B.C. government will subsidize assessment, application fees for foreign trained nurses

The moves are meant to mitigate a nursing shortage in B.C., with a nursing union official reporting the province has 5,000 vacancies in nursing, a number that could grow to 28,000 in eight years if nothing is done. The upfront charges can cost applicants trained at nursing schools overseas over $3,700. The province estimates there are 2,000 international nurses at the application stage, while another 5,000 expressed interest in relocating to the province. Financial support is also being offered to nurses returning to practice after an extended absence. The provincial government will waive the $300 application fee for these nurses, while more than $4,000 will be made available to cover assessments and their associated travel costs.