Who needs to go through NNAS
If you trained as a nurse outside Canada and want to register as a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed/Registered Practical Nurse (LPN/RPN) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) in any Canadian province or territory except Quebec, you must apply through NNAS first. Quebec uses its own process via the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), which is not covered by NNAS.
NNAS itself does not grant a licence. It produces a Nursing Education Advisory Report comparing your education, registration history and practice hours against Canadian nursing standards. Your chosen provincial or territorial regulator then uses that report to decide what, if anything, you still need to do before you can register — extra courses, a competency exam, supervised practice or none of the above.
The NNAS process step by step
- Create an NNAS account and select your target province or territory and nursing category (RN, LPN/RPN or RPN).
- Submit your documents — nursing degree/diploma transcripts, proof of registration/licensure in your home country, and a detailed practice hours document confirming recent clinical experience.
- Source verification — NNAS sends verification requests directly to your nursing school and regulatory body; this stage is often the longest because it depends on how quickly foreign institutions respond.
- Receive your Advisory Report, which NNAS forwards to the regulator(s) you selected.
- Apply to the provincial regulator (for example CNO or BCCNM), who reviews the report and confirms your registration requirements.
- Meet outstanding requirements — this may include the NCLEX-RN, a language test, a jurisprudence exam, or a bridging/refresher programme.
- Register and receive your practising licence.
Provincial and territorial regulators
Canada has 13 provincial and territorial nursing regulators, and each sets its own registration requirements on top of the shared NNAS assessment. Key examples include:
- College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) — Canada's largest jurisdiction for internationally educated nurses (IENs), with a well-established IEN registration pathway.
- BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) — regulates RNs, LPNs, RPNs and midwives in British Columbia under one body.
- College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA/CRNA) — Alberta's RN regulator, with a separate college for LPNs (CLPNA).
- College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and equivalents in Saskatchewan, the Atlantic provinces and the territories.
Requirements can differ meaningfully — some regulators require a Canadian jurisprudence exam or a period of supervised practice, others do not. Confirm current requirements directly with your target regulator before committing to a province.
Exams: NCLEX-RN and REx-PN explained
Canada switched from the old CRNE to the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) in 2015. It is a computer-adaptive exam covering safe and effective care, health promotion, psychosocial integrity and physiological integrity, delivered at Pearson VUE test centres. Most RN candidates, including internationally educated nurses, must pass NCLEX-RN before full RN registration.
For practical/vocational nurses, most provinces use the REx-PN (Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse) instead. Both exams assess Canadian entry-to-practice competencies, so many candidates benefit from a dedicated NCLEX or REx-PN prep course even with years of clinical experience.
Language requirements: IELTS and CELBAN
Unless you trained and practised recently in an approved English-speaking environment, you will need to prove English proficiency. Two tests are widely accepted:
- IELTS Academic — regulators typically require an overall band around 6.5–7.0, with minimum sub-scores in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses) — a nursing-specific test many regulators prefer because it uses healthcare scenarios and language.
French-speaking candidates targeting Quebec or bilingual roles elsewhere may need the TEF or TCF instead. Always check your specific regulator's accepted tests and minimum scores, as these are reviewed periodically.
Documents and verification
Expect to gather: certified nursing degree/diploma transcripts, official certificates of registration or good standing from every jurisdiction where you have practised, a signed practice hours verification form, government-issued ID, and language test results. NNAS verifies documents at source with your nursing school and regulator — delays here are the single biggest cause of a slow application, so start requesting these documents as early as possible, ideally before you formally apply.
Timelines and indicative costs
Once all documents are submitted and source verification completes, the NNAS Advisory Report is typically issued within a matter of weeks; the variable part is how long your former school and regulator take to respond to verification requests, which can range from a few weeks to several months. Allow 12–24 months from starting your NNAS application to holding a full practising licence, factoring in exam preparation, sitting NCLEX-RN or REx-PN, and any bridging requirements.
Indicative costs (confirm current fees on nnas.ca and your regulator's website): NNAS application from around CAD $650, provincial registration fees, NCLEX-RN exam fee (paid in USD via Pearson VUE), and CELBAN or IELTS test fees. Budget separately for travel, accommodation near a test centre, and any required refresher coursework.
Common pitfalls to avoid
The most frequent delays come from incomplete practice hours documentation, choosing the wrong nursing category at the outset, or applying to a province before checking its specific extra requirements. Switching your target province mid-process usually means paying additional fees and waiting for a fresh report. Decide on your target province early, and stick with it unless you have a strong reason to change.
How Ava Medical helps
As a WHO-code compliant agency, Ava Medical never charges nurses a fee. We help you choose the right province for your background, keep your NNAS and regulator applications moving, connect you with NCLEX-RN and CELBAN preparation resources, and match you to Canadian employers who sponsor your immigration once you are registration-ready. Get in touch with Ava Medical today to start your Canadian nursing journey with a clear, supported plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need NNAS if I want to work in Quebec?
No. Quebec has its own process through the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), separate from NNAS.
Can I apply to more than one province through NNAS?
Yes, you can select multiple regulators, but each additional jurisdiction has its own fee, so most candidates start with one target province.
Is CELBAN better than IELTS for nurses?
Many regulators accept either, but CELBAN is nursing-specific and some employers and colleges prefer it. Check your target regulator's current accepted tests before booking.
How long is the NNAS Advisory Report valid?
Advisory Reports and supporting documents typically have a validity window set by each regulator, often around two years — confirm with your chosen college as policies can change.
Do I need Canadian experience before I can register?
Not always. Some regulators accept recent international experience directly; others may require a period of supervised or bridging practice depending on your Advisory Report outcome.
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