Licensing Process for International Nurses

How to Apply for LPN or RN Registration and Licensing

National Nursing Assessment Service

Before you can apply for a licence in Nova Scotia, you will need an NNAS advisory report. Apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) to get your report.

Once you have received your NNAS report, you can apply with these steps:

1. 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 an LPN with NSCN and are applying for an RN assessment, use your current portal login details. Do not create a new account.

2. Submit Your Application

• Choose your application type: LPN or RN Applicants (From Non-Designated Countries).
• Include your NNAS Application Number (specific to Nova Scotia).
• Provide two pieces of ID (if not already submitted to NNAS), such as:
• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Nexus Card
• 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)
• Pay the assessment fee online.

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.

Document Ownership: Once submitted, your documents belong to NSCN. They won’t be shared with anyone without your written permission—unless required by law.

3. Other Information We May Need 

Have you completed a competence assessment or bridging education through another Canadian regulatory body? Please request for confirmation of this to be sent directly to us from that regulatory body. 

If your program was not offered in English, you must submit evidence of your meeting the English Language Proficiency Registration Requirement. Not sure if this applies to you?  Email ien@nscn.ca to ask.

Important: We cannot assess your application until all required documents have been received.

Criminal Record Check

• You will be asked to provide a Criminal Record Check (CRC) from everywhere you lived in the last 24 months.
• CRCs expire after 6 months, so do not apply for yours until we have advised you to do so.

What happens after I apply?

It usually takes about 8 weeks for us to review your report and documents. We will contact you with a decision, rational and the next steps.

Possible outcomes:

• Missing Information – If something is missing, we will tell you what is needed and how to submit it.
• Registration Exam - If eligible, we will guide you on what you need to know to apply for the exam.
• Eligible for Licensing - Once licensed, you are eligible to work as a nurse in your approved designation.
• Additional Education or Assessments Required - You may need additional education or assessments if your program doesn’t meet Nova Scotia’s standards. Learn more.
• Ineligible for Licensing -If ineligible, you will receive an explanation and the chance to have your application reviewed again.

How to Apply for NP Registration and Licensing

• To become an NP in Nova Scotia, you must first be registered and licensed as an RN. Please see the RN application process above.
• Use the username and password you created for your RN application to submit an NP application. You will need to pay the assessment fee for this new application.

Required Documents for Your NP Application

1. Verification of Current Registration and Licensing

• This must come from the regulatory body where you currently hold an NP licence.
• If you already submitted this document for your RN application, you don’t need to provide it again.

2. Proof of Controlled Drugs and Substances Theory Course

• Provide proof that you passed an NSCN-approved course or that this content was included in your NP program.

3. Additional Documents from Your NP School

• We may ask you or your NP school to email or mail us the following documents:
  • Transcripts
  • Detailed course descriptions
  • Program study overview (beyond what is in the program calendar)
  • Course objectives and outcomes
  • NP competencies included in the program
  • Course hours (theory, lab, clinical)
  • Number of supervised clinical hours
  • Methods of evaluation

NOTE: Please do not request this information until you have been asked to do so.

What happens after I submit my documents?

Program Evaluation and Costs

Once your documents are received, NSCN forwards them to a psychometrician. They compare your NP program to Nova Scotia’s entry-level NP competencies and curriculum. 

This process can take up to 8 weeks. After completing the assessment, we will contact you with the next steps. 

• The evaluation typically costs $650 but may vary based on the information provided.
• You are responsible for paying this fee.

Important: We cannot assess your application until all documents have been received.

All Canadian documents (licensing verifications, for example) expire 6 months from the date they are completed. 

All international documents expire 24 months after they were completed, with two exceptions:

1. English Language Proficiency Test, which expires 24 months from the date of the test.
2. Information from your school of nursing, which does not expire.

If you haven’t contacted NSCN for 12 months—your application will expire. You may need to reapply, including paying fees again.