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.
About Renewal
The licence renewal period opens on September 4, 2024, and will close on October 31, 2024. To be eligible to practise on November 1, 2024, you must renew your licence before the renewal period ends.
Please note: The annual renewal process does not apply to you if you are in the expedited process waiting for a licence. It also does not apply to you if you only hold a 4-month conditional licence.
Dates to Remember in 2024
Watch our licence renewal video here to learn more about important dates.
- September 4, 2024: The renewal period opens. First day to renew your licence.
- October 9, 2024: Deadline to be entered into the Early Bird Licence Renewal Contest for a chance to win the amount of your licensure fee.
- October 31, 2024: The renewal period and online renewal portal close. Applications received after the end of the business day on October 31 may not be processed until November 1. All applications (including payment) received after this date are subject to a late fee.
- November 1, 2024: Renewals submitted on or after this date are subject to a late fee. Working without an active licence may be considered professional misconduct and subject to a complaint.
Scroll down this page or click on the link below for information on the licence renewal period.
NSCN Registrant Portal
Renewal Resources
Your Accountability
As a self-regulated professional, it is your responsibility to renew your licence before the expiration date 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 even for a day is illegal and will result in a warning letter, fine, or professional conduct complaint.
Practising without a licence can result in:
- Written Warning
The warning will be placed on your file.
- Fine for Practising Without a Licence
The Nursing Act Section 66 (1) authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to fine the registrant an amount set out in the NSCN By-Laws (Section 5.1) .
- Referral to Professional Conduct Services Complaints Committee
The Nursing Act Section 66 (3) authorizes the Chief Executive Officer to refer the matter to the Complaints Committee if the fine is not paid.
The Complaints Committee may direct the Chief Executive Officer to suspend the registrant’s licence or suspend the ability of the registrant to obtain a licence until the fine is paid, and/or order other fees.
If you have any questions on practising without a licence, please contact registration@nscn.ca.
NSCN offers a multitude of ways to 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.
Supports Available on our Website
We developed a comprehensive list of online resources to support you during the renewal period. The answers to your questions may already be available on our website. Stay tuned for our new renewal guide that provides all the information you need on how to renew your licence!
- Go to the NSCN Portal page here.
- Log in with your email and password. If you have forgotten your password, request a password reset by clicking ‘Forgot your password.’
If you forget the email associated with your NSCN profile, please contact registration@nscn.ca. Please do not create a new account.
- 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.
- Log in to the portal using your email and password.
- Select the ‘My Profile’ tab on the left-hand side of the window.
- Select the ‘Edit Profile’ button and update the information you wish to change.
If NSCN staff approval is required, they will be notified and approve your changes and the information will be active on your profile.
- Go to Search for a Nurse directory.
- Enter your first and last name in the applicable fields.
- Click search.
- Your registration number will be noted below your name.
To access your receipt, log in to the portal using your email and password.
On your main page, under ‘invoices’ choose ‘include paid’. You can then see your receipt for your current licensure year.
The Licence Renewal Application is now available through the registrant portal. You can follow the below instructions:
- Login to the registrant portal here.
- Under the heading “Complete my Renewal” click the “Apply” 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.
- Login to the registrant portal here
Click on the renewal invoice under “My Invoices” on the right-hand side of the window.
- If all renewal requirements are met and the fee is paid, your renewal is automatic.
- If there outstanding requirements, NSCN staff will review your application and advise you of next steps.
- Use your new name if you have received confirmation from us that records have been updated.
- Use your former name if you have not submitted a name change request or have yet to receive confirmation from NSCN that your records have been updated.
- You can find instructions on how to change your name on this page under the 'How do I make changes to my profile?' section.
- You are not eligible to practice or work on November 1, 2023.
- Practicing without a license may be considered professional misconduct.
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Renewals after October 31 are subject to a $57.50 reactivation fee.
You will be notified by email when your licence has been renewed.
NSCN also a public directory on our website titled ‘Search for a Nurse’ that can be accessed here.
Nurses, employers, members of the public and other stakeholders can use this tool to confirm that a nurse is licenced by searching a nurse’s name or registration number. They will be able to see details including current registration, effective date and other information.
Please note: The current licence will only be visible in the directory once it has been processed and paid. If you are trying to view the 2024-2025 licence prior to the October 31 deadline, you have to click on the ‘i’ or details to see the future date licence.
Effective immediately the payroll deduction process has concluded and NSCN will no longer accept lump sum payroll deduction payments from employers. Please contact your employer if you were previously enrolled in payroll deduction and have questions regarding deductions.
Why is the process ending?
As part of NSCN’s ongoing process reviews, we found that employer and NSCN systems are not compatible. There are however, other payment options that are more immediate and reliable that allow for convenient payment alternatives to employer payroll deduction.
There are a number of payment options that provide nurses with a more streamlined application renewal experience, including the ability to pay by pre-authorized debit, credit card, cheque or e-transfer. You will find more about payment options here.
To make a payment, log in to the portal using your email and password. On your main page, select the ‘$’ for the invoice you wish to pay. Click the ‘pay’ button once you open the invoice. Please note: credit card is the only online payment option.
If all requirements have been met, your licence will be processed as soon as your payment has been submitted. You can verify that your licence has been renewed using our Search for a Nurse tool. You will be able to see details including current registration, effective date and other information.
What to Do If You Have Not Received an Invoice
Do not worry. In some cases, if there are outstanding requirements, NSCN staff are required to review your application and the payment process is not automatic. You will receive an email stating that you have an invoice in your portal profile when it is available.
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.
If you are an IEN who was issued a practising licence, you may opt not to renew your licence because:
- You have not yet arrived in Canada.
- You may be living in Canada but are not currently in Nova Scotia.
- You may be living in Canada but may not have the necessary documents to work as a nurse in Nova Scotia.
If your situation falls under these categories:
You are not required to renew your licence. You will be maintained in our register, however, your licensure status on the Search for a Nurse will indicate that you do not hold a current practising licence as of November 1, the start of the licensure year.
When you arrive in Canada or obtain the necessary documentation to start employment in Nova Scotia, you must obtain a licence before your employment start date. Apply for a licence upon your arrival or return to Nova Scotia.