One of the greatest challenges for the internationally educated nurse (IEN) is choosing which college or university program to help them integrate into the Canadian health care system.
Not only are there many (20+) IEN Bridging Program (IEN-BP) options to choose from in Canada, but they also vary significantly in pre-requisites, enrollment costs, course offerings, durations, promised credentials, and quality standards.
Accreditation lets IENs know that an institution meets or exceeds minimum quality standards and is accredited by a recognized national agency like the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). It tells IEN students that a program has undergone a rigorous self-evaluation and an independent, objective peer appraisal of the overall educational quality. CASN Accreditation is how you can help your program stand out from the rest.
To add to the challenges for IENs, employers often require evidence that applicants have received a degree from an accredited school or program to determine the validity of the programs of study and whether a graduate is qualified. IEN graduates from accredited programs stand the best chance for a successful career in Canada.
Receive evaluation and advice from expert peer reviewers
CASN defines an IEN Bridging Program (IEN-BP) as any program designed to address gaps and/or differences in education and competencies so that an IEN may become registered to practice in Canada and successfully integrate into the Canadian health care system. IENs include registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered practical nurses (RPNs; this title is used in Ontario only and can be used for Registered Psychiatric Nurses in the west).
We would be delighted to help you determine if CASN IEN-BP Accreditation is right for your program.
The CASN IEN-BP Accreditation Program take approximately two years to complete, and uses a rigorous, bilingual, peer-reviewed assessment process that follows these steps:
* Pricing for member schools. All prices are in $CAD. Pricing is subject to change. Based on one education program conducted by one educational unit in a virtual format. Non-member schools pay an additional accreditation support fee. Discounts offered for concurrent accreditations of additional programs e.g., BScN, PN, NP. Contact us for more information.
