BIEN Application - Rural Health Professions Action Plan

Bursary for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN)

The Bursary for Internationally Educated Nurses (BIEN) provides up to $30,000 in funding to internationally educated nurses as they complete bridging training required to practise as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse in Alberta. The bursary consists of the following:

A non-repayable fixed incentive, set at $3,500 per student, to cover assessment, examination, criminal record checks, licensing fees, and program fees, etc.
Tuition support varying between $7,215 and $12,000 per student based on the program in which the student is enrolled.
Living expenses of $3,625 per term to a maximum of $14,500 based on the program in which the student is enrolled.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must meet the following criteria:

be an internationally educated nurse who is currently enrolled in full-time studies in an approved bridging program, leading to a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse certification at one of the participating institutions: Bow Valley College, Mount Royal University, NorQuest College, or MacEwan University
be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a protected person within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), or authorized to study at a Participating Institution and authorized to work in Canada, as defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (must have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number)
be willing to sign a return-of-service agreement to work in a BIEN-eligible rural community
be registered in a participating bridging program that starts January 2023 or later
provide a statement of registration from their post-secondary institution outlining the number of terms required to complete the bridging program (a standard term is equal to four months of study)
currently live in Alberta

Selection Process & Bursary Payment Timeline
Recipients will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, provided they meet eligibility criteria.

The first bursary payment will be issued once RhPAP confirms an eligible applicant’s full-time enrolment at a post-secondary institution and the applicant has signed a return-of-service contract. This payment will consist of the $3,500 fixed incentive and 50% of the tuition and living expense support.

The second bursary payment will be issued upon the successful completion of the bridging program or within 12 months of the first payment (upon confirmation of continued good standing within post-secondary institution), whichever happens first.

A student may receive a lifetime maximum of one (1) bursary.

Return-of-service Expectations

As a condition of receiving the bursary, students must obtain licensing and work as a nurse in a designated rural community in Alberta (the “Return in Service”) within six months following graduation.
A student must complete one year of service for every $6,000 received.
Return-of-service terms are up to a maximum of 4.5 years, varying with the value of the bursary received.
If the return-of-service term is not completed, the student will be required to repay the outstanding amount of the bursary.

Alberta Student Number
Your Alberta Student Number (ASN) is required to apply for BIEN. If you do not know your ASN or do not have an ASN:

Visit learnerregistry.ae.alberta.ca for instructions.
Call toll-free in Alberta at 310-0000 to have a Request for ASN form mailed to you. Due to privacy issues, ASNs will not be given over the phone.

Note: If you need to update your existing application or add additional documents, please email the updated information to bien@rhpap.ca. To ensure the timely processing of your application, please do not submit a separate application.