NNAS Pathways Project

Find Your Path to Nursing Licensure in Canada

If you trained as a nurse outside Canada, this tool will show you the registration steps for the province where you plan to work. Answer three questions and receive a personalised pathway, along with a searchable directory of support services in your area.

Who this is for

Internationally educated nurses (IENs) seeking registration as a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) in any Canadian province or territory. The tool works at any stage of the process, including before you arrive in Canada.

What to have ready

  • Your nursing licence type (RN, LPN, or RPN)
  • The province where you plan to work
  • Whether you have worked as a nurse in the past two years

About the Resource Directory

After you complete the pathway steps, a searchable resource directory appears on your results page. It lists organisations across Canada that support IENs, including credential assessment bodies, bridging and education programs, settlement and employment services, language training, financial support, and immigration and legal services. You can search by name, filter by province, and filter by service type.

IEN Pathways to Nursing Licensure

Answer a few questions to see your tailored registration journey by province.

1Licence Type 2Destination →Results
Step 1: What nursing designation are you applying for? Click on the registration type you are pursuing to get started.
Select one to continue
Step 2: Which province(s) are you considering? Click on each province you want to explore. Select multiple to compare pathways side by side, then click Next.
Select at least one province
Step 3: Where did you complete your nursing education or most recent practice? Click on the country that applies to you. This determines whether you qualify for an expedited registration pathway in BC or Manitoba.
Select one to continue

Your Pathways

IEN Support Resources Near You Settlement, bridging, and navigation supports — filtered to your selected province(s)
TermWhat it means
IENInternationally Educated Nurse — a nurse who completed their training outside Canada.
NNASNational Nursing Assessment Service — Canada’s main credential assessment body for IENs. Produces an Advisory Report sent to your chosen regulator.
ECAEducational Credential Assessment — a formal evaluation comparing your nursing education to Canadian standards. Required to open a file in some provinces (e.g., CRNM in Manitoba).
CCAClinical Competence Assessment — a practical skills evaluation required in BC (via Inspire) and Manitoba (CRNM) to assess readiness for Canadian practice.
SLASimulation Lab Assessment — a hands-on competency test delivered by Inspire Global Assessments in BC.
CBAComputer-Based Assessment — a written knowledge test delivered by Inspire Global Assessments in BC.
TPETransitional Practice Experience — a supervised 250-hour clinical placement required in BC for some IENs after the BCCNM review.
SPEPSupervised Practice Experience Partnership — approximately 140 hours of supervised clinical practice in Ontario for nurses who lack recent Evidence of Practice. Supported by Ontario Health.
TTPTransition to Practice — an Ontario CNO requirement; met through recent Canadian nursing education, registration, or practice, or a CNO-approved TTP course.
NREPNurse Re-entry Program — a bridging program at RRC Polytechnic in Manitoba for RNs whose education is found comparable by CRNM.
EOPEvidence of Practice — proof of recent nursing work, typically within the past 3 years, required by Ontario CNO before registration.
ATTAuthorization to Test — a document from Pearson VUE permitting you to book your NCLEX-RN or REx-PN exam.
VSSVulnerable Sector Search — a type of criminal record check required for roles working with vulnerable persons (children, elderly). Required by CRNM, CRPNM, and others.
NCLEX-RNNational Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses — the mandatory entry-to-practice exam for RN registration across Canada, administered via Pearson VUE.
REx-PNRegistered Practical Nurse Regulatory Examination — the mandatory exam for LPN (BC) and RPN (Ontario) registration, administered via Pearson VUE.
RPNCERegistered Psychiatric Nurses Canadian Examination — the mandatory entry-to-practice exam for RPN registration in BC and Manitoba.
BCCNMBC College of Nurses and Midwives — regulates RNs, RPNs, and LPNs in British Columbia.
InspireInspire Global Assessments — BC’s independent credential and competency assessment body for IENs applying through BCCNM.
CRNMCollege of Registered Nurses of Manitoba — regulates RNs in Manitoba.
CRPNMCollege of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba — regulates RPNs in Manitoba.
CLPNMCollege of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba — regulates LPNs in Manitoba.
CNOCollege of Nurses of Ontario — regulates both RNs and RPNs (the Ontario equivalent of LPN) in Ontario.
Can I work in Canada while my registration application is in progress? It depends on your immigration status and province. In BC and Manitoba, some provinces offer provisional or temporary registration once certain requirements are met, allowing supervised practice. In Ontario, a Temporary Class certificate may be available with an employer offer. You may also be eligible to work as an unregulated healthcare aide while your nursing application is pending — check with your province’s health authority.
What happens if my education is found “not comparable”? In BC, BCCNM may require bridging courses or a Transitional Practice Experience (TPE). In Manitoba, CRNM may refer you to the Nurse Re-entry Program (NREP) at RRC Polytechnic. In Ontario, CNO may require a CNO-approved IEN education pathway (theory + clinical) or a Competency Assessment Supplement (CAS). “Not comparable” does not mean your application is rejected — it means additional education is needed before the exam.
Do I need to rewrite NCLEX-RN if I move to a different province? No. The NCLEX-RN is recognized Canada-wide. If you have passed it in one province, you do not need to retake it when applying in another — you simply provide proof of your result. The same applies to REx-PN and RPNCE.
How long does NNAS take? Typically 3–12 months, depending on how quickly your educational institutions and licensing bodies send documents. The most common delay is waiting for transcripts from international schools. You can speed this up by contacting your institutions immediately after creating your NNAS profile and requesting direct submission.
Can I apply to multiple provinces at the same time? Yes, and it is often recommended. Your NNAS Advisory Report can be shared with multiple regulators. Applying concurrently increases your chances of an earlier start and lets you compare timelines. Note that each province charges its own application fee separately.
Can I apply to NNAS while my immigration application is still in progress? Yes. You do not need to be in Canada or have permanent residency to apply to NNAS or open a file with most provincial regulators. Starting early is strongly recommended — credential assessment often takes longer than immigration processing.
What is the BC IEN Bursary? A financial support program in British Columbia that may cover fees for the Inspire Global Assessments competency assessment (SLA/CBA) for eligible IENs. Contact Inspire or BCCNM directly to confirm current eligibility criteria and application process.
Disclaimer: General overview only — not legal or regulatory advice. Requirements, fees, and timelines are subject to change. Always confirm current information directly with the relevant provincial regulatory body before making decisions. Data last reviewed: 2026  |  nnas.ca


Frequently Asked Questions

Does this tool replace advice from the regulatory college?

No. This tool gives you a general picture of the registration process. The regulatory college in your province sets the actual requirements. Always confirm current steps and fees with the college before submitting any documents.

How long does registration take?

Timelines vary by province, pathway, and individual circumstances. The tool shows typical ranges based on available data. For a more precise estimate, contact the regulatory college in your province directly.

I have already started the registration process. Is this tool still useful?

Yes. You can use the tool to check which steps remain in your pathway, or to search the Resource Directory for support services you have not yet connected with.

What is NNAS and why does it appear in the results?

The National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) is a credential assessment service for internationally educated nurses applying to practise in Canada. Most provincial regulatory colleges require an NNAS assessment as part of the registration process. The tool includes NNAS as a required step where this applies to your pathway.

Is this tool available in French?

The current version of this tool is in English. NNAS provides information in French through its main website at nnas.ca (opens in a new tab).