Canada Pathway: Licensure & Permanent Residency for IENs
🇨🇦 Canada Pathway: Licensure & Permanent Residency
The process is licensure-first, followed by the job hunt and immigration (PR).
Phase 1: National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)
The National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) is the mandatory starting point for most IENs. NNAS is responsible for verifying the authenticity of your educational and professional credentials.
| Step | Action | Requirement & Note |
| 1. Create an NNAS Account | Register on the NNAS online portal and select the province(s) you intend to apply to (e.g., Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia). | The NNAS fee (approx. $650 CAD) is paid upfront. You must agree to their terms and conditions. |
| 2. Submit Required Documents | This is the longest step. You must have your nursing school transcripts, original registration documents, and employment verification sent directly by the issuing authority to NNAS. | No documents submitted by the IEN are accepted. Everything must be verified directly from the source to NNAS. |
| 3. Receive the Advisory Report | NNAS completes its review, which assesses how your nursing education compares to the Canadian standard, and sends a comprehensive report to the provincial regulatory body you selected. | The report will usually indicate areas where your education may be considered “substantially different” from the Canadian standard. |
Phase 2: Provincial Regulatory Body & Competency
Once the NNAS report is forwarded, the specific provincial regulator (e.g., College of Nurses of Ontario – CNO) takes over the application.
| Step | Action | Key Requirement |
| 4. Meet Language Proficiency | You must demonstrate proficiency in English or French. While you can take the test at any time, the scores are submitted directly to the provincial regulator (not NNAS). | IELTS Academic: Overall 7.0 (with minimum scores for each band, typically 6.5 to 7.0). OR CELBAN: Listening 9, Reading 8, Writing 7, Speaking 8. |
| 5. Competency Assessment | The regulator reviews the NNAS report and assesses your current competency. This may result in one of three outcomes: 1) Direct Eligibility to write the licensing exam (rare); 2) Requirement for a Bridging Program (typically 6 to 18 months of study); or 3) Supervised Practice Experience (a placement program to demonstrate current skill). | National Competency Assessment Service (NCAS) is often used in Western Canada (BC, Alberta) to evaluate gaps. |
| 6. Pass the Licensing Exam | After meeting all educational and competency requirements, you must pass the Canadian licensing exam. | NCLEX-RN. This exam is used across almost all Canadian provinces for Registered Nurses. |
| 7. Final Registration | You complete the provincial jurisprudence exam, pay the final registration fee, and are granted a Practising Licence to work as an RN in that province. | Provincial Regulatory Body Licence. Your name is added to the public register. |
Phase 3: Immigration to Permanent Residency (PR)
Once you are licensed, you become a highly valuable candidate for Canadian immigration.
| Step | Action | Key Advantage |
| 8. Find Employment | Hospitals, Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities, and home health agencies hire licensed RNs. Your employer will support your work permit application (e.g., through a Labour Market Impact Assessment – LMIA). | High Demand. Nurses are on the Critical Skills/Occupation list nationwide, making job offers and visa processing a priority. |
| 9. Apply for PR | After obtaining one year of full-time work experience in Canada, you become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) within the federal Express Entry system. | Category-Based Draws. The federal government holds specific draws targeting candidates in healthcare occupations (NOC 31301/32101). For instance, in late 2025, cut-off scores for healthcare draws were significantly lower than general draws (e.g., 462-475 CRS). |
… How to Become a Nurse in Canada (IEN Step by Step 2025) …
This video provides an excellent visual and detailed explanation of the complex steps involved, from the NNAS to the provincial registration process, for IENs aiming to become a nurse in Canada in 2025.
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