Please note: due to a high volume of users accessing our registrant portal, you may experience some delays. Thank you for your patience during this busy time.
This webpage is for you if you’re an international nurse who does not hold a current licence to practice as an RN in:
- Canada or;
- One of the seven designated countries (the Philippines, India, Nigeria, Australia, USA, UK or New Zealand)
Registration and Licensure in Nova Scotia
NSCN regulates three designations of nurses in Nova Scotia: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Registered Nurse (RN) and Nurse Practitioner (NP). You can apply for LPN assessment, RN assessment or assessment for both of these designations at the same time. If you are also applying as an NP, please skip the NP section below.
Important Information Before You Start the Process
- LPNs and RNs in Nova Scotia have a general nursing education and preparation. If you graduated from a specialized nursing program (e.g., psychiatry/mental health, pediatrics, midwifery) and your nursing program did not provide theory and clinical instruction in adult medicine and surgery, please contact ien@nscn.ca before you start your application.
- If you were educated and/or registered as mental health nurse, please email us at registration@nscn.ca before beginning your application.
- You must have established registration as a nurse in the jurisdiction where you completed your nursing program, unless you are unable to do so for reasons beyond your control.
- Applying to become a nurse with NSCN is a two steps process. The first step is to apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) and obtain an NNAS Advisory Report. Once you have received your Report, you can apply to us by completing an application here.
- Note: if you are currently an LPN with NSCN and you are now applying for RN assessment, you must use your current Portal login information to submit your RN application. Please do not create another Portal Profile.
- You do not need to live in Nova Scotia to apply.
- All application documents must be provided in English. If needed, translated documents from a certified translator are accepted. You are responsible for the cost of all translations.
- All documents received through the application process are the property of NSCN and can only be released to another regulatory body with your written permission. Documents will not be released to you or to any third party unless required by law.
Ready for the National Nursing Assessment Service Process?
What happens when I get my Advisory Report and I submit my application to NSCN?
It typically takes up to 8 weeks for us to assess your NNAS Advisory Report and NSCN application documents. We will send you correspondence with our decision (see below for possible outcomes) and outline your next steps in the application process.
- There is required information missing in your application documents:
- If this is the case, we will let you know what is missing and how you can arrange for us to receive it.
- You can take the registration exam.
- If this is the case, we will provide you with information about the application process and how you can prepare for the exam.
- You are now eligible for registration and licensure.
- Once you hold a licence with us, you can begin to work as a nurse in the designation you have been approved in
- You are required to complete additional education or assessments.
- This will be assigned if we are unable to determine whether your nursing program provided you with the entry-level competencies to safely practice as a nurse in NS.
- More information about these potential requirements can be found here.
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You are ineligible for registration with NSCN.
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If this happens we will tell you why and give you an opportunity to have your application reviewed again.
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Application Process
How to Apply for LPN or RN Registration and Licensure
Applicant Portal
Applications are submitted through the Registrant Portal. You must select the following application type: LPN/RN Applicants (From Non-Designated Countries)
Start by creating an account in the portal, if you have not already done so. Click the following link and select ‘Sign Up’ to create an account. If you already have an account with NSCN, please skip this step.
You can then use your user name and password to submit the LPN or RN application. Make sure to include your NNAS Application number that is specific to your Nova Scotia application. You will also be asked to pay the assessment fee on the Portal.
In addition to the application and fee, you will need to submit the following documents:
1. If not already provided to NNAS, we will require photocopies of two proof of name documents, such as:
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Nexus Card
- Canadian Military ID
- Driver’s licence or learners permit
- Canadian government-issued ID card (federal/provincial/ territorial)
- Permanent resident (PR) card
- Citizenship card (Canadian or international)
- Immigration card (Canadian or international)
Note: if your name has changed, NSCN may require proof of name change documents (e.g., marriage certificate). You can submit these documents to us directly either through the mail or email. We will not accept unclear and/or faxed copies.
2. If you have completed a competence assessment through another Canadian regulatory body and have completed subsequent education that made you eligible for registration there, we will need official confirmation of this information directly from that regulatory body. Otherwise, you will be required to complete another competence assessment and bridging education or a nursing re-entry program.
