Medical Solutions provided this article.

Hello, Canadian travel nurses! Curious about boosting your career and exploring new places? U.S. travel nursing offers a fantastic pathway for both professional and personal growth. It’s not just a job change; it’s a lifestyle change that introduces you to varied cultures, technologies, and healthcare settings. If you’re considering stepping into the exciting world of U.S. travel nursing, here’s a comprehensive guide on why it’s worth the leap.

U.S. Opportunities for Canadian Travel Nurses: A Quick Guide

Why Opt for U.S. Travel Nursing?

Picture this: gaining the opportunity to earn more than you currently do in Canada, with added benefits like housing stipends and bonuses. Plus, travel nursing in the states offers more than just financial perks; working across the U.S., you’ll encounter advanced medical technology while serving a wide range of communities with varying patient needs, enriching your experience and expanding your skills. So, if you’re seeking a dynamic way to enhance your career while enjoying a flexible work-life balance, U.S. travel nursing might just be what you need. Ready to explore more and see where your nursing skills can take you? Let’s make it happen!

Licensing and Credentialing for Canadian Travel Nurses in the U.S.

To start your journey as a travel nurse in the U.S., there are a few key licensing and credentialing steps you’ll need to follow. First, you’ll verify your educational qualifications and ensure your language skills meet U.S. standards. The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) is crucial in this process, as they provide a VisaScreen certification that you’ll need for your U.S. nursing license.

Passing the NCLEX-RN exam is an essential step, whether you’ve previously taken it in Canada or not. Each state in the U.S. has its own Board of Nursing, so you’ll need to apply for licensure specifically in the state where you plan to work. Keep in mind, some states may require a Social Security Number before you start working, which you can secure once you’re in the U.S.

Securing a TN Visa and Social Security Number

For legal employment in the U.S., Canadian travel nurses need a TN Visa under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This visa allows you to work for up to three years with the option to renew, providing long-term employment possibilities. You’ll apply for your TN Visa after receiving a job offer and your VisaScreen certificate. Following this, you can obtain a Social Security Number at a local office in the state you’ll be working in.

For a more detailed, step-by-step guide on licensing, credentialing, and obtaining legal employment, visit our comprehensive guide here: Canadian Travel Nurse Licensing Guide.

Top U.S. Cities for Canadian Travel Nurses in 2025

Choosing the right U.S. city can significantly impact both your career growth and your personal experiences. Here’s a look at some traveler-favorite U.S. destinations renowned for their vibrant cultures, excellent healthcare facilities, and superb travel nursing opportunities, making them standout choices for Canadian travel nurses in 2025:

Austin, Texas: Has a vibrant music scene and excellent healthcare jobs.
Boise, Idaho: Affordable living and a booming healthcare market.
Boston, Massachusetts: Known for its rich history with top healthcare facilities.
Chicago, Illinois: Features world-class medical centers in a cultural hub.
Denver, Colorado: Great for outdoor enthusiasts and healthcare professionals.
Hartford, Connecticut: New England charm with solid healthcare opportunities.
New York City, New York: Iconic, bustling, and rich in medical innovation.
Portland, Oregon: Known for its quirky culture and strong healthcare sector.
Rochester, Minnesota: Renowned for the Mayo Clinic and medical excellence.
Seattle, Washington: Has stunning scenery and leading healthcare facilities.

Find the Right Agency Fit

Embarking on a travel nursing journey from Canada to the U.S. isn’t just about advancing your career—it’s also an opportunity to experience life in new and exciting ways. With the right planning and a bit of guidance, you can smoothly manage the licensure requirements and find a U.S. city that’s a perfect match for both your professional aspirations and personal lifestyle.

If you’re ready to embark on this adventure, connect with a reputable, dedicated agency, such as Medical Solutions. The right recruiter can simplify the process by guiding you every step of the way.

Start your U.S. travel nursing journey today—apply with Medical Solutions and see where your nursing skills can take you!

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for your next travel nurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Click here to explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere to stay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Click here to start your search.

So, you think we’re just neighbors, eh?

