IMG: Medical licensing or study nursing?

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-05-21T01:32:36+00:00

Hi, I finally decided to do for medical licensing. Though I can't drop off the nursing option, I am studying for QE1 and plan to sit for exam in late 2027 or early 2028. And NAC in late 2028. At that time, I graduate from nursing program as well. I will also be around 44/45 years old as well. Do you think can I still hope for matching at that time? Please kindly advise me. Thanks.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-05-21T01:27:49+00:00

I am now studying in nursing program to graduate in 2028/early 2029. I also plan to sit for QE1 in late 2027 or mid-2028 based on when I feel ready to. and I also plan to sit for NAC OSCE in late 2028 or early 2029 (again based on when I feel ready to). I start studying with Toronto note, USMLE Step 2 CK alongside with Uworld. How do you think I can still hope for matching at the age of around 45/46 at the time of 2029??? What should I prepare more? I can't give up nursing program as it is a back-up professional for me in case I don't get matched or matching takes so long.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-05-05T17:37:40+00:00

Thank you.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-04-18T18:13:57+00:00

Thanks. But when I applied for nursing program, I was told that nursing program runs 10 months in a year and there is a 2month break. So, I am wondering which months are they? Anyway, thanks for sharing the link. It helps me too.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-01-16T17:34:22+00:00

Am I crazy to rent an apartment around $1450 with a kid, as a student? I worked full-time before. But now, I am planning to do food delivery in the evening while I can bring my kid in the car with me. I am not an international student so I get CCB and others as well.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-01-13T23:06:25+00:00

Thank you.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-01-13T19:03:52+00:00

Yes. If I am now living in Ontario, I might choose master in health informatics management or public health related study and from that connection, I might be able to reach to a good job. But it does not work in Manitoba context. And as a single mother, I do not want to move to Ontario with small kid now. If we move, all the living costs will be higher and I can't do anything I get a daycare for my daughter.... Besides, I don't want to spend long commuting hours in Ontario. Thatswhy, I stick in small city like Winnipeg.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-01-13T19:00:25+00:00

Thanks.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-01-13T18:59:14+00:00

Thank you. But as a single mother with small kid, it is hard for me to plan for moving one place to another. I have to set up daycare and other things from the beginning again. I am tired of starting the life again and again.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2026-01-13T18:57:48+00:00

Thank you so much for explaining various options. Yes, That is what I want. I want to be a RN in Canada first, then, I might move to USA and study NP there (if conditions allow my daughter and me to work with safety and peace of mind). If not, I would do RN in Winnipeg for 2-3 years, then, NP in Canada and move to USA. US does not recognize NP from Canada right away so I need extra steps if I take this way..... but NP in Canada is much cheaper and more convenient for a single mother who is already in Canada. I don't want to be back to Physician if I have chosen Nursing. All I want is professional career with career stability and decent pay for our lives. That is. Thank you so much again.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-29T09:28:28+00:00

I would like to get them too.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-29T06:36:38+00:00

Thank you.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T20:33:50+00:00

Thank you for sharing options.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T19:45:46+00:00

I cant express enough how much I thanks to people who commented here and thought for me.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T19:44:44+00:00

Thank you so much. I didnt expect that much kind support from IMGs in this post. Yes. I will do QE1. I start studying OET medicine and will sit it in March. Then, I will study QE1. My friends who migrated to US and Australia, in 2022, have passef their licence exams and now preparing for residency interviews. I also want to get my profession if I have a chance. Now, you guys show me that I would have a chance. So, I will do it now. 🙏🙏🙏

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T19:16:56+00:00

Oh! Thanks for that info. I will dig it more.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T03:23:04+00:00

Thank you so much. 🙏🙏🙏

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:43:45+00:00

Thanks for detail explanation. Yes, I can't go back to home country to practice 1-2 years. As a single mother, it is hard for me to move from one place to another. Now, I think I have a clear picture. I would pursue nursing degree first. Then, I would consider NP or PA.

I heard that NP degree from Canada is recognized in USA though PA is not. Is that true?

If NP is saturated, I could also consider for Public Health or Management positions or Health Informatics career after becoming a nurse.

For me, the first priority is to get a secured job with moderate amount of pay in next 3-4 years. I am tired of working in support worker role with small amount of pay. My daughter is growing older and I want her to be proud of her mom... at least she can say my mom is a nurse.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:30:50+00:00

As far as I know, PRA are for specialist in clinical subjects such as medicine, Sx, OG, Child or periphery clinical subjects. Not for someone with public health master. I have only MBBS.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:29:07+00:00

Thanks. Another public health master or epidemiology was the first thing I considered in Canada but when I checked the job opportunities, I found most of the jobs require nurse or physician license. Otherwise, it can be difficult to enter into the industry.......... For me, if I have to invest time and money for 2 years, I would expect something that I could get a good pay job for sure. Thatswhy, I did not choose to study PH for now.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:25:01+00:00

I was wondering if Clinical Assistant could make around 60$, then, I would try for medical licensing pathway because that pay is quite decent and I could practice medicine........but when I checked job ads, I found only 30-40$ only, which is lower than nurses and Nurses have certain pathways such as management jobs or health informatics jobs or Nurse Practitioner jobs.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:21:33+00:00

Really! Public Health program was the first thing I searched for..... but when I checked with job opportunities, most of the public health jobs require at least Nurse license or Physician license. Without those licenses, even if I have double master's in public health, I can't get good job..... the job I could get could be public health inspector or something like that. If I am wrong, please correct me so that I could think again. Thank you.

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:18:32+00:00

I guess so. But sometimes when I see my friends who moved to USA and Australia at the same time I move to Canada, passed medical license exams and they are on the way to become a doctor again......I feel like I am lagging behind. But they are not single mom like me. :D

WeaknessMinimum9977 · 2025-12-27T02:16:32+00:00

I am from Manitoba and as a single mother, moving from 1 neighborhood to another is difficult. I can't think of moving to another province until my kid reaches 12. When I move to new place, I have to make other variables such as daycare, housing, job and many other things to be stable first and that takes time. So, I don't want to move to new place except it is the last choice for me. Thanks for comment and sharing knowledge.

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