3. Evidence of meeting the English Language Proficiency Registration Requirement.
We will not be able to proceed with the assessment of your application until all of the documents have been submitted and your NNAS advisory report has been received.
What else do I need to do to become licensed?
- Review Jurisprudence Information
- Pass the required registration exam for the designation you have applied for (i.e. Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam for LPN applicants, the NCLEX-RN Exam for RN applicants)
- Submit the required criminal record check(s) – please do not obtain these documents until they are requested to do so by NSCN.
Expiry of your application
All Canadian documents (i.e. licensure verifications) expire six months from the date they are completed. All international documents expire 24 months after they were completed with two exceptions:
- English Language Proficiency Test, which expires 24 months from the date of the test.
- Information from your school of nursing, which does not expire.
If your application documents are more than 24 months old and you have not been in contact with us for 12 months, your application will expire and be closed. If you change your mind and wish to re-apply after your file has been closed, you may be required to re-apply to both NNAS and NSCN, including paying fees to both. Note: your application will be measured against the regulatory requirements at that time.
How to Apply for NP Registration and Licensure
To become an NP in Nova Scotia, you must first become registered and licensed as an RN. Please see the RN application process above. Please contact NSCN if you wish to apply as an NP at registration@nscn.ca.
Applicant Portal
Applications are submitted through NSCN’s Registrant Portal. Use the user name and password you created for your RN application to submit an NP application and pay the assessment fee.
To become an NP in Nova Scotia, you must first become registered and licensed as an RN. Please see the RN application process above. Please contact NSCN if you wish to apply as an NP at registration@nscn.ca.
You are required to submit the following documents for your NP application:
- Verification of Current Registration and Licensure from the regulatory body where you currently hold an NP licence. Note: if you submitted this document for your RN application, you are not required to submit another.
- Proof that you have passed an NSCN-approved controlled drugs & substances theory course or that this curriculum was taught in your NP program.
- You may be asked to request the following information be sent to NSCN from your NP School of Nursing to mail or email us the following documents from your NP program:
- Transcripts
- Course descriptions
- Description of the program of study (this must be in greater detail than the program calendar)
- Course objectives/outcomes
- NP competencies to be achieved within the program course content
- Course hours (theory/lab/clinical)
- Number of supervised clinical hours
- Methods of evaluation
NOTE: Please do not request this information until you have been asked to do so.
The above documentation is forwarded to a psychometrician who will determine if your NP program taught you the competencies to safely provide NP services in Nova Scotia. This is done through a comparison of your NP program with our NP entry-level competencies and the course information from the NS NP program. The cost of this evaluation is approximately $650, however, the cost can fluctuate if more information and time is required by the assessors. You are responsible for the cost of this evaluation.
We will not be able to proceed with your application until all of the documents have been submitted.
What else do I need to do to become registered and licensed as an NP?
You must:
- Obtain registration and a licence to practice nursing as an RN with NSCN
- Review NP Jurisprudence Information
What happens once I submit my documents?
It will take up to eight weeks for the psychometrician to complete the evaluation and for us to communicate your next steps.
Expiry of your application
All Canadian documents (i.e. licensure verifications) expire six months from the date they are completed. All international documents expire 24 months after they were completed with the exception of the information from your school of nursing, which does not expire.
If your application documents are more than 24 months old and you have not been in contact with us for 12 months, your application will expire and be closed. If you change your mind and wish to re-apply after your file has been closed, you will be required to re-apply to NSCN, including paying fees. Note: your application will be measured against the regulatory requirements at that time.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at registration@nscn.ca. We strive to respond to you as soon as possible. However, due to the high volumes of emails and complexity of inquiries, our response time may vary.
Please be advised that registration requirements and fees are subject to change. All application as well as registration and licensure fees are non-refundable. Click here to learn more about fees and payment options.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at registration@nscn.ca. We strive to respond to you as soon as possible. However, due to the high volumes of emails and complexity of inquiries, our response time may vary.
Please be advised that registration requirements and fees are subject to change. All registration and licensure fees are non-refundable. Click here to learn more about fees and payment options.