Nurse Registration Process in Quebec: Ordre des Infirmières et Infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ)

The first step is creating an account on the OIIQ portal, which is only available in French. Proficiency in French is crucial for this process, as it will be used for all communications and documentation.

• Create Your Account: Visit the OIIQ Official Website and complete the necessary forms for internationally educated nurses.

Once your online account is created, you will need to submit several documents to verify your nursing credentials, education, and work experience.

Required Documents:

• Transcripts: Submit transcripts from your nursing school detailing your courses, clinical hours, and subjects. These must be sent directly from your school to the OIIQ.
• Nursing Licensure Verification: Provide verification of your nursing license from your home country or the last country where you practiced.
• Proof of Identity: Submit notarized copies of identification, such as your passport or national ID.
• Work Experience Verification: If applicable, provide employment history, including job descriptions and areas of specialization.

Credential Assessment:

The OIIQ’s Admission by Equivalence Committee will assess your education based on the Comparative evaluation of studies done outside Quebec, issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration du Québec.

Translation Requirements:

Any documents not in French must be translated by a certified translator registered with the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ).

After submitting all required documents, the OIIQ will issue an Acknowledgment of Receipt. This includes a file number that you will use for all future communications.

Once the OIIQ reviews your documents, they will send instructions regarding the next steps. This review can involve:

1. Credential Evaluation and Assessment:

The OIIQ will assess your nursing education and training. If your education does not fully meet Quebec standards, you may need to:

• Complete a bridging program at an accredited nursing institution in Quebec.
• Take additional courses to fill in any educational gaps.

There are six CEGEPs in Quebec offering bridging programs. Depending on your credentials and experience, you may need to complete 12 months of study or a 30 to 40-day clinical internship. If your credentials are deemed non-comparable, you may need to enroll in a BScN program or transfer to OIIAQ.

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2. Competency Assessment:

Competency assessment can be completed in a clinical setting and generally occurs in a hospital. The Professional Integration Program (PIP) allows IENs to do 30 to 40 days of clinical internship within a healthcare facility. Nurses who earned their degrees outside Canada | OIIQ.

French proficiency is mandatory for all nurses in Quebec.

• French Language Test: Most candidates need to pass a French language test administered by the
  Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).

• Exemptions: Nurses from France are exempt from the French test and the nursing exam due to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between Quebec and France. However, IENs from other Francophone countries (e.g., some North African and Middle Eastern countries) are not exempt from the French language proficiency requirement.

The licensure exam is called the OIIQ Professional Exam. All applicants must pass this exam before obtaining licensure.

After meeting all the requirements and completing the necessary assessments and exams, you will be eligible for full licensure as a nurse in Quebec.