Nova Scotia
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
$570
Application (total)
Yearly license cost
$565.50
Do you need NNAS here?
Yes, for most applicants. Nova Scotia used to offer a faster track for nurses from seven specific countries, but that's been paused for new applicants since January 2025 — so the regular NNAS route is currently the way in.
Who licenses nurses here
One office — the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR) — handles RN, LPN, RPN, and midwife licensing. This office recently changed its name from the Nova Scotia College of Nursing; if “NSCN” shows up on an older page, that's the same office.
English test accepted
CELBAN, IELTS Academic, OET, or PTE Academic. There's also an employer-confirmation option based on recent English-language healthcare work.
- 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 NSNMR's own site before relying on a specific vendor.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Do you need NNAS?
NNAS needed
IEN application fee
$342
Registration / licence
$371.64
The Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR) — formerly the Nova Scotia College of Nursing; the same regulator as RN (rebrand effective June 30, 2026).
- Do you need NNAS?: Required for internationally educated LPN applicants who don't qualify for direct/expedited pathways. IEN RNs seeking an LPN licence are handled case-by-case — email registration before applying. US-licensed nurses and applicants with a confirmed NS job offer from designated countries may bypass NNAS.
- International LPN application / assessment: $342 ($300 base + $42 HST).
- Practising licence (Nov 1–Oct 31): $371.64 ($319 + $7 liability + $45.64 HST); pro-rated half-year $189.24; 4-month conditional $58.14. Annual renewal $371.64.
- Licensing exam: CPNRE — $695.40 ($610 + $85.40 HST, reflecting NS's 14% HST from April 1, 2025).
- English test: CELBAN, IELTS Academic, OET, or PTE Academic. CELPIP, IELTS Indicator, and PTE Core are NOT accepted. Valid 2 years.
- Criminal record check: Expires 6 months after completion.
Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
Registered Psychiatric Nurse isn't a separately regulated profession in Nova Scotia. 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.