this pathway, while also providing the College with more ways to recognize and value the education and experience that applicants bring to the table.
Option to Complete a Second CCA
The College implemented a further update in February 2023 giving applicants required to undergo a CCA the option to take a second CCA if the results of the initial assessment did not meet expectations. An applicant may undergo a CCA a total of 2 times. As of March 5, 2024, applicants have 6 months to complete the second CCA following the CEO/Registrar’s decision on registration eligibility.
If you previously completed a CCA as part of your registration application requirements, you may be eligible to take this option. Please contact the Registration team to see if the policy change is applicable to you and for information regarding next steps.
Supports for the IENs in Manitoba Project and Philippines recruitment mission
Expedited IEN application process for Philippines recruitment mission
As part of its support for a recruitment mission in the Philippines, led by the Manitoba government , to recruit internationally educated nurses and other healthcare providers, the College developed an expedited registration pathway for applicants who are recruited as part of this initiative.
Once development of a virtual CCA is complete, applicants will be able to complete a greater portion of the application process while still living abroad. The expedited processes allows the NNAS application and CRNM applications be completed simultaneously so that applicants’ total time in the assessment process is substantially reduced.
Work being done by the College’s partners in education and in government continues to enable availability of NREP courses in a remote learning environment. Further details will be announced as they become available.
Other key supports for IENs in Manitoba project and Philippines recruitment
Expansion of the Undergraduate Nurse Employee (UNE) role
Throughout the fall of 2022, the College led a process, together with partners in the health system to update the Undergraduate Nurse Employee (UNE) role to allow qualified IEN applicants to begin working in the health system earlier and gain valuable clinical experience.
This culminated in December 2022 with the College’s approval of changes to its rules regarding RN supervision of Undergraduate Nurse Employees (UNEs) to update the definitions of a UNE to include Undergraduate Nurse students who have the competencies for this role and is currently enrolled in an approved nursing program, or who are currently enrolled in a course of instruction in order to obtain registration as an applicant seeking re-entry to practice/internationally educated applicant.
Ongoing process leadership and commitment to continuous modernization of application processes
In addition to the changes outlined above, the College remains committed to the ongoing modernization and streamlining of its application processes to ensure that qualified applicants can get to work in the timeliest manner possible. The College will continue to make improvements to our processes while never compromising on safety. Our focus will always be on serving and protecting the public interest through a fair, accountable, and transparent approach to registered nursing regulation.