Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: October 2026.
As in the US, Canada has no single national nursing licence. Nursing is regulated by a college or regulatory body in each province and territory. Examples include the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA), the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN). Your licence is valid in the province that issues it. Moving provinces is easier once you are registered, but you still apply to the new college.
The usual route for internationally educated nurses (IENs)
- NNAS assessment: the National Nursing Assessment Service collects and verifies your identity, education, registration and work history, then issues an Advisory Report. NNAS is not a regulator and does not decide your registration.
- Apply to a provincial college: it reviews the Advisory Report and decides what you need. That may be direct eligibility for the exam, a competency assessment, or a bridging or education programme.
- Competency assessment or bridging (if required): some colleges use third-party assessments (for example Touchstone Institute in Ontario) and approved bridging programmes.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN (registered nurses) or the REx-PN (practical nurses in some provinces).
- Jurisprudence exam: some provinces, including Ontario, require one on nursing law and ethics.
- Language, criminal record and good-character checks, then registration and payment of the first-year fee.
The rules are changing. Since 2023, several provinces have introduced faster routes, and some colleges now accept assessments from bodies other than NNAS. In Manitoba, an expedited pathway introduced in July 2025 lets nurses trained in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the US register after an online course, a pass in the NCLEX-RN and 250 hours of transitional practice. Ontario has a Temporary class and supervised practice options for some applicants. Always check the current pathway on your chosen college’s website before paying NNAS.
Fees in 2026
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| NNAS application, regular service (one province, one nursing group) | US$650 (Advisory Report about 12 weeks after all documents arrive) |
| NNAS expedited service | About CA$750 |
| NCLEX-RN in Canada | CA$360, plus tax |
| Ontario (CNO): application | CA$489.29 (including HST) |
| CNO jurisprudence exam | CA$45.20 |
| CNO initial registration (first year) | CA$493.81 |
| CNO annual membership | CA$415.84 |
| British Columbia (BCCNM): international RN application assessment | CA$690 plus GST (April 2026 – March 2027) |
English and French requirements
Each college sets its own standard. Common accepted tests are IELTS, CELBAN (an exam designed for nurses) and, in some provinces, PTE. A typical RN target is IELTS around 7.0 overall. Some colleges allow one band at 6.5. Typical CELBAN targets are speaking 8, listening 10, reading 8 and writing 7. In Quebec, nursing is regulated by the OIIQ and you must also meet French requirements. Exemptions can apply if you trained and practised in English or French.
Staying registered
- Annual renewal: pay the yearly fee and make declarations of conduct and practice hours.
- Quality assurance: colleges require a yearly self-assessment and a learning plan. Ontario uses a Quality Assurance Program and selects some nurses for practice assessment.
- Currency of practice: you must show a minimum number of practice hours within a set period. If you fall short, you may need a refresher programme.
Discipline: complaints and hearings
- Complaint or report: it can come from a patient, family, employer or colleague. Employers are often legally required to report terminations for misconduct or incompetence.
- Investigation: college investigators gather records and statements, and the nurse is given a chance to respond.
- Screening committee (for example Inquiries, Complaints and Reports in Ontario, or Inquiry in BC): it can take no action, give advice, require remedial education, or refer the case on.
- Discipline hearing: a panel hears serious cases, such as professional misconduct, incompetence or sexual abuse of patients.
- Outcomes: a reprimand, terms and conditions on practice, suspension, or revocation. Outcomes are posted on the public register, and the nurse may be ordered to pay costs.
Most provinces also have a fitness-to-practise or health process for nurses whose health affects their practice. It is separate from discipline.
Practical tips
- Pick the province first: where you want to live and work, and which pathway fits your training. Then follow that college’s instructions exactly.
- Start document collection early: NNAS delays almost always come from schools or home councils that are slow to send records. For Nigerian nurses, see our NMCN verification guide.
- Link it to immigration: registration and permanent residence are separate. Express Entry healthcare category draws and provincial nominee programmes often favour nurses who have started registration.
- Beware of consultants who promise a “guaranteed” licence. Only the college can register you.
Sources: College of Nurses of Ontario, application and membership fees (2026); CNO NNAS page; CanadaSmarts, fastest province for IENs (August 2026); WelcomeAide, NNAS and provincial registration (February 2026); NNAS update on NMCN verification (September 2024). Confirm all requirements with your provincial college.