Manitoba
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
$483 + $281.40
Application $483 (tax in) + skills assessment $281.40
Yearly license cost
$551.66
Do you need NNAS here?
Key fact
No — it's optional here. What's needed is an assessment of your nursing degree or diploma (an ECA, short for Educational Credential Assessment) from an approved service.
Who licenses nurses here
RN, LPN, and RPN each have their own separate licensing office. This page covers the RN office, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM). LPNs and RPNs need the matching Manitoba college for their type.
English test accepted
The widest list: CELBAN, IELTS Academic, IELTS General, OET, PTE Academic, or CELPIP. If you finished your RN registration within 2 years of graduating, you may not need a test at all.
- 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.
Needs verification
The exact accepted provider list for your criminal record check wasn't individually confirmed for this province in our research. Confirm on CRNM's own site before relying on a specific vendor.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Do you need NNAS?
NNAS needed
IEN application fee
$315
Registration / licence
$745.50
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM). RN, LPN, and RPN each have their own separate Manitoba college.
- Do you need NNAS?: Required, via NNAS Expedited Service.
- Credential assessment application: $315 (incl GST).
- Initial enrolment + active practising registration: $745.50 (incl GST).
- Licensing exam: CPNRE — $630 (incl GST).
- English test: CELBAN, Academic IELTS, OET, TEF, PTE, or CELPIP.
- Criminal record check: Canada-wide check with vulnerable-sector search $65; Manitoba child abuse registry check $20; adult abuse registry check $20.
- Also budget for: Professional liability protection $73 + GST.
Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
Do you need NNAS?
NNAS needed
IEN application fee
$262.50
Registration / licence
$752.85
The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM).
- Do you need NNAS?: Required — the mandatory first step.
- IEN application + NNAS report assessment: $262.50 ($250 + GST); initial online application $105.
- Certificate of Practice (2026): $752.85 ($717 + GST); pro-rated (Apr 1–Dec 31) down to $188.22. Renewal $752.85 (2027: $786.45).
- Licensing exam: RPNCE — $695 + GST.
- Also budget for: Professional liability protection (2026) $71.40.
Needs verification
Manitoba publishes an English Language Proficiency Requirement page for RPNs, but the exact accepted-test scores weren't captured in our research. Confirm with CRPNM.
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.