If you are currently licensed in another Canadian province or territory, and your licence is in good standing, you can apply through the below pathway.
If you were previously licensed in another Canadian province or territory, but, your licence is no longer active and you are currently not entitled to practice nursing in Canada, please reach out to registration@nscn.ca.
What Does "Current and in Good Standing" Mean?
- Current licence: You hold a valid nursing licence (in the designation you are applying for) in another Canadian province or territory.
- Good standing: You have no outstanding complaints or prohibitions, conditions, agreements, or restrictions on your licence that would prevent registration.
Looking for more information for nurses who are new to practising in Nova Scotia? Check out our Transition to Practice page.
Follow these steps to apply:
Important: Incomplete applications are removed from the system after 6 months.
- Create an Account
- If you don’t have an account, sign up to create one. If you already have an account, log in.
- Important: If you are already licensed with us and are applying for another nursing designation, use your current portal login details. Do not create a new account.
- Submit Your Application
- Choose your application type: LPN, RN, NP
- Pay the initial assessment fee*
Note:Nurse Practitioner applicants require a current RN licence.
*Government Fee Waiver Program: If you are currently registered and licensed in another Canadian province, you will not be charged the initial assessment or licensing fee. The waiver program does not cover the cost of professional liability insurance (PLI), which is required for licensing.
- Submit Required Documents
Photocopy of 2 proof of name documents. These can include:
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Nexus Card
- Canadian Military ID
- Driver’s licence or learner permit
- Canadian government-issued ID card (federal/provincial/ territorial)
- Permanent resident (PR) card
- Citizenship card (Canadian or international)
- Immigration card (Canadian or international)
If your name has changed, we require proof of name change documents (e.g., marriage certificate). You can submit these documents to us by mail or email. Unclear and/or faxed copies are not accepted.
- For NP applicants: We require confirmation from an NSCN-approved program provider that you have completed a controlled drug and substances course.
- For LPN applicants:
a. If you graduated from a Quebec program between 2004 and 2009, you must provide proof that you completed education in maternal, newborn, and pediatric care.
b. If you graduated from an Ontario program before 2000, you must provide proof that you completed education in Health Assessment Throughout the Lifespan and Pharmacology and Administration of Medication. - English Language
You may be asked to provide evidence you meet the English Language Proficiency Registration requirement.
Please Note: If you hold or have held a nursing licence anywhere outside Nova Scotia, include that in your application. If the information is available, we will complete an online Verification of Registration with the regulatory body.
- If there is a record of disciplinary or conduct issues, we will ask you to provide a Verification of Registration (PDF) from the regulatory body.
Jurisprudence Information
Please review the jurisprudence information for your specific designation. You will find information on Nova Scotia nursing safety, ethics, and competency.
Expiry of your application
All documents expire after 6 months from their completion date, except for the English Language Proficiency Test, which expires 24 months from the test date.
Your application will expire and close if your documents are older than 12 months and you have not contacted us within that time.
If your file is closed and you want to apply again, you must reapply and meet the current regulatory requirements. This includes paying any required fees.
Have questions?
You can email us at registration@nscn.ca. There may be delays in responding due to a high number of inquiries.
Registration requirements and fees may change. All registration and licensing fees are non-refundable.