I, myself, a Canadian travel nurse RN, BSN with over five years of nursing experience, started as a traveling RN well over two years ago (time flies when you’re having the time of your life!). It was the biggest decision I have made to date. Even though I am ‘just’ a country over, it’s far more complicated than I anticipated. I am considered an Alien here. I’m not even kidding. I have a travel nurse work visa that requires renewal every couple of years. That’s the easy part of it all even if it means renewing it at a Canadian-USA international border.

Personal Canadian Car

I have traveled cross country multiple times with my Canadian-insured car and plate. Now, this is where it gets tricky. The car can only be out of the country for a few months at a time for my insurance company anyways. This had never been a problem because I often drove to my home county between assignments to unload and reload based on the state and weather. But I’m loving the West Coast way too much (isn’t the West Coast the best coast?) and have no immediate intentions of driving cross country any time soon. So, the question is, do I ship my car home just so that it’s back in the country for insurance purposes, then ship it back over, or simply sell it to make my life a whole lot easier and use public transit? I’m still trying to make the decision.

State Licenses

Secondly, believe it or not, I have to go through vigorous paperwork for all of my single-state nursing licenses. No compact licenses for me. Not only do I have to submit my university transcripts, but I also have to pay a couple of hundred dollars (that doesn’t get reimbursed) and get my Canadian nursing degree verified through the CGFNS. This can take several weeks, even months.

Now for the Fun Stuff

I get asked all the time what the main differences are in working as a travel nurse in the US in comparison to Canada. When a co-worker hears that I’m from Canada, I immediately get responses like, “Oh, I have cousins that live in Vancouver. Would you know them?” or “I’ve visited the city of Ontario but not the province of Toronto.” I mean, I get it. Not all Americans are educated in Canadian geography. I myself wasn’t familiar with the locations of states until I started driving cross country. I had a map in my hand, anticipating the next state with the fun-looking “Welcome to…” signs.

Private Hospitals Verse Not-for-Profit, What the Heck?

Back when I first started traveling, that was the first time I had ever heard such a thing. Now, I know the differences, and I can for sure say we do not have that in the province of Ontario. Free healthcare for everyone. This brings on the next topic. Yes, healthcare is free, but keep in mind we do pay for it in sales tax, for example, and in other ways that I probably have no idea. This topic can get tricky, but I can say it’s nice knowing I can go to the ED and not be scared if I have to be admitted. Yes, hospital stays are all covered, and no bills are sent in the mail. I can only imagine the headache that causes…

Working in Canada or U.S.?

Lastly, I get asked a lot, which do you like better, working in Canada or the U.S.? I have only worked at one hospital in Ontario and seven in the US. I really do like the way the system is over here. Mainly because patients are getting treated quicker, with the huge one being that there are no long waits for specialist appointments! Patients are getting the proper care sooner rather than later.

Keep this in mind. This is in relation to my experience at one hospital in a small town in Ontario. I cannot account for other hospitals within the province, but from what I heard, it’s pretty much the same.

Why do I do it?

Some of you may think, why on earth do I put myself through this stress and headache every three months? To me, it’s only temporary. Once that is all out of the way, it’s smooth sailing, and that is the best part. I can enjoy myself at my new location and start my new journey. I love my home country, but I also have gotten a liking to working in US hospitals. For now, the US is my home. I am still Canadian, obviously- I’ve gotten asked that question before!

Want more information on being a Canadian travel nurse? These articles will provide more Canadian travel nurse information and views:

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

The recent COVID-19 global pandemic has been absolutely devastating for all of us. Nurses are out on the front lines facing the virus head-on and doing the best they can with what they have to defeat it. We are forever going to remember this stressful time in our health care systems and ultimately we are going to learn from it to avoid such a blow again in the future. As a Canadian nurse, I can’t help but compare the response to the pandemic between Canada and the United States. This is not a post to say that my country is better than yours, not at all. It is simply written to be an eye-opening comparison between each location in order to educate others on how Canada has been dealing with it and what Canadian nurses have faced in the process.

Positive Cases

As I write this article, there have been about 86,000 positive cases in Canada and about 6500 deaths thus far (CDC). In comparison, America has 1.69 million positive cases with almost 100,000 deaths (CDC). The number of deaths in New York City alone is 10,000 more than the entire country of Canada. These numbers are strikingly different, but so is the population difference. The population of Canada is much less than the United States…37.59 million compared to 328.2 million in the US. We only have two major city centers that could even come close to New York City…Vancouver and Toronto. The population density of NYC is double that of Vancouver which is Canada’s most-crowded city…it’s no rival.

