Ask a Mentor: Should new nurses in Canada take an English language test?

English version follows

Kumusta po, mga kababayan?

Medyo natagalan po akong nakabalik pero nandito na ako muli para makipagtsikahan tungkol po sa ating propesyon at mga posibilidad para sa ating mga nurses dito sa Ontario.

Meron po aking nakilalang dalawang bagong dating dito na may student visa at nagtanong tungkol sa International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Kung maalala ninyo po ay di ko nai-recommend ang paraang ito para makapunta kayo rito dahil sa laki ng gastos at panahong maaksaya bago kayo makatrabaho bilang isang nurse dito.

Pero sa ngayon, medyo papalitan ko ang aking opinyon.

Dahil sa laki ng pangangailangan ng nurses dito sa Canada, ang regulasyon ukol sa mga merong student visa ay mas maluwag na – puede nang mag-trabaho ng labis ng bente oras bawat lingo.

Ito’y lubos na makakatulong lalo na sa pinansyal na pangangailagan habang nag-aaral.

At inuulit ko, puwede ninyong isama ang inyong pamilya dahil ang asawa’y puedeng magtrabaho, AT ang maganda pa dito ay kung makakuha ang asawa ninyo ng full-time job at i-sponsoran siya ng kanyang employer, maari nang mag-apply ng permanent resident status.

Maghihintay pa rin kayo ng processing at hindi ito maibigay agad-agad pero mapapaiksi ang paghihintay nyo.

Kapag maaprobahan ito, ang tuition fee ninyo ay mas mura dahil ang basehan ay hindi na “international student rate”.

At isa pa: isaayos ninyo na ang pag-exam ng IELTS para madali na lang ang pag-rehistro bilang nurse sa College of Nurses in Ontario kung sakali.

Hanggang sa muli, ipadala lang ang mga tanong ninyo dito at sisikapan kong hanapan ng sagot.

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How are you fellow Filipinos?

It’s been a while since I wrote a column to talk about matters pertaining to working as a nurse in Ontario.

I just met a couple of Filipino nurses who arrived recently on student visa and both have asked regarding International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as a requirement for nursing registration.

If you may recall, I was not so keen on recommending coming here on a student visa on two accounts: the exorbitant expense required, plus the time you have to spend going to school prior to working as a nurse.

I am changing my opinion for now due to regulation changes made by the Canadian government on holders of student visas.

As students, you can now work over 20 hours per week. This will greatly help you with your financial needs while studying.

I would like to reiterate the fact that you can bring your family with you since the spouse can work under a work permit.

If the spouse has a full-time job and their employer is willing to sponsor him/her to Canada, then he/she can apply for permanent residence.

You’ll still need to wait as the processing needs time but once approved, your school fees will be reassessed on the basis of the permanent residency and not as an international student (three times less)!

One more thing, apply and take your IELTS exam. It will make processing your registration much faster if the results are ready.

Until next time, please do not hesitate to send your questions here and I will do my best to answer them.