How to become a Psychiatric Nurse in Canada – Jobs and Salary
Immigrating to become a Psychiatric Nurse in Canada is a dream many Nurses in the world share. The increasing demand for professional skills, especially those in Health care such as
Nursing has led to a spike in the number of Nurses seeking permits to work in Canada or immigrate permanently.
The opportunities are enormous; you get to find them out as you continue to work in Canada as a psychiatric nurse, especially if you are fortunate to get a permanent resident visa which is a major step toward becoming a Canadian citizen.
Thus, this article is put together to give you a comprehensive guide and essential information like salaries of psychiatric nurses in Canada, availability of job openings by the province in Canada, job roles, and your successful stay possibly as a permanent resident in Canada.
What do Psychiatric Nurses do?
Psychiatric nursing is a specialized aspect of nursing that focuses majorly on physical and mental health management, such as treatment and palliative measures on psychosocial, mental, or emotional disorders and conditions, as well as any associated physiological conditions on patients in different health and health-related public facilities like the prisons/correctional centers, hospitals, clinics, specialist hospitals, and private homes.
These skills are highly demanded in Canada right now; the reason immigrants are moving is to fill job opportunities in Psychiatric Nursing. Psychiatric nurses are also called mental health nurse practitioners.
Demand for Psychiatric Nurses in Canada
Employment opportunities are readily available as the demand for psychiatric nurses in Canada is undoubtedly on the high side, considering the country is top-rated in terms of quality of life and health care delivery.
The ten years plan for continuous expansion of health care facilities in Canada to sustain the quality of health delivery shows a significant number of job openings for Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses with outstanding disposable salaries after tax.
How to become a Psychiatric Nurse in Canada
To be a psychiatric nurse in Canada and any other country in the world, there is a need for that strong passion, interest, and mental balance that will allow you to work in a special environment and manage a series of psychosocial, mental, or emotional disorders that are inevitable in the profession.
However, to become a psychiatric nurse in Canada, aside from your higher secondary certificate, you must first complete an approved post-secondary nursing education program and must pass the Registered Psychiatric Nurse of Canada Examination (RPNCE) or the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE).
In addition, a certified registered Nurse (RN) or a Bachelor’s degree holder in nursing seeking to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Canada will need to do the followings:
- Seek temporary residence in Canada
- Apply for a Nursing job in Canada
- Submit all necessary educational qualifications for assessment (If successful)
- Register with the Canadian Nurses Association (CAN) or the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) through the nursing regulatory body of the province or territory you work.
- Enroll in the Psychiatric Nursing School in Canada for experience classes in the psychiatric nursing specialization.
- Write the Registered Psychiatric Nurse of Canada Examination (RPNCE) and pass.
Alternatively, if you desire to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Quebec province of Canada, as an international Registered nurse (RN) or B.Sc. Nursing, the Quebec skilled worker (QSW) immigration program option is available.
The QSW is a unique program offered by the Quebec province to allow internationally educated nurses to seek permanent residency in Canada without the need to secure a job offer.
The QSW program is a points-based selection system that considers factors like age, education, area of training, work experience, language ability, etc.
Suppose an applicant scores enough points to reach the pass mark. In that case, they will generally qualify for a Quebec Selection Certificate, which ultimately leads to a Canadian permanent resident visa without health and security issues.
This will allow you to quickly enroll in the experience class for psychiatric nursing specialization, write the qualifying exams and register to practice as a psychiatric nurse in Canada,
Psychiatric Nursing schools in Canada
In Canada, there are universities, colleges, and polytechnics that offer mental /psychiatric nursing at diploma, degree, and master’s levels in most of the provinces.
The extensive training and practical oriented course for mental health nurse practitioner programs in Canada make the country a hot cake for immigrants to fly in for studies and work. The psychiatric nursing institutions/schools in Canada are as follows:
- Northwest College
- Mary Baldwin University School of Nursing.
- Sternberg College
- Oak Point University
- Douglas College
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- MacEwan University in Alberta
- Brandon University in Manitoba
Canadian approved psychiatric/ mental health nurse practitioner programs
These are the available approved programs for both Canadian and international students coming to Canada to study and become psychiatric nurse practitioners:
Program Duration
Basic requirements for Admission
- Submission of your application form online.
