Alberta
Quick facts for internationally educated nurses. Pick your designation below. For the full step-by-step guide, start with Before You Apply.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Do you need NNAS?
No NNAS
Application cost
Included in account setup
Creating your account: $236.25
Yearly license cost
$504.00
Do you need NNAS here?
Key fact
No. Alberta lets you use other credential assessment services instead of NNAS.
Who licenses nurses here
The College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) handles RN and Nurse Practitioner licensing.
English test accepted
Only CELBAN or IELTS Academic are accepted — no other test. You can skip testing entirely if either applies: at least 2 years of nursing education where all theory and clinical training was in English, or at least 250 hours practised as a nurse somewhere healthcare is delivered in English.
- CELBAN: Listening 9, Writing 7, Reading 8, Speaking 8
- IELTS Academic: Listening 7.0, Writing 6.5, Reading 6.5, Speaking 7.0, Overall 7.0
Criminal record check
Every province requires a criminal record check as part of your application to them, not to NNAS. It's checked at the provincial regulator stage, after your NNAS step.
Heads up
It has to be dated within 6 months of your application, so timing matters. If you're applying from outside Canada, you generally need a separate check for every country you've lived in — not just your current one — which is easy to miss and can add real time if you don't plan for it. If your check comes back in a language other than English, you'll need an official certified translation.
Good to know
Accepted sources typically include your local police service, the RCMP, or an approved Canadian background screening company.
Good to know
For LPN applicants, the criminal record check goes through a named provider, Backcheck.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Do you need NNAS?
NNAS needed
IEN application fee
$340
Registration / licence
$350
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides of Alberta (CLHA) — formerly CLPNA. Both clpna.com and clha.com currently resolve.
- Do you need NNAS?: Required — NNAS or an educational credential assessment is accepted for IENs.
- IEN application fee: $340 (incl GST).
- Registration / permit fee: $350 (permits issued Jan 1–Jun 30) or $175 (Jul 1–Nov 30).
- Renewal: $350 (early September–Oct 31); $550 in the Nov 1–30 late window.
- Licensing exam: CPNRE — $610 total ($115 admin + $495 exam).
- Criminal record check: Through Backcheck.
Needs verification
Alberta publishes a separate English Language Requirements page for LPNs, but the exact accepted-test list wasn't captured in our research. Confirm the current accepted tests and scores with CLHA/CLPNA.
Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
Do you need NNAS?
NNAS needed
IEN application fee
$300+
Registration / licence
$575
The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA).
- Do you need NNAS?: Required — or the IEPN Expedited Credential Assessment pathway for eligible UK / Nigeria / Republic of Ireland graduates (about 96% of Alberta's IEPN applicants).
- Assessment fees: NNAS Report Review $300; Inspire Report Review $300; IEPN Expedited Credential Assessment $525; Administrative Processing $100.
- Registration permit (May 1–Apr 30): $575 practising or provisional; pro-rated (Nov 1–Apr 30) $287.50. Annual renewal $575.
- Licensing exam: RPNCE — $695 + taxes (paid to Meazure Learning). Application for Eligibility to Write $25.
- English test: IELTS Academic (Speaking 7, Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7, Overall 7); CELBAN (Speaking 8, Listening 10, Reading 8, Writing 7).
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.