You found the U.S. nursing opportunity you’ve been looking for.
You submitted your resume.
You had the interview.
Maybe you’ve even received your U.S. nursing job offer.
Now comes the paperwork.
For Canadian Registered Nurses planning to work in the United States, one of the important pieces of the immigration process is the VisaScreen®: Visa Credentials Assessment through TruMerit.
And here’s our biggest piece of advice:
Don’t wait until you have a job offer to start. Start as early as you can.
The earlier you begin, the more prepared you’ll be when the right U.S. nursing opportunity comes along.
What Is The VisaScreen?
The VisaScreen is a credential screening service for healthcare professionals seeking certain occupational visas to work in the United States. Registered Nurses are among the healthcare professions eligible for the VisaScreen process.
TruMerit explains that VisaScreen evaluates a healthcare professional’s education, validates professional licenses and registrations, verifies the required nursing examination, and assesses English-language proficiency when required.
Successful applicants receive a VisaScreen certificate that satisfies the applicable U.S. federal healthcare worker screening requirement.
For Canadian RNs pursuing eligible U.S. occupational visa pathways, including TN status, VisaScreen can be an important part of the process.
Why Should You Start VisaScreen Before You Have a Job?
This is where many nurses get caught off guard.
A Canadian RN may think: “I’ll deal with VisaScreen once I get a job offer.”
The problem is that the hiring process can move quickly.
You could:
- Apply for a U.S. nursing position.
- Interview with the hospital.
- Receive an offer.
- Begin the TN and immigration process.
- Start planning your relocation.
- Then discover that your VisaScreen documentation is still outstanding.
That’s when the waiting begins.
According to TruMerit’s current processing information, 90% of VisaScreen certificates are issued within 3.5 business days once all primary-source documentation has been received and validated.
But TruMerit also reports that the average time for primary-source documents to be received is currently 14 weeks.
That distinction is extremely important. The review itself may be quick once your file is complete.
Getting all of the required documentation to TruMerit can take much longer.
That’s why starting early matters.
Think of VisaScreen as a Race Against Paperwork
You may be ready to move, your hospital may be ready to hire you, your recruiter may be ready to help coordinate the next steps. But your nursing school or licensing authority may still need to send documentation. That’s the part you don’t want to discover at the last minute.
Your VisaScreen process may involve documentation related to:
- Your nursing education
- Your nursing license or registration
- Previous licenses or registrations
- Your NCLEX-RN
- English-language proficiency or an applicable exemption
- Other required credentials
TruMerit requires validation of licenses, registrations, and diplomas obtained by an applicant, including credentials held in different jurisdictions.
The sooner you start identifying those documents, the better.
Canadian RNs May Have an English-Language Advantage
One of the questions we hear from Canadian nurses is: “Do I have to take an English test?” Not necessarily.
TruMerit states that certain applicants may qualify for an exemption from the English-language proficiency examination if their entry-level professional education was completed in Canada, except Quebec, and English was the language of instruction and textbooks. That can be an important advantage for many Canadian-educated RNs.
However, don’t assume that you automatically qualify. Your individual education and documentation must meet the applicable requirements.
And there is another important point that Canadian RNs need to understand: A VisaScreen English-language exemption does not automatically mean that you are exempt from an English-language requirement imposed by the state Board of Nursing.
Which brings us to one of the most important parts of your relocation research.
Don’t Forget the State Board of Nursing
VisaScreen and state nursing licensure are two separate requirements.
Even if you meet the VisaScreen requirements, the state Board of Nursing where you plan to work may have its own requirements for English-language proficiency.
This is why we always recommend that Canadian RNs research the specific state they are planning to relocate to before assuming they will not need an English exam.
Requirements can vary from state to state.
For example, a nurse considering opportunities in the USA should research the requirements of that specific state’s Board of Nursing.
Why Does This Matter?
A Canadian RN may think: “I was educated in Canada, so I don’t need an English exam.”
That may be true for the VisaScreen portion of the process depending on your education and circumstances.
But it does not automatically mean every state Board of Nursing will waive its own English-proficiency requirements.
For example, Missouri publishes specific English-language proficiency requirements for applicable applicants, including accepted examinations and minimum scores.
Colorado also identifies English-proficiency requirements for certain foreign graduates.
Louisiana has its own licensing and credentialing requirements that should be reviewed by nurses considering relocation there.
The important lesson is: Don’t assume that what applies in one state automatically applies in another. Always Research the State You Want to Call Home
Before you begin your U.S. nursing relocation process, identify the state where you plan to work and visit that state’s official Board of Nursing website.
Look specifically for requirements related to:
- English-language proficiency
- Nursing education
- Credential evaluation
- NCLEX-RN
- License verification
- Background checks
- Fingerprinting
- Social Security Number requirements
- Endorsement or initial licensure
- Internationally educated nurse requirements
Don’t rely on what a friend needed in another state.
Don’t assume that because another Canadian RN didn’t need an English exam, you won’t need one.
And don’t assume that because you qualify for a VisaScreen English exemption, the state Board of Nursing will automatically provide the same exemption.
The state you choose matters.
Do Your Research Before You Accept the Job
If you’re considering opportunities in Louisiana, Missouri, Colorado, or another state, research the Board of Nursing requirements before accepting a position whenever possible.
For example:
Louisiana → Review the Louisiana State Board of Nursing requirements.
Missouri → Review the Missouri Board of Nursing requirements.
Colorado → Review the Colorado Board of Nursing requirements.
The goal is to identify potential licensing requirements before they become a last-minute problem.
Your recruiter can help you understand the overall relocation process, but always confirm licensing requirements with the appropriate state Board of Nursing because requirements can change.
