Canada regulates nursing province by province. Most internationally educated nurses start with an assessment through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), then apply to the nursing regulator in the province where they want to work, which usually includes passing the NCLEX-RN. Immigration is a separate process, often through Express Entry or a provincial programme.
Registration and licensing
- Nursing Regulators in Canada: NNAS, Provincial Colleges, NCLEX-RN, Fees and Discipline (2026 Guide)
- Canada Nurse Salary by Province 2026
- Cheapest Countries to Get a Nursing Licence in 2026
- Moving to Canada as an Internationally Educated Nurse: The Main Steps From NNAS to Permanent Residence
- NCLEX, Prometric, NMC CBT or OSCE? Which Nursing Exam You Need for Each Country (2026)
Immigration and jobs
- Canada Express Entry Healthcare Draws 2026: CRS Scores, Eligible Nursing Jobs and How International Nurses Can Qualify
- How Canada is Fast-Tracking African Doctors and Nurses in 2026
- Before You Sign: How International Nurses Should Read a Job Contract Abroad (Repayment Clauses, Pay and Red Flags)
- How to Negotiate a Nursing Job Offer Abroad: Salary, Band, Relocation Package and What You Can Ask For
Before you move
- Moving Abroad as a Nurse: 25 Documents and Tasks to Complete Before You Travel
- Money Plan for Nurses Moving Abroad: What to Budget Before You Travel and in Your First Three Months
- Fake Nursing Recruitment Agencies: 12 Red Flags and How to Verify a Job Abroad Before You Pay Anything
- How to Write a Nursing CV for Jobs Abroad (UK, US, Gulf, Canada, Australia): Template and Examples
Compare other destinations in our working abroad guide.