Criminal Record Check

You must submit a Criminal Record Check (CRC) as part of the registration process. This helps assess whether you meet the character requirements to practise safely and ethically in Nova Scotia.

Some employers require a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) as part of their hiring process. A VSC includes a CRC, so you may be able to use it for both employment and licensing. Local police information is not required as part of the CRC.

Note: If you are already licensed with us, you do not need to submit another CRC if you are applying for licensing in another designation.

Who is required to get a criminal record check?

  • You must submit a recent CRC if you are not currently licensed to practise nursing in another Canadian province or territory. It must be issued within the last 6 months from your province, state, or country. *
  • If you are reactivating your licence after a 2-year lapse and are not licensed in another Canadian province or territory, you must submit a recent CRC from where you currently live.
  • If you have not lived in your current province, state, or country for the past 2 years, you must also submit a CRC from where you lived most recently before then.
    • If nursing is regulated at the state or provincial level (e.g., USA, India), you must provide a CRC from that state or province.
    • If nursing is regulated at the country level (e.g., the Philippines), you must provide a CRC for the entire country.
    • Exception: You may not need a Canadian CRC if you moved to Canada for the first time within 6 months of your application being reviewed and approved.

*Nurses who are registered and licensed in Canada under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) do not need to submit a CRC to apply in Nova Scotia. A CRC will only be required if there is evidence of a legal issue—such as a positive judicial question on the application or a criminal record.

What CRCs are acceptable, and how do I submit one?

  • Your CRC must contain your current legal name and date of birth.
  • We do not accept electronic CRCs sent by applicants unless the results can be verified online through an official government website.
  • All CRCs must be in English. You must submit a certified translation if your CRC is in another language. You are responsible for any translation costs.

Your CRC must be sent to us in one of these ways:

  • Electronically, directly from the agency that performed it.
  • By mail as an original copy (photocopies are not accepted).
  • Delivered in person as an original document to our office.

Questions and Answers

You can get a CRC from:

  1. For a Canadian CRC: One of our approved online companies: CSI, My Backcheck, or CERTN
  2. For an international CRC: Through CSI or CERTN

These companies will send your results directly to us electronically.

You may also get your CRC through your local police or RCMP. However, you must submit the original hard copy by mail or drop it off in person at:

  • Nova Scotia College of Nursing 300 – 120 Western Parkway Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada  B4B 0V2

Do not email your CRC to us.

Six months from the date it is issued.

If you want the original CRC returned after mailing it, include a written request with your submission. If you do not request it, the document will be scanned, uploaded to your registrant portal, and destroyed.

If your CRC has a positive result and there is a risk to the public or concerns about your ability to practise safely, your application will be placed on hold. Additional information will be gathered before a decision is made.

Possible outcomes may include:

  • Denial of registration and licensing.
  • A consultation with our Professional Conduct team is required.

The Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is an enhanced Criminal Record Check (CRC). It includes all information found in a CRC, plus records of pardoned sexual offences.

If your employer requires a VSC, you may submit it instead of a CRC.

Get more information about vulnerable sector checks.

If you are charged with, plead guilty to, are convicted of, or are found guilty of any offence—in or outside Canada—that is inconsistent with proper professional behaviour, you must notify us immediately. This includes your name being placed on a pardoned sexual offenders list.

Have questions?

You can email us at registration@nscn.ca. There may be delays in responding due to a high number of inquiries.