Nova Scotia Guidelines – Africa-Caribbean Nursing Continuum Program

Nova Scotia

Pathway Guidelines

Country requirements

Specific requirements to practice nursing vary by country and nursing specialization. However, the information below offers a concise description of these requirements, broken down by country.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, individuals with a keen interest in pursuing nursing have to meet a clear set of criteria:

Complete 5 O-Levels: Candidates must first achieve the O-Level of the General Certificate of Education (GCE), a benchmark assessment-based qualification, in at least five subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and English. Candidates must pass these O-Levels in no more than two attempts.
Successfully complete 18 months of training at an institution approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Pass the NMCN’s standardized examinations and obtain a Registered Nurse Certificate: a qualification awarded by the NMCN. The qualification is also known as a Registered Nurse (RN) certificate or a Basic Nursing Certificate (BNC).
Pay the requisite registration and licensing fees upon passing the examinations

Having met these criteria, an aspiring nurse can seek employment as a registered nurse in Nigeria. It is important to note that some programs may have attendance and professionalism requirements. Those seeking additional training may also choose to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc), a four-year program.

Jamaica

To practice nursing in Jamaica, there is a 4-step process:

Complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from an accredited institution, which is typically a three-year program.
Pass the Regional Examination for Nurses Registration.
Apply to the Nursing Council of Jamaica to be officially designated as a Registered General Nurse.
Pay the relevant processing and registration fees.

Ghana

Academic requirements to practice nursing in Ghana are extensive, as there exists both a diploma pathway as well as a BScN pathway. Moreover, the Ghanaian BScN is a four-year program, whereas in other regions, it might be a three-year program. Interestingly, a nursing aspirant in Ghana can begin their journey at 16, an earlier start than in many countries. There is a cut-off age of 35 for admission to Ghanaian nursing programs.

Requirements for admission to nursing programs in Ghana are best summarized here:

Dominican Republic

To become a nurse in the Dominican Republic, individuals must first obtain a BSN, a three-year program, from an accredited university and then register and be issued a license to practice nursing from the Ministry of Health.

Cameroon

Cameroon offers two pathways into nursing stemming from secondary school qualifications:

A-Level (at least two subjects) and below A-Level. Nursing aspirants with A-level achievement have the option of either obtaining a BScN or a Higher National Degree (HND), both of which require three years of training, a six- to seven-month stint of which is a practicum or internship. Nursing students may also check to see if there is a one-year bridge program to assist state-registered nurses in transitioning to a BScN stream, as seen in other parts of the world. The age of intake for both programs ranges from 17 to 30. Importantly, only individuals achieving A-Levels or a Baccalaureate can advance to obtain a nursing license in Cameroon.
Nursing candidates with O-Level achievement who wish to begin their journey have a few options. There is a two-year senior nursing assistant stream and a one-year general nursing assistant stream, each with an internship of six months and three months, respectively. Learners in these stream, if aiming to obtain a nursing license, will need to complete further training to achieve A-Levels and continue to obtain a BScN in the region.

While the HND and the other qualifications that nestle under it above are recognized locally, internationally, they are not. Thus, in August of 2024, the Council of Nurses, Midwives, and Health Technicians of Cameroon called for suspending HND training until better standards could be implemented. Hence, in the context of migrating to any Canadian province, the safest route would to achieve A-Levels and obtain a BScN.