After Your Report
Your NNAS report is issued — here's what the result means, what tends to happen next, and where you go from here.
What your result actually means
Your NNAS report will describe your education as Comparable, Somewhat Comparable, or Not Comparable to Canadian nursing education standards. This comes from a process called content analysis — comparing your curriculum against the Canadian Entry to Practice Competencies.
Key fact
NNAS does not decide whether you're qualified — it only produces this comparison. These descriptions are not a decision. The regulatory body you apply to reviews your full application, not just this one label, and they're the ones who actually decide what happens next.
Key fact
Whatever result you get, proceed with your application to your regulatory body anyway — that's NNAS's own official guidance. A lower result doesn't mean stop; it means your path forward looks a bit different, not that there isn't one.
What typically happens next, by result
Heads up
What follows is the general pattern reported by applicants, not a guarantee. Regulators vary quite a bit here — your own regulatory body's website is the source that actually applies to you.
- Comparable: Often means you can proceed straight to your licensing exam. Worth knowing, though — some regulators still require additional assessment even with a Comparable result. It's not an automatic bypass everywhere.
- Somewhat Comparable: Sometimes means extra courses are required; sometimes the regulator authorizes you to proceed to the exam directly anyway. It depends entirely on the regulator.
- Not Comparable: Usually leads to one of two paths — specific gap-filling courses based on a list the regulator gives you, or a formal Competency Assessment Program. Both are real, common paths that lead to licensure, not dead ends.
What happens to your report itself
- Your report stays downloadable in your NNAS account for 1 year from the date it's issued.
- If you used the Expedited Service, your report is automatically sent to whichever regulators you selected when you applied — and you can't add new ones after it's issued.
- If you used the Regular Service, your report can be redirected to a different regulator for the same profession within 12 months, if your plans change.
If you think your assessment was wrong
You can appeal. Submit a written request to NNAS if you believe your assessment was inaccurate, and NNAS will review your case and respond in writing.
Needs verification
There's an appeal fee — roughly $500 — but the exact amount and currency depends on your service type and profession. Confirm the current figure in your own NNAS account before submitting an appeal, rather than relying on a number here.
Your next step is the province
Whatever result you received, your next move is applying directly to your chosen province's regulator. That's where the fees, the criminal record check, and everything else specific to that province come in.
Good to know
Your employer may pay this back. Once you're licensed and working, many Canadian employers reimburse your annual license renewal fee, either fully or in part. This is common in unionized health authority positions and is often written into the collective agreement, but it's rarely advertised, so a lot of nurses never claim it.
Two places to ask: your employer's HR or benefits department, and your union representative. If you're unionized, check your collective agreement directly — look for professional fees, licensing, or professional development.
Worth doing early. Some employers require you to submit the claim within a set window after you pay, so knowing the process before your next renewal is better than finding out after.