International Nurse Applicants

To meet this requirement, you must:

Arrange for your nursing regulatory body to send NSCN a Verification of Registration (VOR) Form showing that you hold current registration and licensure and are in good standing.

To meet this requirement, you must:

Arrange for your nursing regulatory body to send NSCN a Verification of Registration (VOR) Form showing that you successfully completed an entry-level general nursing education program.

Other Information You Should Know About This Requirement 

If we cannot determine that you successfully completed an entry-level general nursing education program from the VOR, you may be required to do one of the following:

1.    Arrange for an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) to be sent directly to NSCN.
2.    If you have one, arrange for NSCN to have access to your National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) Advisory Report.

To meet this requirement, you must:

Show evidence that you have recent qualifying nursing practice. There are two ways to do this:

1. Truthful declaration of practice as a nurse in the last 3-5* years on your application.
2. Arrange for confirmation of graduation from an approved entry (or re-entry) general nursing education program in the last 3-5* years to be sent directly to NSCN.

Other Information You Should Know About This Registration Requirement 

• Documentation from your employer verifying your recent practice and a job description may be required.
• Non-nursing practice (i.e., nursing assistant, CCA) does not meet the nursing practice requirements.

* NPs require practice or education in the last 3 years.

To meet this requirement, you must:

Show evidence that you meet the language proficiency requirement.

To meet this requirement, you must do all of the following:

1. Provide truthful declaration of any health condition that could affect your ability to practice nursing in a safe manner.
2. Provide truthful declaration if you have ever been charged or found guilty of an offence, refused registration, had a finding related to the practice of nursing or another profession, or are involved in certain proceedings.
3. Submit a recent Criminal Record Check (CRC).

To meet this requirement, you must: 

Review the Jurisprudence Resource Guide  and submit a Jurisprudence Declaration of Completion form to confirm you have reviewed document.

To meet this requirement, you must:

Pass the registration exam.

Other Information To Know About This Requirement 

In some cases, qualifying applicants may be eligible to enter practice with a conditional licence while they prepare to write the registration exam.

• Without recent nursing practice, you are not eligible for a nursing licence (even if you passed the registration exam).
• You must re-establish practice currency to be eligible for a full practicing licence. You can do this by successfully completing one of the following:

1. An approved re-entry nursing education program.
2. A nursing competence assessment and any required bridging education.

• If you have not practiced as a nurse in the last 5 years, email registration@nscn.ca to discuss your options. Do not submit an application until you have discussed your situation with a member of the team. 

• Email us at registration@nscn.ca and describe your unique situation before you apply. 
  Do not submit an application until you have discussed your situation with a member of the team.

Email us at registration@nscn.ca and describe your unique situation before you apply. 

Do not submit an application until you have discussed your situation with a member of the team.

• At this time, NSCN cannot assess internationally educated psychiatric or mental health nurses (IEPNs) for licence eligibility.
• Email us at registration@nscn.ca and describe your unique situation before you apply. 

Do not submit an application until you have discussed your situation with a member of the team.

• Email us at registration@nscn.ca and describe your unique situation before you apply. 

Do not submit an application until you have discussed your situation with a member of the team. 
 

• You may apply directly to NSCN.
• You are not required to be assessed by the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) and can skip that section on the application. Do not apply to NNAS.
• You are required to review Jurisprudence Resource Guide and submit an Jurisprudence Declaration of Completion form.
• Please arrange for a Criminal Record Check to be submitted.
• We may or may not need a verification of registration (VOR) form completed by your regulatory body depending on what information is noted on the NURSYS database (we will advise is a form is needed once we assess your application).
• Do not pay any invoice for your application until instructed by NSCN staff to do so.

• Please have your Nova Scotia employer send confirmation of your job offer to registration@nscn.ca.
• We will send you further instructions on how to apply after we have received your confirmation of job offer. 

•  Step 1: Apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) to get an Advisory Report. 

When you receive your NNAS Advisory Report

• Step 2: Reach out to registration@nscn.ca for further instructions. 

• Most international documents expire 24 months after you submit them.
• You application will expire if you have not been in contact with NSCN for 12 months.
• Expired documents or applications must be re-submitted at your cost.
• If you have to re-submit your application, you must meet the regulatory requirements in place at that time.

Please reach out to registration@nscn.ca if you have any questions.