CARNA may determine that you need to complete a Substantially Equivalent Competence (SEC) assessment. The SEC assessment involves paper and pencil examinations and clinical lab and case management situations designed to allow you to demonstrate your ability to meet the competencies expected of Registered Nurses in Alberta. It will also identify competency gaps and if there is a need for additional preparation before becoming eligible for registration, and, if so, what competency requirements need to be addressed. All assessments are arranged through Mount Royal College in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.
The general SEC assessment involves a two day assessment. During these two days you will write multiple choice and short answer examinations that assess generalist professional nursing knowledge and practice. You will also perform clinical lab demonstrations as well as one-on-one activities that assess your critical thinking, nursing knowledge, skills and competencies as you work through case studies or patient care situations. The SEC assessment assesses the following areas of nursing knowledge and skills:
- general and specialty nursing knowledge
- pharmacology and medication administration
- pathophysiology
- knowledge of the Canadian health-care system and current
nursing practices
- basic and advanced clinical skills as well as use of current
technology in nursing practice
- health history and health assessment knowledge and skills
- clinical judgement and critical thinking skills with evidence based practice
- therapeutic communication practices
- cultural competencies
- CARNA Nursing Practice Standards
If you are required to complete a specialty (focused) SEC assessment in any or all of the areas of maternal-infant, pediatric or mental health nursing, you will require an additional 1 to 1.5 days per
specialty SEC. Each specialty SEC assessment includes a written multiple choice and short answer exam as well as a day in clinical lab demonstrations and one-on-one activities that assess candidates’ critical thinking, specialty nursing knowledge, skills and competencies as you work through case studies or patient care situations in the required specialty area. Applicants will only be able to obtain a scheduled appointment for SEC assessment if they have been referred to Mount Royal College by CARNA. The SEC assessment is available in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.
For more information about the assessment, visit the website of the Mount Royal College Internationally Educated Nurses Assessment Centre. The information on their website will give you a comprehensive overview of what to expect during the assessment.
Additionally, you may want to review the following documents:
| English Language Competence |
An applicant must be competent in all areas of the English language (speaking, listening, reading and writing) before attending a SEC assessment. This helps ensure an applicant can demonstrate her/his nursing knowledge, skills, and competencies.
Applicants will only be able to obtain a scheduled appointment for a SEC assessment if they have already met CARNA’s English language requirements.
If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact CARNA at 780.451.0043 or toll-free (within Canada) at 1.800.252.9392.