Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: November 2026.
British Columbia is one of the most affordable places in Canada to register as an internationally educated nurse, because the provincial government pays the application and assessment costs for you. Here are the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) fees for 2026–27 and how the process works.
Imagine saving up hundreds of dollars for assessment fees, only to discover that British Columbia would have covered them. Knowing which fees are funded, and what you agree to in return, changes your budget.
Quick answer: For the 2026–27 fee period (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027), BCCNM registration as a practising RN costs $781.10 a year. The application assessment for an internationally educated RN is listed at $690 + GST, but BCCNM says applications to BCCNM and Inspire (formerly NCAS) cost applicants nothing because of B.C. government funding. An NNAS report is no longer required.
BCCNM RN fees for 2026–27
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Practising RN or licensed graduate nurse (annual) | $781.10 |
| Provisional RN (annual) | $781.10 |
| Multijurisdictional RN (annual) | $149.65 |
| Application assessment: B.C. RN | $265 + GST |
| Application assessment: Canadian RN | $345 + GST |
| Application assessment: international RN | $690 + GST |
| Reinstatement to practising RN | $265 + GST |
| Reinstatement surcharge (unregistered practice) | $375 + GST |
| Verification, certificate of conduct or letter of good standing | $60 + GST |
| Refund processing (cancellation you request) | $85 + GST |
| Not sufficient funds (NSF) | $60 |
How internationally educated nurses register in B.C.
- NNAS is optional. BCCNM says NNAS advisory reports are no longer required, though they are still accepted.
- Apply to BCCNM and Inspire at the same time to finish faster. Inspire Global Assessments (formerly NCAS) reviews your application.
- Employment verification: your current and past employers send their information directly to BCCNM, using forms BCCNM sends you.
- Competency assessment: Inspire decides whether you need one. BCCNM says most internationally educated nurses will.
- English: check Inspire’s requirements.
- Work permit: if you are outside Canada, BCCNM strongly recommends having the permits to work legally in Canada before you apply.
Who pays: B.C. government funding
BCCNM says applications to BCCNM and Inspire are free for applicants thanks to B.C. government funding. If you join the Internationally Educated Nurse Bursary Program, the government pays the competency assessment fee and repays your other registration fees. To have assessment costs removed and fees repaid, you sign a return of service agreement with the Government of B.C. Details are at nursingjobsbc.ca.
When B.C. launched this pathway in January 2023, it said these fees exceed $3,700 per applicant and that the wait could fall from about three years to roughly four to nine months.
But is a return of service agreement a catch?
It is a trade-off rather than a trap. In return for the province covering your costs, you commit to working in B.C.’s health system. Read the agreement carefully before you sign, and if you plan to move to another province soon, compare what you would pay without it.
Your next step: Read BCCNM’s internationally educated nurse page, then apply to BCCNM and Inspire together. For the bigger picture on Canada, see our guide to nursing regulators in Canada and Express Entry healthcare draws.
Sources: BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), RN fees and “Frequently asked questions” for internationally educated nurses; B.C. Government news release, 9 January 2023. Checked November 2026.
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