- $35 application fee.
- High school transcript.
- Criminal record check (not older than six months).
- Immunization records.
- First aid, WHMIS, and TLR certificates.
Scholarships are also available from different organizations and the institutions mentioned above, the aim is to make studying very easy for the students, and academic excellence will be an advantage to enable you to qualify amongst other basic requirements.
Psychiatric nursing jobs in Canada
In Canada, there are enough vacancies available to be filled by registered nurses and psychiatric nurses; this is why the number of health practitioners Immigrating to Canada yearly continuously rises. The salaries of nurses in Canada in the different province is also heavy in the pocket. Knowing the available jobs in Canadian provinces and cities will be interesting.
It is essential to know the requirements to get the available jobs in the different provinces/cities in Canada; the requirements are almost the same across.
- Completion of a university or college registered psychiatric nursing program is required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.
Psychiatric Nursing Jobs in Saskatchewa
The province of Saskatchewan currently has 255 jobs opening in various cities for registered nurses and psychiatric nurses.
However, cities like Moose jaw, Gravelbourg, Coronach, North Battleford, Midale, Davidson, Wayburn, Prince Albert, Carlyle, Rosthern, Saskatoon, Edam, and Emerald Park are only available for Psychiatric nurses. The amount paid ranges from $35 to $50 hourly.
This province seems to have the highest job openings among the top-rated sections, with jobs for registered and psychiatric nurses in Canada.
Psychiatric Nurse jobs Ontario
In the province of Ontario, there are more job openings for registered nurses without specialization, like psychiatric nursing; Peterborough is the only city where the services of a mental/ psychiatric health nurse are required. The pay ranges from $21 to $45, subject to negotiation.
Psychiatric Nurse jobs in Ottawa
There are 31 job openings currently in Ottawa for nurses, both on a full-time and part-time basis; the ones available for psychiatric or mental health nurses are in Royal Ottawa mental center, Home and Community Care Support Services Champlain, Centre médical Ste-Anne, etc. The pay hourly is between $24 to $60, depending on qualification and years of experience in the profession.
Psychiatric Nurse Jobs Edmonton
There are good numbers of jobs available in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; the nurses are also well paid and can work up to 30 hours weekly on an average of $45.4 hourly; the jobs are mostly part-time, and very few are full-time.
Psychiatric nursing jobs in British Columbia
British Columbia is one very popular province in Canada with a good number of psychiatric nurses; the openings are hundred and above; the global coronavirus pandemic is also a contributing factor to such demand. The jobs are also on both a full-time and part-time basis.
See Also: How to Become a Cop in Canada in 5 Steps
How much does Psychiatric Nurse make in Canada?
Psychiatric nurses make a significant amount of money in Canada; the amount they earn hourly depends on their level of qualification and their province of primary assignment. The least a registered nurse can earn hourly is $24, and they can work up to 40 hours weekly, either part-time or full-time.
However, the annual salary of an average psychiatric nurse is $79,950, while entry-level positions could earn up to $74, 276 while most experienced workers make up to $84,981 annually.
In addition, you will find below the average earnings or wages per hour of a psychiatric nurse in the following community/area/province in Canada. It will assist in decision-making about the best place to work as a psychiatric or mental health practitioner.
Community/Area Low ($) Median ($) High ($)) Canada 24.04 38.14 48.00 Alberta 28.00 44.90 50.59 British Columbia 25.00 40.02 46.00 Manitoba 29.00 40.00 45.00 New Brunswick 23.24 39.00 43.25 Newfoundland and Labrador 29.71 40.02 45.70 Northwest Territories 38.44 55.74 72.57 Nova Scotia 24.00 38.00 42.00 Nunavut 34.94 67.83 86.69 Ontario 23.50 36.15 47.00 Prince Edward Island 26.50 38.95 42.44 Quebec 23.00 35.00 44.00 Saskatchewan 35.00 44.00 48.50 Yukon Territory 33.77 45.28 61.41
Conclusion
Becoming a Psychiatric nurse in Canada as a student is easy considering the simple application procedures, requirements, and friendly immigration policies. The profession is in high demand in Canada with a very attractive salary and flexible working plan.
