New Brunswick
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?
NNAS needed
Application cost
$500 + tax
Application
Yearly license cost
$375 + tax
Do you need NNAS here?
Yes. NNAS results are needed before applying here. You also register first with New Brunswick's IEN Navigation Service, which guides internationally educated nurses through the process.
Who licenses nurses here
The College of Nursing of New Brunswick (CNNB) handles RN and Nurse Practitioner licensing. LPNs have their own separate office.
English test accepted
CNNB requires an approved language test, and also accepts two non-test routes: being currently or recently registered as a nurse in another Canadian jurisdiction, or recent nursing work experience where English or French was the main working language.
Needs verification
The exact list of approved tests wasn't publicly available when this was researched. Email reg-imm@cnnb-opinb.ca to confirm the current accepted tests before you book one.
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 CNNB's own site before relying on a specific vendor.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Do you need NNAS?
NNAS needed
IEN application fee
$230
Registration / licence
$325
The Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses (ANBLPN).
- Do you need NNAS?: Required — select LPN on the NNAS application (Expedited accepted). You must also register with the government IEHP Navigation Service first, and pass the NB Jurisprudence exam before submitting.
- Application fee: $230 (non-refundable). Jurisprudence module $40.
- Provisional / graduate licence: $51.75.
- Licensing exam: CPNRE — invoiced $842.75–$1,105.25 (varies by month; includes prorated active-licence fees; exam $600 + $65.25 admin are non-refundable).
- Renewal: Active Registration $325 (licensure year Dec 1–Nov 30; renew Oct 1–Nov 30).
- Education upgrading: Pathways to Licensure from $287.50 — can escalate to a Re-Entry program (~$6,000+) or a full 2-year PN diploma.
- English test: IELTS, TEF, CELBAN, or equivalent.
- Criminal record check: Current within the past 3 months.
Heads up
ANBLPN publishes a stated minimum total to become licensed of about $1,450 (taxes included) — and that's before NNAS's own fees, English testing, or any education upgrading.
Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
Registered Psychiatric Nurse isn't a separately regulated profession in New Brunswick. RPN as a distinct profession exists only in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
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.