The differences

So why does the US have so many more cases per capita? I’m no expert, but just from simple observation by watching the news and keeping up to date with articles from both countries, there are a few differences that I have noticed. It seemed that Canada took the pandemic seriously much sooner than the US…our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was promoting social distancing and implementing guidelines earlier than Donald Trump was in the United States. I read that tracking data which Google collected from smartphones showed that Canadians indeed practiced more social distancing than Americans and that they began distancing earlier. Our health care systems are vastly different (as I previously wrote about in another article).

While Canada has some gaps in our healthcare system, it seems that there are more persistent gaps in the US such as simple access to care, for those who lack medical insurance. We don’t have this issue in Canada so people may have been treated earlier because of this. Near the beginning of the virus invading North America, Trump said “It’s going to disappear. One day — it’s like a miracle — it will disappear.” I truly wish that had been the case.

Testing

Canada also began testing sooner than the United States. In the beginning, we already had multiple testing centers across the country while all of the tests in the US were being sent to the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. Canada had broader criteria for being tested for COVID than the States did. Trump stated that it was unnecessary to test everyone and even nurses who had come into contact with COVID patients were denied testing. It seems the testing has increased now but what if Americans were able to be tested much sooner? I recently read an article published by the New York Times entitled “The Lost Month: How a Failure to Test Blinded the U.S. to Covid-19”; it’s super informative about the testing issues that America faced. There’s one powerful quote that I’ll include…

“The result was a lost month, when the world’s richest country — armed with some of the most highly trained scientists and infectious disease specialists — squandered its best chance of containing the virus’s spread. Instead, Americans were left largely blind to the scale of a looming public health catastrophe” (New York Times).

Canadian Healthcare

Something to keep in mind is that Canada has not always been this organized and orderly when it comes to pandemic outbreaks. If you remember 2003 when we had the SARS outbreak, Toronto in particular was hit very hard. It exposed a lot of faults in our system and our public health agency has been well prepared for an influenza pandemic ever since. Obviously, no country is perfect when facing this deadly disease but I do feel that because of past failures, Canada has grown from that and bettered the system for this.

Another factor to consider is that Canada has only 13 provinces and territories, compared to 52 states to the South. 52 states are a lot of moving parts when federally implementing guidelines and procedures. Canada has been able to work together quite well on both a federal and provincial level. If the United States had been able to test more, track the disease’s early movements, and identify hot spots sooner, quarantines may have been able to confine the disease more rapidly.

PPE

Another large issue widely spread by the media was the lack of PPE that health care providers encountered. Canadian health care facilities were short but not nearly as short as the US. Trudeau made it very clear in his daily social distanced press conferences from his home that the Canadian government was scrambling to order millions of dollars of PPE supplies for the country. I interviewed a few nurses across Canada who have been working directly with COVID patients and none of them felt unsafe when it came to a lack of PPE. None of them were ever asked to re-use an N95 mask although the hospitals did save the masks to sterilize in the future to use again. That is absolutely not the case when it comes to American nurses.

COVID units in Canada

The Canadian nurses I interviewed had a lot of valuable information for us to understand what it has been like to work in a COVID unit in a Canadian hospital. There was initially a large fear of the unknown which is completely relatable. There is a general consensus that we are all learning more as we care for these patients and as time goes on we are gaining more confidence for caring for this specific patient population. It’s frustrating that the policies change every hour it seems, but we also understand why that is the case.

Most nurses in Canada feel supported by their hospitals and the doctors they are working alongside but feel the most support from their fellow co-workers. Someone mentioned that there seems to be a lack of transparency from the upper management of their hospital… “often having to fight for answers or PPE and often take things into [their] own hands so that [they] can stay safe”. They feel more supported on a federal level than a provincial one; for example, the premier of Ontario promised all front-line workers an extra $4 per hour but employees have yet to see any pandemic pay. One nurse stated “I am very glad and feel extremely lucky that I am in Canada practicing as an ICU RN. I cannot imagine working in the heart of New York…Their news is horrifying and the government/hospital’s lack of PPE support for frontline [workers is] appalling.”

