Are you a Canadian RN looking for work near Bellingham, Washington? If so, there is a great opportunity for full-time or part-time employment at Christian Health Care Center — right across the border in Whatcom County.
To begin working as a cross-border RN, you will need to work through two separate processes: licensing and immigration.
The licensing process ensures that you have the status necessary to act as a nurse in Washington state, and the immigration process allows you to legally enter the United States for the purposes of work.
Licensing: The licensing info listed here is specific to Washington state, though multistate licenses are available. The requirements for registered nurses from British Columbia, Canada, to become licensed for the first time in Washington are as follows:
- Prove English proficiency. If your nursing program was taught in English, or if you have at least 1,000 hours of practice in a country with English as a primary language, you don’t need to take an English proficiency exam, but you’ll need to provide evidence of that as part of your application.
- If you were educated outside the United States, you will need to have your transcripts reviewed and approved and then prove your nursing knowledge. If you are applying for your first license in the U.S., you will need to apply for a license by examination. If you already have a U.S. license in another state, you can apply by endorsement. The steps are different for each path:
- If you are applying for a license by examination, you must acquire an education evaluation of transcripts. According to the Washington State Board of Nursing, nurses who were educated outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated in a course-by-course evaluation. Four organizations are approved by the Board of Nursing to conduct this evaluation: TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), Education Records Evaluation Service, Josef Silney & Associates Inc. and International Education Evaluations. Nurses going through TruMerit would need to order the Credentials Evaluation Service Professional report.
- If you are applying by examination, you will need to pass the NCLEX. Versions of the exam are available for both RNs and LPNs. Because the NCLEX is available in Canada, with several testing locations in British Columbia, many Canadian RNs already will have met this requirement. Plans are in the works for this test to be offered online in the future, but that’s not available yet.
- If you are applying for a license by endorsement, you must provide an official copy of your transcripts to the Board of Nursing. Transcripts must be sent directly from the nursing education program, another U.S. board of nursing, or one of the four approved evaluation service providers provided above.
If you are applying by endorsement, keep in mind that you need to have an active license already (or pass a refresher program approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing) and then verify your initial license in the United States.
- If you are applying for a license by examination, you must acquire an education evaluation of transcripts. According to the Washington State Board of Nursing, nurses who were educated outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated in a course-by-course evaluation. Four organizations are approved by the Board of Nursing to conduct this evaluation: TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), Education Records Evaluation Service, Josef Silney & Associates Inc. and International Education Evaluations. Nurses going through TruMerit would need to order the Credentials Evaluation Service Professional report.
- Pass a criminal background check. After your application is received, the Nursing Commission will mail you a fingerprint packet to complete and submit to the Department of Health.
Note: If you have a Social Security number, Washington state law requires that you disclose it on your application. However, an SSN is not required to apply for or obtain a license, as long as you meet all licensing requirements to be licensed. If you do not have an SSN, you must complete and return this form with your application.
Immigration:
British Columbia citizens with a passport who are registered nurses (and licensed in WA) are eligible to work in health care organizations near Bellingham, including Christian Health Care Center in Lynden.
Canadian nurses need to establish eligibility to enter the United States for work. To do this, nurses need to show at the border a job offer from an American employer, proof of Canadian citizenship and an evaluation of their credentials. The letter from the prospective employer, such as Christian Health Care Center, must explain the professional capacity of the work in the United States, the purpose of the employment, the length of stay, and the nurse’s educational qualifications.
For Canadian citizens, this eligibility can be established when you cross the border into the U.S. (a Washington state list is here). At the port of entry, you will present your offer letter, background documentation and passport. You can do this at any border crossing, but optimized processing is available at the Blaine Peach Arch port of entry. The government charges a nominal fee to process information. Once approved, initial TN status can last for up to three years. Staying longer in the U.S. requires repeating the process at an eligible point of entry or filing for an extension.
Because Christian Health Care Center is in Lynden, Washington, commuting from the Lower Mainland of B.C. can be a breeze, especially if you have a NEXUS card. Lynden is a rural community in Washington state, just south of Aldergrove and Abbotsford, British Columbia.
To successfully become allowed to work as a registered nurse in the United States, a nurse who lives in British Columbia would need to pass through the following steps:
- Acquire a VisaScreen certificate from TruMerit. VisaScreen is a comprehensive screening service for nurses (and other health care professionals) seeking a visa to work in the United States. A VisaScreen certificate satisfies U.S. federal screening requirements.
- Find an employer in Whatcom County, such as Christian Health Care Center, and secure a letter granting employment. The letter should also state the professional capacity in which you will work in the United States, the purpose of your employment, your length of stay and your educational qualifications. Learn more.
- Apply for United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement TN Visa status at the U.S. border with Canada. To do this, nurses need to have with them the job offer from an American employer, proof of Canadian citizenship and the VisaScreen certificate. You can do this at any border crossing, but optimized processing is available at the Blaine Peach Arch port of entry.
- Optional but recommended: Apply for a NEXUS pass. The NEXUS program provides expedited entry into the U.S. for pre-screened travelers.
Nonprofit mission, patient-centered, faith-based.
CHCC operates a health care campus, including skilled nursing and therapeutic rehabilitation, just five miles from the Lynden/Aldergrove Border Crossing and 10 miles from the Sumas/Huntingdon Border Crossing. We have been an important part of the community since 1956 and we’re often looking for compassionate registered nurses to join our team.
RNs at CHCC have an option to work either 8- or 12-hour shifts. Working three 12-hour shifts per week is a great way for nurses who cross-border commute or split their time between Washington state and the Lower Mainland of B.C. Part-time 4-hours evening shifts may also be available.
If you are a Canadian RN looking for work near Bellingham, WA, please consider current employment opportunities at CHCC and apply online or contact our human resources department to learn more. Remember, to work in Washington state, you need to acquire a state license and proceed through the immigration process to get a TN Visa.
Find the work you’ve been looking for in Whatcom County!