PCG Vancouver and Migrant Workers Office Hold Information Session on the Practice of Nursing in British Columbia

24 August 2026, Vancouver – The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, together with the Migrant Workers Office, conducted an Information Session on the Requirements and Procedures for Filipino Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) to Practice in British Columbia (BC) last 14 August 2026 via Zoom.  The event was organized  in partnership with the International Nursing Alliance (INA) and the BC Ministry of Health.

The session featured subject matter experts talking about featuring safe, legal and orderly migration pathways that may be useful for internationally educated nurses exploring the possibility of practicing their profession in British Columbia in Canada.  Attendees of the session came from various locations in British Columbia and other provinces in Canada, as well as the Philippines, Hongkong, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

In her opening message, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin highlighted the importance of bridging the information gap on the safe and legal process of foreign credential recognition of nurses in BC. “We believe that having the correct and timely information is key to your empowerment as well as protection, particularly from making costly mistakes or getting exploited by unscrupulous individuals”, the Consul General said.

Resource persons from INA and Inspire Global Assessment discussed the step-by-step procedure on how nurses who obtained their nursing degrees outside of Canada should undergo credential assessment and registration (licensing) in order to practice as registered nurses in BC. Additionally, speakers from HealthMatch BC made a presentation on how IENs can access the BC provincially-funded facilities in support of  credentialing, recruitment and licensure processes.

Upper Left: INA President Cris Privat; Upper right: Tammy Matheson of Inspire Global Assessments; and lower photo: Marie Brooks and Darya Lapshina)

For IENs who need to undergo transition programs, speakers from the Progressive Intercultural Community Society (PICS), and Drake Medox College showed how non-government support and alternative career pathways for IENs could help build their knowledge and skills in the healthcare system of BC and prepare them for eventual licensure.

Above: Ms. Maryam Imtiaz of PICS; and Ms. Marizen Leoncio of Drake Medox College)

Finally, the Migrant Workers Office - Vancouver (MWO-Vancouver) discussed the Philippine and Canadian regulations on employment and recruitment that are applicable to IENs. MWO-Vancouver identified the recruitment ‘red flags’ to avoid, particularly charging jobseekers recruitment fees, a practice prohibited in Canada emphasized in the recently-signed Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation on Labor and Migration between the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The session closed with a featured story of a Filipino IEN who acquired his license and employment in BC in a safe and legal way, and INA’s support to connect and advocate for the continuing professional development and recognition of Filipino nurses

Above: Emir Bautista and Treenee Lopez of International Nursing Alliance) talking about INA’s support and advocacy for the professional development and recognition of Filipino IENs.

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