NNAS Advisory Reports are released within 1 business day of all documents being received for applicants applying to NANB.
In Canada, the differences between the nursing professions are in (1) the type of education and training required; and the (2) “scope of practice.”
Canada’s Nursing Professions:
Nursing in Canada includes three regulated nursing professions as
- Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Starting with the NNAS process, you can seek a license to practice as RPN; RN; LPN.
Registered Psychiatric Nursing is a regulated profession in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In these provinces, becoming an RPN usually requires 2.5–4 years
of nursing education at the college or university level. RPN programs include theoretical and clinical training in psychiatric and general nursing.
Registered Nurse: Becoming a Registered Nurse in Canada usually requires a four-year university program that leads to a nursing degree. The program includes theory and clinical instruction in medical and surgical nursing. An RN is a generalist nurse with the skills to work with all types of patients and in all clinical settings. Some RNs specialize in a particular type of nursing.
Licensed Practical Nurse: Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada usually requires a 2–3-year college program leading to a nursing diploma. Training includes theory and clinical instruction in medical and surgical nursing. An LPN is a generalist nurse with the skills to work with all types of patients and in a variety of clinical settings. Some LPNs specialize in a particular type of nursing, although their scope of practice is more limited than that of an RN
In Ontario, the term Registered Practical Nurse is used instead of Licensed Practical Nurse.
WHAT IS NNAS?
NNAS is a non-profit organization whose membership is composed of 18 Nursing Regulatory Bodies across Canada. It includes all Nursing Regulatory Bodies in Canada except those in Quebec, Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories. NNAS is the first stop Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) make on their journey to practice nursing in Canada.
IS NNAS GRANT LICENCES?
- NNAS does not grant licenses to practice nursing.
- NNAS does not have a role in making decisions about licenses, nor can NNAS advocate on behalf of any applicant.
- Only Nursing Regulatory Bodies have the authority to decide whether an application is successful.
LIST OF NURSING REGULATORY BODIES
Nursing Regulatory Bodies in each province set the registration criteria.
| Nursing Regulatory Bodies |
| British Columbia British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) – RN, LPN & RPN |
| Alberta College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) – RN College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) – LPN College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) – RPN |
| Saskatchewan College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) – RN Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) – LPN Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS) – RPN |
| Manitoba College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) – RN The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM) – LPN The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) – RPN |
| Ontario College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) – RN & LPN |
| Nova Scotia Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) – RN & LPN |
| New Brunswick Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB) – RN Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses (ANBLPN) – LP |
| Prince Edward Island College of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island (CRNPEI) – RN College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Prince Edward Island (CLPNPEI) – LPN |
| Newfoundland & Labrador College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador (CRNNL) – RN College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador (CLPNNL) – LPN |
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF NNAS?
NNAS is responsible for:
- Receiving and verifying your identity documents
- Receiving and verifying documents about your nursing credentials
- Comparing your credentials to Canadian credentials, which are known as Entry to Practice Competencies
- Collecting and verifying your nursing employment history and your previous nursing registration and licenses
- Issuing an Advisory Report
NNAS will transfer to CGFNS International the documents that you share with NNAS. CGFNS will review your documents, following the policies set by NNAS. You can view NNAS’s Assessment Policies at Assessment Policies – National Nursing Assessment Service (nnas.ca)
CGFNS keep your personal information and documents in its secure database. You may also be required to submit information directly to CGFNS.
Who Must Apply to NNAS?
If you are an IEN who is licensed as an LPN in Canada and want to be considered for licensing as an RN, contact the Regulatory Body to which you wish to apply to find out about any education that might be available to you before applying to NNAS.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
- Completed a post-secondary nursing education program (university or college) outside of Canada
- Never worked as a licensed nurse in Canada in the profession to which you are applying
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN NNAS Applicant?
- True and Complete Documents
- Please read the eligibility requirements before submitting payment to NNAS. NNAS does not provide refunds.
