There are two different pathways to licensure for Canadian nurses, each with its own set of application requirements:
- If you are currently licensed in good standing as a nurse in any other province or territory in Canada, this is your webpage. We call this the Expedited Pathway for Nurses Currently Licensed in Canada.
- If your Canadian license has lapsed or expired, you do not qualify for the expedited process. Please click here to select the webpage called “Nurses No Longer Licensed in Canada”.
Current licensure means you hold an equivalent license elsewhere in Canada that entitles you to practice as a nurse. Good Standing means you are not subject to any outstanding complaints with your current provincial or territorial regulator; and there are no prohibitions, conditions, agreements or restrictions on your licence or registration with your current provincial or territorial regulator that would prevent registration.
Before you begin, it’s important to know:
- We are available to help if you have any questions. Reach out to us at registration@nscn.ca and we will respond as soon as we can.
- All application documents must be provided in English. Translations from a certified translator are also 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.
Expedited Pathway
As a Canadian nurse, welcome to the nursing profession in Nova Scotia. You will be eligible to practise as an LPN, RN or NP once you have applied and met all registration and licensure requirements.
Application Process
Please submit the following documents to apply. Please Note: Incomplete applications are removed from the system after 30 days.
- Application for a Licence and pay the initial assessment fee.*
Note: NP applicants are required to hold a current RN licence with NSCN.
* The Nova Scotia government announced the implementation of a fee waiver program in which initial applicants to NSCN who are currently registered and licensed in another Canadian province will no longer be charged their initial assessment and initial licensing fee. The waiver program does not cover the cost of professional liability insurance (PLI), which is a requirement for licensure with NSCN and will be required of applicants effective May 1, 2024. Click here for the cost of liability insurance for RNs, LPNs and NPs.
- Photocopy of two proof of name documents such as:
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- Nexus Card
- Canadian Military ID
- Driver's License or Learner's Permit
- Canadian government-issued ID card (federal/provincial/ territorial)
- Permanent resident (PR) card
- Citizenship card (Canadian or international)
- Immigration card (Canadian or international)
Please Note: if your name has changed, NSCN may require proof of name change documents (e.g., marriage certificate). You must submit these documents to us directly either through the mail or email. We will not accept unclear and/or faxed copies.
- Meet one of the English Language proficiency registration requirement options, if it is required. We will advise you if this is needed.
- NSCN will complete an online Verification of Registration with your most recent regulatory body as long as it is available. If there is disciplinary or conduct history found we will ask you to provide a Registration/Licensure Verification form from the regulatory body.
- For NP Applicants Only:
a. NP applicants are required to hold a current RN licence with NSCN.
b. Must arrange for NSCN to receive official confirmation directly from an NSCN-approved program provider that you have successfully completed a Controlled Drugs and Substances course
For LPN applicants only: If you graduated from a program in Quebec between 2004 and 2009 you must provide evidence that you completed education in maternal, newborn and pediatric care. If you graduated from a program in Ontario prior to 2000 you must provide evidence that you completed education in Health Assessment Throughout the Lifespan and Pharmacology and Administration of Medication.
What happens once I have submitted my documents?
Once we receive all of your application documents, it will take up to five business days to process your application. You will receive an email when your application is approved along with information about next steps. Click here for information about your licensure fees.
What else might I need to know to provide safe, ethical and competent nursing services in Nova Scotia?
We encourage you to review the jurisprudence information for your specific designation available here.
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.
Expiry of your application
All Canadian documents expire six months from the date they were completed except for the English Language Proficiency Test, which expires 24 months from the date of the test.
Your application will expire and close if your application documents are more than six months old and you have not been in contact with us for six months.
If you change your mind and wish to become licensed after your file has been closed, you will be required to re-apply and meet the regulatory requirements in place at the time of your reapplication, including paying the appropriate fees.
Please be advised that registration requirements are subject to change.
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.