Put Demand in Its Global Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) report State of the World's Nursing 2025, published on May 12, 2025, using data from 194 states, estimates that the global nursing workforce grew from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023. It projects 36 million in 2030. The shortage is projected to fall from 5.8 million in 2023 to 4.1 million in 2030.
The same report notes that disparities between regions are expected to widen by 2030, with little or no increase in nurse density in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The shortage is therefore concentrated mainly in regions that lack the resources to hire staff or readily recognize foreign credentials.
These figures describe a theoretical shortage, calculated using coverage thresholds. They do not automatically translate into advertised positions for a particular graduate.
Read the U.S. Data
For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 6% employment growth for registered nurses between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations, representing approximately 194,700 additional jobs. Employment stood at approximately 3,465,400 positions in 2025. The median salary was US$97,550 in May 2025, with the lowest-paid 10% earning less than $68,940 and the highest-paid 10% earning more than $137,470.
These data describe a single country. They do not specify the proportion of internationally educated nurses or the conditions under which they are hired. Median salaries also encompass very different positions: hospitals, home care, long-term care facilities and advanced practice.
For a student aiming to work in another country, that country's national statistics are the preferred source. They are not directly comparable with BLS statistics.
Choose Between Three Education Pathways
The BLS describes three pathways to registered nurse licensure in the United States: a bachelor's degree in nursing (approximately four years), an associate degree in nursing (approximately two and a half to four years, depending on the institution), or a diploma from an approved hospital-based program (two to three years). The BLS notes that hospitals may require a bachelor's degree.
This choice has consequences. A bachelor's degree provides greater access to management positions, public health roles and graduate studies. Shorter pathways lead to employment sooner but may limit career progression.
In other countries, the structure is different: college education, university education or a combined program. You must check which pathway the country where you intend to practise recognizes for obtaining the professional designation.
Distinguish Between a Credential and a Licence
In the United States, the BLS specifies that nurses must hold a licence issued by the state where they work. To obtain one, they must have completed an approved program and passed a qualifying examination; background check rules vary by state, and each regulatory body sets its own rules.
The same principle applies elsewhere: the credential provides preparation, while the licence grants authorization to practise. A foreign credential generally must be assessed, sometimes supplemented with upgrading courses, and then followed by an examination. The length of this process varies, and no reliable average processing time was found in the official sources consulted.
Regulatory bodies publish their requirements: documents to submit, proof of language proficiency, examinations and fees. It is best to read these pages before enrolling in a program abroad and to compare the number of clinical placement hours in the intended program with the minimum required by the regulatory body, as it may require additional training if the program falls short.
Summarize the Steps in a Table
The following table sets out the published steps for the destinations discussed. Rules change and must be checked again before starting any process.
| Destination | Recognition or Licensing Step | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Approved program, qualifying examination, state licence | BLS |
| Canada (outside Quebec) | Credential assessment according to the provincial regulatory body's requirements; use of NNAS when required by the chosen pathway | NNAS |
| Quebec | Application handled separately by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec | OIIQ |
The table does not indicate processing times or costs because the sources consulted do not publish them in a comparable format. Nor does it indicate whether a process is open to holders of all credentials: each organization examines the applicant's education, clinical placement hours and experience, and may require additional training before issuing a licence.
Anticipate the Ethical Issues of Mobility
In its 2020 report, the WHO noted that one nurse in eight worked in a country other than the one where they were born or educated. It urged countries to educate enough nurses rather than meet their needs through international recruitment.
This mobility creates tensions. Some low-income countries lose staff they have educated, worsening their own shortages. For this reason, the WHO maintains a code of practice on international recruitment. Applicants who wish to emigrate can consult the policies of their home country and destination country, which may include bilateral agreements.
For individuals, the issue is also practical: some countries impose service periods or restrictions on leaving the country after training.
Plan for Language Requirements and Costs
Regulatory bodies almost always require proof of proficiency in the language of practice, through a recognized test and a minimum score. Requirements vary by organization and should be checked on its website.
The total cost of credential recognition includes document assessment, examination fees, certified translations and any required upgrading courses. The sources consulted do not publish a comparable total. Each organization posts its fees, which change.
One final point: it is prudent to estimate the time between arrival in the country and the first nursing job. During this period, the individual is not authorized to use the title, and their income depends on other employment.
Some items to budget for before departure:
- fees for assessing educational and professional documents;
- certified translations of transcripts and placement certificates;
- language test and licensing examination fees;
- any required upgrading courses;
- months of living expenses without nursing income before registration with the regulatory body.
What About Canada?
In Canada, nursing practice falls under provincial jurisdiction. For internationally educated nurses, the credential assessment pathway depends on the provincial regulatory body: NNAS is involved in some processes but is not mandatory everywhere outside Quebec. In Ontario, other assessment services are accepted. In Quebec, the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec handles applications under its own rules. Each provincial regulatory body then sets its registration requirements.
For study in Canada, StudyCanada features nursing programs at The University of British Columbia, Université de Montréal, University of Ottawa / Université d’Ottawa and McGill University, among others. Admission for international students is subject to quotas in several programs, and the institution profiles specify language requirements, science prerequisites and clinical placements. Provincial regulatory bodies publish separate registration requirements for Canadian graduates, which differ from those for internationally educated graduates.