Learn from this

I have been paying close attention to the nurses I follow on social media who have taken crisis contracts in NYC (and everywhere else) and I have SO much respect for them. If they didn’t risk their safety for all of us, who would? As the case numbers and deaths begin to decrease across North America, I think we should be very proud of all the work that we have done to fight this virus, no matter what country you are from.

As states and provinces begin to open up again, it’s crucial that we all remain strong and continue to distance ourselves to avoid a second wave. We need to keep the feeling of urgency and protect ourselves and everyone else. I genuinely hope, as both a continent and as our respective countries, that we will learn from this pandemic and allow it to prepare us for anything in the future. I know that it will create stronger gypsy nurses who are ready to combat anything.

This article voices the thoughts and opinions of the author and does not represent any particular view of The Gypsy Nurse.

So you want to work as a travel nurse in the US but are currently working in Canada? The process is quite complex and can seem overwhelming, so I’ll try to break down the steps.

Timing – A Year in the Making

The process of getting licensed and ready to look and submit for current jobs actively could take almost a year, depending on processing times. Some travel companies advertise expedited service, but unfortunately, there is no quick way to move the process along.

I would caution about having a company reimburse you upfront for the costs due to the length of time from initial application to working long; if you decide not to travel, you will ultimately have to reimburse them for the costs. The specific company may not have work in the location you want to go to when you are authorized to work in the US and fulfill a certain number of assignments with them.

Also, as other travel nurses will advise you, any company reimbursement for car rentals, licenses, etc., all come out of the ‘total pay,’ and you would get less pay as the company would deduct those costs from the package. Either way, technically, you pay for it as, sadly, it isn’t free. The expenses of getting licensed would be a deduction, though, on your tax return if a company didn’t reimburse you.

It is a big change from nursing in Canada but can provide a great experience. If you’ve been a nurse for at least 2 years and have steady experience in your specialty, then you may want to head south for a new adventure.

NCLEX and Licensing

The first step is to take the NCLEX exam. The majority of RNs in Canada took the CRNE, which was not recognized unless you took it in the 1970s. In 2015, the NCLEX replaced the CRNE in Canada as the national license exam. If you are like me, it may have been many years since you took the CRNE. There are many helpful resources (books, courses, tutorials, etc.) to help you study for the exam. The exam is very different from how nursing is practiced in Canada, and I recommend that you study and take the test lightly!

To take the NCLEX, you need to register with a US State Board of Nursing (BON) and apply for ‘Licensure by Exam for Foreign Educated Applicants.’ Here is where Canadian nurses can be frustrated. Every state board has different requirements for what they require on the application. Many require a Social Security Number (the equivalent of the Social Insurance Card in Canada), but some do not. Although you may not have any desire to work in your initial state, you can apply to endorse the license after your desired state (discussed below).

I was personally licensed in Minnesota, as they do not require an SSN for foreign applicants. I always recommend nurses check with the individual boards as their requirements can change often. Fill out the application as specified and mail in the documents requested.

Canadian License Verification

You will need to have your Canadian licenses verified by the provincial registration authority along with your school transcripts. Most charge a varying fee for that service and can take up to a month in my experience, to be processed and mailed out. These need to be mailed directly from the state board from the nursing authority or school or rejected.

Authorization to Test

Once all the required documents and fees have been approved, the BON will issue you the authorization to test (ATT), which allows you to register with Pearson Vue and take the NCLEX. It is only valid for 90 days, so you need to be ready to test quite soon.

You then register online for a testing date and pay the exam fees. After testing, you will be notified if you are successful or unsuccessful at the test. If you passed, you would be officially licensed in that state, but you will need to repay the fees to the BON and the exam fees to retake it if you are unsuccessful.

State Applications

If you did take the NCLEX and not the CRNE in Canada, you would still need to apply with a state in the US to be licensed in the US. You will need to contact the specific boards on their requirements and required forms to complete, as having nurses in Canada writing the NCLEX is still new.

The Visa Screen

Once you’ve passed the NCLEX and are officially licensed, you are now able to apply for your Visa Screen. The Visa Screen is a Homeland Security document screening process mandatory for foreign-educated nurses who want to work in the US. It is NOT optional, and you will be unable to get a TN visa without it. CGFNS (is the company that you apply for the visa screen with. It is $540, and you apply online and then print and mail off the required documents to the nursing authorities and schools.

