Competency-Based Assessment of Internationally Educated Nurses

The College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) uses a competency-based assessment (CBA) to evaluate internationally educated applicants for registered nurse registration. The CBA process uses a variety of tools to assess internationally educated nurses for entry-level competencies and recommends appropriate remediation. Applicants requiring supplementary education must complete selected courses or a yearlong bridging program before writing the national exam. Feedback from employers indicates that applicants who have experienced CBA are better prepared when they enter the workplace and require less support transitioning into the Canadian setting. The CRNBC is confident that the CBA is helping ensure that the right applicants are entering practice at the right time after the right educational upgrading.