March 31, 2021

COVID-19 Update for Applicants, click here: U – Update for Applicants March 30, 2021 – EN

COVID-19 Q&A, click here: FAQ – COVID-19 Update March 30, 2021 – EN

Letter to Applicants, click here: L- Applicants Expiry Date Extension March 30, 2021 – EN

Frequently Asked Questions

NANB Language Requirements

(EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 17, 2021 AT 9:00 am ET)

Q1.  What are NANB’s new language requirements?

A1.  Under NANB’s previous rules, applicants had to demonstrate language proficiency in either English or French by achieving benchmark scores on an approved language proficiency test. This remains the most efficient way of demonstrating language proficiency. That being said, IENs applying for registration with NANB may prove language proficiency in one of the four following ways.

1. by achieving benchmark scores on an approved language proficiency test;
2. by holding current registration in another Canadian Jurisdiction;
3. by completing a nursing program in either English or French;
4. by providing other evidence of language proficiency for review by the Registrar.

If you are not able to demonstrate language proficiency through your nursing program, registration status, or your results on a language proficiency test, then the following types of evidence may also be considered by NANB:

1. completion of an educational program at a college or university level in either English or French, in the last two years; or
2. work or volunteer experience in English or French, in the last two years.

As well as providing the types of evidence listed above, NANB may also require that applicants participate in an oral proficiency interview by telephone, with a member of NANB’s staff, to assess the applicant’s proficiency in listening and speaking, in either English or French.

Q2.  Does this mean I won’t have to have my language proficiency assessed?

A2.  No.  You still need to have your language proficiency assessed and meet the language proficiency requirement.

Q3.  Do these changes apply to any other Nursing Regulatory Bodies?

A3.  This change applies only to NANB.  Please check the website of the Regulatory Bodies you are considering applying to for registration or licensure to find out about their specific requirements.

Q4.  I have an application currently open with NNAS.  I identified NANB as one the recipients of my Advisory Reports.   I want to defer my language requirement until after the NNAS process.  Can I do so? 

A4.   Yes.  You can defer the language requirement until after the NNAS process at any time while your application is open, and your review is in process.

Q5.  How do I defer the language requirement until after the NNAS process if I am applying to NANB?

A5.   To defer the language requirement, go into the Dashboard section of your online portal and then go to the Application Status link for your NANB order.  The Passing Language Score requirement will include a selectable option that indicates that NANB allows for passing of language requirements to occur after the advisory report is issued.  Once you have selected this option you will then be asked to click on a box if you wish to defer the language requirement for NANB until after you complete the NNAS process.

Q6.  I have applied to several Regulatory Bodies including NANB.  If I defer my language requirement for NANB, will this impact my application to other Regulatory Bodies?

A6.  You will need to meet the requirements of all Regulatory Bodies you are applying to before your Advisory Report can issued.  If you have identified other Regulatory Bodies as the recipient of your Advisory Report, your Report will not be issued to those Regulatory Bodies until you meet all their requirements.

Q7.  Can I port my Advisory Report to another Regulatory Body if I waived the language requirement for NANB?

A7.  Yes, you can.  However, you will be required to meet the language requirement along with all other policies and requirements of each Regulatory Body to which you are applying.

Q8.  Can I still submit language test scores to NNAS even if I am applying to NANB?

A8.  Yes.  You can still submit language test scores and NANB will accept them as proof that you have met the language requirement.   This remains the most efficient way to meet the language requirement.

December 15, 2020

COVID-19 Update for Applicants, click here: U- Update for Applicants Dec 11 2020 -EN

COVID-19 Q&A, click here: FAQ – COVID-19 Update Dec 11 2020 – EN

Letter to Applicants, click here: L- Applicants Expiry Date Extension Dec 11, 2020 EN

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September 25, 2020

COVID-19 Update for Applicants, click here: Update for Applicants Sept 25, 2020 EN

COVID-19 Q&A, click here: FAQ – COVID-19 Update Sept 25, 2020 EN

Letter to Applicants, click here: L- Applicants Expiry Date Extension Sept 17, 2020

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August 10, 2020

Update- Applicant Language Requirement, click here:L- Applicant Language Requirement Aug 10 2020 EN

Update- Language Requirement, click here: Update- Language Requirement August 10 2020 EN

FAQ- Language Requirement, click here: FAQ- Language Requirement August 10 2020 EN

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June 19, 2020

COVID-19 Update for Applicants, click here: COVID-19 IELTS UPDATE – June 19 2020 – EN

IELTS Q&A, click here: COVID-19 QA IELTS – June 19 2020 – EN

COVID-19 Q&A, click here: COVID-19 June 19 2020 Q&A – EN

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June 16, 2020

Letter to Applicants, click here: COVID-19 Letter to Applicants – June 16 2020 – EN

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May 20, 2020

Letter to Applicants, click here: COVID-19 Letter to Applicants – May 20 2020 – EN

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March 20, 2020

Letter to Applicants, click here: COVID-19 Letter to Applicants – Mar 20 20 EN

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March 17, 2020

Letter to Applicants, click here: COVID-19 Letter to Applicants – Mar 17 20 EN

As of Sept. 1, 2020, the BC College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) and the College o​f Midwives of BC (CMBC) amalgamated to become the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). The new BCCNM website is under construction and will be launched in late Fall 2020. In the interim, visitors can still retrieve information about nursing regulation from the BCCNP website or midwifery regulation from the CMBC website. Although the content on both websites may refer to BCCNP or CMBC respectively, it is the most current information on nursing and midwifery regulation. We appreciate your patience while we work towards launching the new BCCNM website and updating all our documents to reflect our new BCCNM name and brand.​​

NNAS has engaged a user research company named FoxGroove to interview applicants who have recently applied to NNAS about their experience with our service. If you are an applicant, you may have received an email from Gayle Waxman, NNAS Executive Director inviting you to participate in a research study.  The email will explain the study in detail and provide applicants with instructions that explains how to participate.   Of course, participation in the study is completely voluntary.

