kasiadoran

Any uk nurses in Quebec...LPN'S or RN'S? I was just wondering if the assessment process is any different to the rest of Canada? Any comments appreciated

anders101

How is you French?

kasiadoran

I guess...well I understood all the info on the college website...used to be fluent I was thought French from the age of 10 to 18 but since moving from Poland to uk 10 years ago never had a chance to use it...i have french friend in the village and he reckons it is more than enough to get by...but I am not sure if it is enough to work with as a nurse

Shirtback

Start here:
Infirmière formée hors Québec | Admission profession | OIIQ

You will absolutely need fluent French - there might be one or 2 establishments in Montreal where you could get away without that level. Bilingual would be a distinct advantage.

Could you pass the equivalence/accreditation process (see above link) in French?

Some years ago, Immigration Quebec were fast-tracking nurses, I don't *think* that's the case anymore (but check). The vacancies were mainly regional.

JGK

There are 2 hospital systems the french and the "English". English is not a requirement for the french hospital system but bilinguality is most certainlt needed for the English hospitals.

The french exam is, or was, notoriously hard and covered your ability to communicate in french on subjects totally unrelated to nursing (one paper I recall mention of, asked for a description of how you would install a computer network). Many nurses had to do multiple retakes in order to pass.

kasiadoran

Hmmmm...research day tomorrow then...thank you

Shirtback

Huh? Are you talking about Quebec?

kasiadoran

why? Any different experience or just general surprise that it is quebec...

Shirtback

Surprised because there is only one healthcare/hospital system in Quebec.

JGK

Yes, but not all locations provide service in English, hence the descriptive split along language lines. I lived in QC for six year and differentiation between "english/bilingual" and "French" facilities was very common.

Shirtback

Ok, I get what you mean. However, even to work in a facility providing English-language services, OP needs a permit from OIIQ, which will require the French language test (I too have heard that it's a bit of a nightmare).

There was a bit of a hooha about it a couple of years ago (nurses on temporary permits working at Jewish General whose permits were revoked when they didn't pass the French exam)

JGK

There was also a story I heard when i was in QC of a nurse so desperate to pass the test and get licensed, she hired a tutor and had one on one tuition for three months, took the test and passed.....

Then the exam board said she had passed "too well" and were refusing to ratify the result

Shirtback

That sounds a bit "scaremongery"

Silverdragon102

Couple things I understand about Quebec nursing. They have I believe 3 years to pass French exam before being issued a full nursing license and that they have the lowest pay out of all the provinces

kasiadoran

Thank you all for advice