Your NCLEX-RN Matters
For Canadian RNs, another important piece is your nursing examination history.
TruMerit has specific requirements regarding the nursing examination used for VisaScreen.
Canadian RNs who passed the Canadian Nurses Association Testing Services examination may need to demonstrate that they subsequently passed the NCLEX-RN or the applicable TruMerit Nurse Qualifying Exam to satisfy the VisaScreen nursing examination requirement.
If you’ve already passed the NCLEX-RN, make sure you understand what verification TruMerit requires based on your individual history.
Again: Don’t wait until the last minute to find out what needs to be sent.
Your Nursing School Is Part of the Process
This is one of the biggest reasons we recommend starting early.
Your nursing school may need to provide documentation directly to TruMerit.
Applicants may need to have their educational institution complete the appropriate documentation and send academic records directly to TruMerit.
That means you may not simply be able to upload everything yourself and have the process completed immediately.
Another organization may need to respond.
And that’s where delays can happen.
Your nursing school may have its own processing time.
Your nursing regulator may have its own processing time.
TruMerit needs time to receive and validate those documents.
Start early.
What If You’ve Been a Nurse for Years?
Don’t assume that having years of nursing experience means you can skip the credentialing process.
VisaScreen is a credential assessment and screening process. Your previous nursing education and licensing history still matter. In fact, TruMerit validates licenses, registrations, and diplomas from relevant jurisdictions, including credentials that may no longer be current.
So if you’ve worked in multiple provinces, states, or jurisdictions, start gathering that information early.
What If You Already Have a U.S. Job Offer?
If you’ve already accepted a U.S. nursing position and haven’t started VisaScreen, don’t panic.
Start now.
Review your requirements.
Identify outstanding documents.
Contact your nursing school.
Begin the required license verifications.
Monitor your TruMerit account.
The sooner you start, the better.
TruMerit also offers expedited services in certain circumstances, but expedited processing should not be your plan.
The best strategy is to start early and stay ahead of your documentation.
Your VisaScreen Certificate Is Digital
Another important update for nurses is that VisaScreen certificates are now available digitally through TruMerit.
Once approved, the digital certificate can be accessed through your TruMerit account.
The certificate includes a QR code that allows authorized officials to verify the certificate electronically.
This is a major convenience for nurses completing an international relocation.
However, having a digital certificate does not mean you should wait until the last minute to complete the process.
The certificate still depends on your required documentation being received and validated.
VisaScreen and Your State Nursing License: Two Different Checklists
This is one of the most important things for Canadian RNs to remember.
Think about the process as two separate checklists.
VisaScreen:
☐ Education verification
☐ License verification
☐ NCLEX-RN/nursing examination requirement
☐ English-language requirement or applicable exemption
☐ Required documentation
☐ VisaScreen certificate
State Nursing License:
☐ State-specific application
☐ Education requirements
☐ License verification
☐ Background check
☐ Fingerprinting
☐ English-language requirement, if applicable
☐ NCLEX requirements
☐ State-specific credential evaluation, if applicable
☐ Any other state-specific requirements
Completing one does not automatically mean you’ve completed the other.
This is why researching the state you plan to relocate to is so important.
Your Canadian RN VisaScreen Checklist:
If you’re serious about working in the United States, start with this checklist:
☐ Have I created my TruMerit account?
☐ Have I reviewed the current VisaScreen requirements?
☐ Have I gathered my nursing education information?
☐ Have I identified every nursing license or registration I’ve held?
☐ Have I confirmed my NCLEX-RN information?
☐ Have I checked whether I may qualify for an English-language exemption?
☐ Have I contacted my nursing school about required documentation?
☐ Have I started the required license verifications?
☐ Have I researched the state Board of Nursing where I want to work?
☐ Have I checked whether that state requires an English exam?
☐ Am I checking my TruMerit account regularly?
☐ Have I responded to any requests for additional information?
☐ Am I keeping track of what has been received and what is still outstanding?
If you can check these boxes before you receive a U.S. job offer, you’re putting yourself in a much stronger position.
Don’t Let Paperwork Delay Your U.S. Nursing Career
Imagine this:
“Congratulations! The hospital would like to hire you.”
That’s when you want to be celebrating.
Not scrambling to figure out how to get your nursing school transcript sent.
Not trying to track down an old nursing license verification.
Not discovering that your state Board of Nursing requires an English exam you weren’t expecting.
Not delaying your start date because you waited to begin the process.
The best time to start preparing for VisaScreen and state licensure is before you need them.
Start Early. Research Your State. Stay Ahead.
For Canadian RNs planning a move to the United States, VisaScreen is an important part of the process.
But it is not the only requirement you should be thinking about.
Your destination state matters.
Your education matters.
Your licensing history matters.
Your NCLEX history matters.
And your documentation matters.
Before you fall in love with a city, accept a job offer, or make relocation plans, take the time to research the state’s Board of Nursing requirements.
Know the requirements. Start the paperwork. Ask questions. Stay organized.
The more you prepare before your U.S. nursing opportunity arrives, the smoother your transition can be.
Ready to Explore U.S. Nursing Opportunities?
At All Med Search, we help Canadian Registered Nurses find full-time, permanent nursing opportunities throughout the United States.
We understand that accepting the job is only one part of the journey.
There is licensing.
There is credentialing.
There is VisaScreen.
There is immigration.
There is relocation.
And there is a lot to coordinate.
That’s why we encourage nurses to start preparing before they have the offer in hand.
Your dream U.S. nursing job could come sooner than you expect.
Don’t let paperwork be the thing that holds you back.
Start your VisaScreen.
Research your state.
Get your documents moving.
And when the right opportunity comes along, you’ll be ready to say:
“I’m ready to go.”