Be warned this takes a long time (6 months or longer on average). I have found that once a document is received in their office, it takes around a month to be entered into your file. Once all the documents they require are entered into your file, you have the option to pay another $500 for expedited processing. Without expedited processing, it commonly takes 1-3 months to be approved.

Ready to work!

Once you have passed the NCLEX, have a state license, and Visa Screen, you can now look for travel nursing jobs and connect with companies and recruiters. I have completed many travel assignments. I always ask prospective recruiters and companies whether they work with Canadian nurses and are familiar with the TN process. Not all companies are. Asking in advance can save you time with those who don’t.

License by Endorsement

If you don’t intend to work in the state, you are licensed. You will need to ‘Apply for endorsement’ to the state you want to work in. You will hear many states are ‘Quick licenses or Walk through’ by US-trained nurses. Unfortunately, it has been my experience that it is not the case for nurses not educated in the US.

Board of Nursing Requirements

All BON have varying requirements, from fingerprinting, transcripts, wanting Canadian license verifications, etc. Also, if working in New York is your plan, be aware you will need to reapply for a New York state screening with CGFNS again ($465), and takes 6 months. Also, some states require a Certified Education Screening (CES) Professional Report from CGFNS for Canadian nurses, which is ($350). I always advise nurses not to agree to a job without having a license in hand. Some boards will grant a license but only within a few days of starting a job (AZ, for example).

TN Visa

So you have the NCLEX, Visa Screen, License(s), and contract…now it is time to get the TN visa. The TN visa is granted at the border only when you officially leave Canada and enter the US. You are not able to get it ahead of time, or they will reject your application. You will need to have the original paper copies of the following to present to the officer:

TN letter from your company
Visa Screen
Nursing Degree
License

Once you have the visa and are in your new city, you then take all the paperwork to the Social Security Administration office and apply in person for an SSN.

What I Wish I’d Known

While I have learned a ton while traveling and working in the US. There are, however, a few things that I wish I had known previously.

Shift Cancellations

One major difference between Canada to US nursing is that hospitals can cancel shifts if the census is low. You will have no sick time or paid vacation time which is different from Canada.

Previous Experience

You may find that many hospitals want to see the US nursing experience. Many times they will overlook your Canadian experience or previously completed travel contracts. Don’t give up. It may mean you need to take a contract somewhere other than your dream location to start with.

Credit Score

Keep in mind that your Canadian credit score doesn’t count here. You will start with zero credit. This means you will need to be prepared for high deposits for housing rentals, cell phones, cars, etc. Over time you will build your US credit score. You will also need to get a US bank account. Travel nurse companies will require a US account to deposit your pay.

As you can see, the process of becoming approved to work in the US is complex. I don’t regret investing. I have learned a lot, made lasting friendships, and had some wonderful experiences.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

U.S. Opportunities for Canadian Travel Nurses: A Quick Guide

Why Opt for U.S. Travel Nursing?

Licensing and Credentialing for Canadian Travel Nurses in the U.S.

Securing a TN Visa and Social Security Number

Top U.S. Cities for Canadian Travel Nurses in 2025

Find the Right Agency Fit

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Related Posts

Top 5 Ways To See Your Family During Your Travel Nurse Assignment

Calming Techniques for Distressed Patients

Top Resources for New Travel Nurses

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Hot Jobs

Recent Articles

So, you think we’re just neighbors, eh?

Personal Canadian Car

State Licenses

Now for the Fun Stuff

Private Hospitals Verse Not-for-Profit, What the Heck?

Working in Canada or U.S.?

Why do I do it?

Want more information on being a Canadian travel nurse? These articles will provide more Canadian travel nurse information and views:

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

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Positive Cases

The differences

Testing

Canadian Healthcare

PPE

COVID units in Canada

Learn from this

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Timing – A Year in the Making

NCLEX and Licensing

Canadian License Verification

Authorization to Test

State Applications

The Visa Screen

Ready to work!

License by Endorsement

Board of Nursing Requirements

TN Visa

What I Wish I’d Known

Shift Cancellations

Previous Experience

Credit Score

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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