By participating, applicants will help us to improve NNAS’ web page, the application portal, and the overall experience for our applicants. The interviews are confidential.  Participation in the study will not impact participants’ NNAS Advisory Report or review in any way.   If you wish to participate, the email contains a link that will take you to a sign-up form. We value our applicant’s opinion and encourage applicants to consider participating.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Effective immediately, NNAS is accepting applications from Cameroon. However, we are unable to predict the timelines for processing applications from Cameroon and anticipate that delays will continue. Please note that we will be waiving the reactivation fee for all applications that were active at the time the suspension of applications from Cameroon came into effect (July 2018). Applicants with questions about their application should contact the NNAS support team at support@nnas.ca or toll free on (855) 977-1898.

News release/announcement

New Vision for Assessment Service of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)

June 14, 2019 – The National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) launched its 2019-2021 Strategic Plan, following a 12-month engagement process. Readying itself for the next phase of its development, the Nursing Assessment Service organization’s strategic plan redefined its mission and vision, while maintaining its commitment to protecting the public and the safety of the health care system.

The NNAS mission is to start Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) on their journey to nursing practice in Canada with the vision be recognized around the world as the gold standard for assessing nurses.

“I am pleased to introduce the NNAS Strategic Plan for 2019-2021. It marks an important new phase of development and operation of the NNAS as we re-commit ourselves to serving IENs, regulatory bodies, governments and other stakeholders”, stated Lynn Power, NNAS Board Chair. “We re-commit ourselves to support a diverse and safe nursing workforce in Canada”, she went on to say.

“This is an exciting time for NNAS, I feel fortunate to be joining NNAS as we launch our focused and forward-thinking strategic plan”, added Gayle Waxman, Executive Director, NNAS. “I am looking forward to working with the board and our stakeholder to operationalize the plan and help NNAS reach its full potential,” she concluded.

The 2019-2021 Strategic Plan focuses on four key priority areas of action:

1.     Improving the effectiveness of NNAS nursing assessment process

2.     Strengthening NNAS organizational capacity

3.     Transforming the organization

4.     Strengthening its relationships with key stakeholders (IENs, regulatory bodies, governments,  immigration stakeholders)

Since 2014, the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) has provided a single process for internationally educated nurses (IENs) to be assessed for Canadian nursing registration in the three nursing professions: Registered Nurses (RN), Licenced Practical Nurses (LPN) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN).

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Contact: Gayle Waxman, Executive Director, NNAS

Phone: (647) 957-7521

Senior Policy and Research Analyst

The National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) was formed in 2012 by the Federal government, Nursing Regulatory Bodies and some provinces to provide a pan-Canadian approach to assessing the credentials and evaluating the education of Internationally Educated Nurses.   We began assessing applications in 2015.  NNAS is currently seeking a highly skilled Senior Policy and Research Analyst with 3 – 5 years’ experience to assist the organization as it transitions to its next stage of development.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Policy and Research Analyst will research and analyze trends impacting NNAS, prepare reports on selected topics and develop policies at the governance and operational levels.  With expertise in health human resource planning, immigration policy, professional self-regulation, and/or credential assessment, this position requires a good understanding of the issues impacting the nursing profession and a sensitivity to the newcomer experience.

Overall Accountabilities:

• Researches, prepares and drafts governance and operational policies
• Assists in the development and monitoring of key performance measures to measure organizational performance, including the performance of key contractors
• Analyzes trends, using primary and secondary source data and prepares reports on a wide range of topics to support operational and strategic goals
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with selected key stakeholders
• Develops and assesses needs, evaluates programs using a variety of methodologies
• Conducts environmental scans to identify trends impacting NNAS, including immigration policy and trends, health human resource policy and trends, trends in nursing including migration of nurses
• Supports committees, working groups, task forces and Board Committees
• Liaison with a wide range of groups and organizations

Skills

• Graduate degree in social sciences, public administration, nursing administration or a related discipline with excellent qualitative and quantitative research skills, along with 3-5 years professional experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with well-developed presentation skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Self-managing and highly motivated
•  Proven ability to work with a high degree of independence in a virtual office environment
• Team player with strong experience leading and contributing to teams
• Experienced at developing and managing relationships with key stakeholders
• Ability to communicate in both official languages considered an asset

Conditions of Employment

•  Must be legally entitled to work in Canada
• Must be willing and able to work overtime including evenings and weekends when required
• Must be able to travel
• Must be able to provide home office and work in a virtual workplace environment

For more information or a complete job description click ‘read more‘ below.