Currency of Practice

You must meet one of the following currency of practice options to be eligible for registration and/or licensure in Nova Scotia:

• Current licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction in the same designation you are applying for (This option is only available when you apply for registration and an initial practising licence with NSCN.)
• Practice no later than three licensing years prior to your application
• Practice a minimum of 320 hours of practice no later than five licensing years prior to your application
• Passed the registration exam no later than three licensing years prior to your application
• Successfully completed a re-entry program, bridging education, or entry-level nursing program, no later than five licensing years prior to your application
• Successfully completed a competence assessment and bridging education no later than five licensing years prior to your application

*LPN and RN applicants who do not meet any of the above currency options but have practised within the last 10 licensing years may be eligible for a conditional licence with conditions and restrictions.

*LPN and RN applicants who do not meet any of the above currency options and have not practised in the last 10 licensing years are not eligible for a conditional licence and must successfully pass the require registration exam to qualify for a practicing licence. If you passed the registration exam more than three years ago and have not practiced in the last 10 licensing years, you will be required to successfully complete a competence assessment and bridging education or a nursing re-entry program.

Information for RN Prescribers

• The RN must have practiced at least 600 hours in the past one licensure year (currency of practice) as an RN prescriber or completed an RN prescribing education program in the past two licensure years. Hours worked as an RN but not in an RN AP role cannot be counted toward the 600 hours. RNs who have not maintained currency of RN prescriber practice (not practised as a RN prescriber for 2 or more licensure years) must submit an application to NSCN. The application is reviewed to determine what, if any, additional requirements must be met before the authorization to prescribe is approved.

Answering the Currency of Practice Questions on Your Application for Licensure

When answering the currency of practice questions, please remember that the NSCN licensure year runs from November 1 and October 31. For example, the 2022 licensure year ran from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022.

Hours that can be considered in your calculations:

1. Hours accumulated in orientation
2. Actual hours worked as a nurse (note: overtime hours are considered one practice hour)

Hours that should be excluded from your calculations:

1. Hours you are paid while off on vacation, sick leave, long-term sickness/injury or maternity leave.
2. Hours worked as another health care provider (e.g. any CCA hours cannot count toward LPN or RN licensure). 
3. Hours worked in another nursing designation (e.g., LPN practice hours cannot be considered when completing your RN application for licensure, RN practice hours cannot be considered when completing your NP application for licensure).
4. Volunteer hours.
5. Hours spent in nursing education.

NOTE: You are required to keep a record of all the hours you have worked in the past in case you are audited by NSCN.

How to Change My Reported Practice Hours

• If you are requesting to adjust your practice hours for a year other than the previous licensing year, you must have your employer submit a Statement from Employer directly to us at registration@nscn.ca. 

How to Re-Establish Currency of Practice 

If you do not meet one of the currency of practice options, you must re-establish your currency of practice to become licensed in Nova Scotia.  There are two ways in which you can do this:

1. Complete a re-entry education program for your designation. Learn more about LPN re-entry programs here and RN re-entry programs here.
2. Complete a competence assessment and successfully complete any required bridging education up to and including a full nursing re-entry program. 

As a nurse practitioner, you must meet one of the following currency of practice options to be eligible for registration and/or licensure in Nova Scotia:

• Current licensure as an NP in a Canadian jurisdiction (This option is only available when you apply for registration and an initial practising licence with NSCN)
• Practice as an NP no later than three licensing years prior to your application
• Passed the NP registration exam no later than three licensing years prior to your application

How to Change My Reported Practice Hours

• If you are requesting to adjust your practice hours for a year other than the previous licensing year, you must have your employer submit a letter confirming your nursing practice hours directly to us at registration@nscn.ca.

How to Re-Establish Currency of Practice 

• As an RN: if you do not meet one of the options listed above related to RN currency of practice, you must re-establish your currency of practice to become licensed in Nova Scotia. There are two ways in which you can do this:
  • successfully complete a nursing re-entry program
  • complete a competence assessment and successfully complete any required bridging education up to and including a full nursing re-entry program.
• As an NP: if you do not meet one of the options listed above related to NP currency of practice, you must re-establish your currency of practice by having your application documents, including your NP education and experience, reviewed by the Registration and Licensing Committee. The first step in this process is to complete the Nurse Practitioner Currency of Practice Application Form and return it, and your current curriculum vitae (CV), to registration@nscn.ca. We will then be in touch with you about next steps.

The term “nursing services” means the application of specialized and evidence-based knowledge of nursing theory, health and biological, physical, behavioural, psychosocial or sociological sciences inclusive of principles of primary health care, in a variety of roles including clinical services to clients, research, education, consultation, management, administration, regulation, policy or system development relevant to such application, and such other services, roles, functions, competencies and activities for each nursing designation that are related to and consistent with the foregoing, including those: 

1. described in Section 174 or prescribed by the regulations
2. taught in an approved education program
3. authorized for practice under federal or Provincial legislation
4. generally accepted as constituting the practice of nursing

Nursing practice occurs in a variety of roles and settings. To practice as a nurse in Nova Scotia, you must be registered and hold a current license with NSCN. Only hours accumulated in a role that requires nursing knowledge, education, and meets the legal definition of nursing services can be counted towards your nursing practice hours. The below assessment tool will assist you in determining if you can count your practice hours as nursing practice or if you need additional clarity from NSCN on your individual role.

Nursing Practice Hours Assessment Tool