- Before you apply, make sure you are ready to complete the process within one year.
- Please review the differences among the nursing professions in Canada.
- We encourage you apply to at least two professions to keep your options open.
- Please review the specific requirements of the Nursing Regulatory Bodies to which you want to apply before you start the process.
- You are considered to be an applicant to NNAS only after you have opened an account and paid your fees.
About Your Application:
- The process begins with the Main Application Order.
- With the Main Application Order, you can request an Advisory Report for one nursing profession (RN, LPN, or RPN) and one province.
- Your Main Application Order remains open for 12 months from the date you submit the application.
- During that time, you can request an Advisory Report for additional professions and provinces.
- If we do not receive all of your required documents within the 12-month period, your application will expire (including requests for Advisory Reports for additional professions and provinces made after you opened your Main Application Order).
- For a fee, you can reactivate an expired Main Application Order within 12 months after it expires.
- After these 12 months, you can no longer reactivate your application, but you may start the process again with a new Main Application Order.
Appeals
You can submit a written request to NNAS for an appeal to reconsider elements of your evaluation that you believe were misrepresented or under-evaluated. NNAS will review your case and send you a written response. Appeals should be launched within 60 days of the Advisory Report being issued. If your appeal is successful, your fee will be refunded.
Required Documents from Third Parties
- Nursing Education Form
- Download
- printed
- mailed to your school
- Nursing Practice/Employment Form
- Download
- printed
- mailed to all your nursing employer(s) for nursing positions held during the past five years.
- Nursing Registration Form
- Download
- printed
- mailed to your licensing authority
Monitoring the Status of Your Application
You will be able to monitor the status of your application through the Application Portal. This allows you to:
- Monitor when documents are received by NNAS
- Monitor the status of your application as it moves through the process
Some common stages:
- Waiting for Required Documents
- Ready for Review
- Ready for Final Review
- Report Issued
FEE SCHEDULE:
| Order Type | Cost |
| Main Application Order | $ 650 |
| Advisory Report for another Province | $55 |
| Evaluation for a different nursing profession (RN, LPN, RPN) | $220 |
| Reactivation of an expired Main Application | $180 |
| Porting your Advisory Report to a first Regulatory Body | $45 |
| Porting your Advisory Report to an additional Regulatory Body | $23 (within 24 hours of the Advisory Report being issued) $45 (after 24 hours of the Advisory Report being issued) |
| Document translation by NNAS | $85 per page |
| Appeals to NNAS (refundable if appeal is successful) | $500 |
DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST:
| Required Document | Who Submits it to NNAS? |
| Two forms of identification | Applicant |
| Nursing Education Form, official transcript, and syllabus/course description | Nursing Education Institution |
| Employment Form | Employers for all nursing positions held during the last five years |
| Nursing Registration Form | Official authorized to provide registration/licensing information |
Expedited Service of NNAS 2024
SIMPLE, FAST and SAFE WAY for IENs.
NNAS’s Expedited Service provides a simple, fast and safe way to review the credentials of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) applying to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Canada. Under this service, applicants can apply for licensing as an RN or LPN at the same time and at a single price.
- NNAS Advisory Reports are released within 5 business days* of all documents being received. No curricular assessment is required.
Who is Eligible to Apply to NNAS’s Expedited Service?
You are eligible to apply to NNAS’s Expedited Service if you have:
- Completed a post-secondary nursing education program (university or college) outside of Canada.
- Have been licensed as a nurse outside of Canada.
- Will be applying with any of the following nursing regulatory bodies:
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM)
- College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS)
- College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of Prince Edward Island (CRNMPEI)
- Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB)
- Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN)
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (CLPNNL)
- College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (CRNNL)
- British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
- Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN)
- Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses (ANBLPN)
Existing NNAS applicants who meet the above criteria will be automatically transferred to the Expedited Service.
*NNAS Advisory Reports are released within 1 business day of all documents being received for applicants applying to NANB.
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