Quebec does nursing differently from the rest of Canada. It has its own regulator, its own licensing exam instead of the NCLEX-RN, its own education system with CEGEPs, and, above all, French is the language of work. For French-speaking nurses from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, Quebec is often the most accessible door into Canada. For English-speaking nurses, it is one of the most challenging.
This guide explains how nursing works in Quebec, how to register with the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), the French language requirements, the recognition process for nurses trained abroad or elsewhere in Canada, and what working life is like.
Imagine you are a nurse in Douala or Abidjan with five years of experience. You speak French fluently, and a Quebec recruitment mission is visiting your city. Within months you could be on a plane to Montreal or Saguenay, starting an integration programme in a Quebec hospital. But you have heard stories of nurses waiting a long time for recognition, or arriving without understanding the steps. Knowing the real process makes the difference.
How nursing is organised in Quebec
- Registered nurses (infirmières et infirmiers) are regulated by the OIIQ
- Practical nurses (infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires) are regulated by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec (OIIAQ)
- Specialised nurse practitioners (infirmières praticiennes spécialisées, IPS) are advanced practice nurses certified by the OIIQ
- Patient care attendants (préposés aux bénéficiaires) provide personal care and are not regulated nurses
Since December 2024, most public health services have been run by Santé Québec, a new provincial agency that employs most health workers, replacing the previous system of regional health and social services centres (CISSS and CIUSSS) as separate employers.
Education in Quebec
- DEC in nursing: a three-year college diploma (Diplôme d’études collégiales) at a CEGEP, which qualifies graduates to write the OIIQ exam
- DEC-BAC: a pathway where CEGEP nursing graduates complete a university bachelor’s degree in about two additional years
- University bachelor’s (BSc nursing): a direct-entry degree at universities such as McGill, Université de Montréal, Laval, Sherbrooke and the Université du Québec network
- DEP for practical nurses: a vocational diploma leading to OIIAQ registration
See our guide to the best nursing schools in Quebec.
The OIIQ professional exam
Graduates of Quebec programmes, and many nurses educated abroad, must pass the OIIQ professional examination to obtain a permanent licence. It is different from the NCLEX-RN used in the rest of Canada. Before passing it, graduates may work as “candidates for the practice of the nursing profession” (CEPI) under specific conditions and supervision.
French language requirements
Under Quebec’s Charter of the French Language, members of professional orders must have knowledge of French appropriate to practise their profession. You are generally considered to meet this requirement if you completed at least three years of full-time secondary or post-secondary education in French, or completed secondary school in Quebec from a certain year onward. Otherwise, you must pass the French exam set by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
Nurses who do not yet meet the requirement may receive a temporary permit for a limited period while they improve their French. For nurses who are not fluent in French, learning the language to a professional level, including medical vocabulary, is essential before moving.
Nurses from other Canadian provinces
Under Canada’s labour mobility rules, registered nurses in good standing in another province or territory can usually register in Quebec without repeating their education. They must still meet the French language requirement, although a temporary permit may be available. Quebec nurses moving to other provinces likewise benefit from mobility agreements, though they may need to meet additional requirements such as the NCLEX-RN in some cases, depending on the regulator.
Nurses trained outside Canada
Step 1: Apply for equivalence
Submit an application to the OIIQ for recognition of equivalence of your diploma and training. The OIIQ reviews your education and experience and decides whether it is equivalent or whether you need additional training.
Step 2: Complete prescribed training
Most internationally educated nurses are required to complete a training or integration programme, often including a clinical internship (stage) in a Quebec health facility, and sometimes theoretical courses at a CEGEP or university. Quebec has offered dedicated integration programmes for internationally recruited nurses, some with financial support while training.
Step 3: Pass the OIIQ exam
After completing training, candidates write the OIIQ professional examination.
Step 4: Obtain your permit and register
Once you meet all requirements, including French, you receive your permit and register with the OIIQ.
France and Quebec
France and Quebec have a mutual recognition arrangement (ARM) for nurses, which allows nurses from France to obtain a Quebec permit through a simplified process, usually including a short adaptation period. Nurses trained in other countries go through the standard equivalence process.
Recruitment and immigration
Quebec has run large international recruitment campaigns for nurses, particularly in French-speaking countries such as France, Belgium, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Mauritius, often through recruitment missions and partnerships managed with government agencies. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants, so nurses usually need a Quebec selection certificate or a work permit tied to a job offer before applying for federal immigration. Requirements and programmes change frequently, so check the official Quebec immigration (MIFI) and Recrutement Santé Québec websites.
Be cautious of agents charging large fees. Many legitimate recruitment programmes are run or funded by the Quebec government and its health agencies.
Working life in Quebec
- Language: French is used at work in most facilities; English is more common in some Montreal hospitals linked to McGill, but French is still needed for registration
- Unions: most public sector nurses are represented by unions such as the FIQ (Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec), which negotiates pay and conditions
- Shortages: regions such as the Côte-Nord, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie and northern Quebec (including Nunavik) have particular shortages and may offer incentives
- Overtime: mandatory overtime has been a major issue for Quebec nurses, and recent agreements have aimed to reduce it
- Agency work: Quebec has passed legislation to phase out the use of private nursing agencies in the public system
- Climate and culture: long, cold winters, but a vibrant Francophone culture, affordable cities compared with Toronto and Vancouver, and strong family policies such as subsidised childcare
Specialised nurse practitioners (IPS)
Quebec has expanded the role of IPS in recent years. They can diagnose and treat common health problems, prescribe and follow patients in several specialties, including primary care, mental health, paediatrics and adult care. Becoming an IPS requires a master’s degree in an approved programme and OIIQ certification.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to write the NCLEX-RN to work in Quebec?
No. Quebec uses the OIIQ professional examination instead.
Can I work as a nurse in Quebec if I only speak English?
You may obtain a temporary permit, but you must meet the French language requirement to keep practising. Most workplaces require French.
How long does recognition take for nurses trained abroad?
It varies widely, from several months to more than a year, depending on your documents, required training and exam dates.
Is it easier for French nurses?
Yes. The France-Quebec mutual recognition arrangement simplifies the process for nurses trained in France.
But is Quebec worth it if my French is not strong yet?
For nurses willing to invest in learning French, Quebec offers stable public sector jobs, strong unions, affordable living compared with other big Canadian cities, and a welcoming Francophone community. If you are not prepared to work in French, other provinces will be a better fit. Be honest with yourself about language before you begin the process.
Your next step: Visit the OIIQ website’s section for nurses trained outside Quebec and list the documents you will need, and if French is not your first language, take a practice French assessment this month.
Related: Best nursing schools in Quebec · Moving to Canada as a nurse · Canada’s nursing roles explained
Sources: Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec (OIIAQ), Office québécois de la langue française, Santé Québec, Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), Recrutement Santé Québec. Requirements change; always check official sources.
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