Every year, all nurses in Nova Scotia are required to renew their licence. This process is to ensure only nurses qualified to practise nursing are able to do so. Our goal is to review, process and renew all licences in a timely and efficient way.
All nurses practising as of November 1, 2023, should have a current 2023-2024 licence. Working without a current licence is illegal. Check Search a Nurse for up-to-date licensing status of all nurses in Nova Scotia.
Scroll down this page or click on the link below for information on the licence renewal period.
NSCN Registrant Portal
Your Accountability
As a self-regulated professional, it is your responsibility to renew your licence every year in order to legally practise as a nurse. We support you to be successful by providing resources, reminders and more. As you renew your licence, remember that:
- You will be notified by email when your licence has been renewed.
- You must verify that your licence has been renewed using Search for a Nurse.
- Working without a practising licence may result in a professional conduct complaint.
NSCN offers a multitude of ways you can engage with us for the support you require. In addition to in-person meetings, we also offer virtual appointments and are happy to provide you with the information you’re looking for via phone call, email or conference call.
To book an in-person or virtual appointment for additional support, please contact our Registration Services team at registration@nscn.ca.
New Regulatory Information System
In January 2023, NSCN implemented a new regulatory information system. This new system provides registrants and applicants with an efficient, easy-to-use portal that will help individuals complete their annual registration renewal.
Your registration number is not needed to access your portal. If you need it for something else, you can find it using the Search for a Nurse directory.
To complete your renewal, you must first activate your profile in the portal if you haven't already. Watch our how-to video here or follow the below instructions.
- Go to the portal here.
- Click ‘Forgot your password.’
- Enter your USER NAME, which is the email address you use to communicate with NSCN.
- Enter the security code shown on the right and click ‘submit’.
- You will receive an email with a link to reset your password. Follow the instructions to activate your profile.
Can’t Remember Your Email? Email registration@nscn.ca.
Please note: If you are renewing your licence, please click 'forgot your password' and follow the above instructions. All current registrants have an account and are not required to create a new one. Please do not click sign up as this is only for new applicants to NSCN.
- Go to the portal here.
- Click ‘Forgot your password.’
- Enter your USER NAME, which is the email address you use to communicate with NSCN.
- Enter the security code shown on the right and click ‘submit’.
- You will receive an email with a link to reset your password. Follow the instructions to activate your profile.
- Login to the registrant portal here.
- Under the heading “Complete my Registration” click the “Renew” button beside the applicable designation you would like to renew:
- LPN Practising/Conditional
- RN Practising/Conditional
- NP Practising/Conditional
If you are licensed as both an LPN and RN, you will need to complete renewal applications for each designation.
If you are licensed as an NP, completing your NP renewal will renew both your RN and NP licences.
You can save your application and return to it later or withdraw it if you do not wish to proceed.
- Pay the applicable fee. Please note: your application will not be processed until payment has been received. To learn more about fees and payment, click here.
NSCN has a public directory on our website titled ‘Search for a Nurse’ that can be accessed here.
Nurses, employers, members of the public and other stakeholders can use this tool to confirm that a nurse is licenced by searching a nurse’s name or registration number. They will be able to see details including current registration, effective date and other information.
Please note: The current licence will only be visible in the directory once it has been processed and paid.
If you are returning from leave and plan on renewing your licence, please contact our Registration team directly at registration@nscn.ca. More information about returning from leave can be found here.
If you are going on maternity or paternity leave, please review the information here.
If you are going to be off from work on an illness or injury leave of absence, please review the information here.
If you are planning to retire or resign during the 2023-2024 licensure period, visit our website here for more information.
If you plan to leave the province to work as a nurse elsewhere, please review the information here.