All licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) who practise nursing in Nova Scotia are registrants of the Nova Scotia College of Nursing.
One of the ways we protect the public is to ensure that applicants are qualified and competent to practice as a nurse in Nova Scotia. To become registered and licensed, an applicant must meet all of our licence requirements.
Registrant Breakdown
Registrant Breakdown as of on November 1, 2025:
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 5,192 |
| Registered Nurses | 13,550 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 519 |
Registration and Licensure
To practice as a nurse in Nova Scotia applicants must qualify for registration and licensure.
Registration is granted to those individuals who meet the applicable entry to practice requirements. Once registered, individuals must qualify for a licence to practice nursing. A nursing licence must be renewed on an annual basis.
Practicing or Conditional License
Individuals who meet all the relevant licensing requirements for a designation qualify for an practising licence (LPN practising, RN practising, RPN practising or NP practising). NP applicants must hold current RN practising licence.
Individuals who do not meet all the requirements for a practising licence may be issued a conditional licence (LPN conditional, RN conditional, RPN conditional or NP conditional) if qualified .
Conditional licences impose conditions or restrictions on the registrant’s practise. Once these conditions or restrictions are fulfilled, expired or removed, the registrant may qualify for a practising licence.
Newly graduated nurses often receive a conditional license until they pass the relevant registration exam.
Search for a Nurse
Every nurse registered to practice in Nova Scotia has a profile on Search for a Nurse. Search for a Nurse is an easy-to-use online tool that provides useful information to the public about the licensure status of nurses in Nova Scotia. Information found on Search for a Nurse include (not exhaustive):
- Expiration date of the license
- Conditions or restrictions on a licenses
- If the nurse is authorized to engage in advanced practice
Details about the information contained on Search for a Nurse are available here.