Internationally educated nurses

Important information before you apply

Assessing for LPN and RN registration at one time

There are four nursing professions in British Columbia: licensed practical nurses (LPNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), registered nurses (RNs) and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs). BCCNM automatically assesses most IENs for both RN and LPN registration. This means:

After assessing your application, BCCNM will provide the steps you need to take to be eligible for RN or LPN registration.
You can choose whether you want to enter the healthcare workforce as an LPN while completing the requirements for RN registration, without having to reapply.

Immigration

We strongly recommend that you have the permits required to legally work in Canada before you apply to BCCNM to avoid delays in processing your application. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website or the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program for more information.

Registration process costs

The majority of fees have either been waived due to government funding, or are available for reimbursement through the Internationally Educated Nurse Bursary Program.

Credentialling, language, and competence	Fees
Inspire Global Assessments application	No cost to applicant
Credential assessment	$120-$650 Eligible for reimbursement through IEN Bursary Program
English language proficiency (if needed)	$300-$395 Eligible for reimbursement through IEN Bursary Program
Competency assessment	No cost for applicants enrolled in the IEN Bursary Program Or $3000

REGISTRATION Costs	Fees
BCCNM registration application	No cost to applicant Fee paid by Government of British Columbia
Transitional education (if needed)	Variable Eligible for reimbursement through IEN Bursary Program
Registration exam	REx-PN (LPN exam): $350+GST NCLEX (RN exam): $360+GST
BCCNM practising registration	$737.30
Professional liability protection	$123.00 or $55.00 Learn more

Scams targeting IEN applicants

Please be wary of any agencies or individuals who are offering to complete applications to BCCNM and Inspire for a fee. These agencies are not endorsed by BCCNM or Inspire and should not be used by applicants. Applications must be competed and submitted by the person applying for registration.

How to apply

To work through the registration process as quickly as possible, we recommend that you apply/complete the requirements for BCCNM and Inspire at the same time.

1A. Apply to Inspire Global Assessments

Apply to Inspire Global Assessments (Inspire). Inspire will confirm your identity and evaluate your English language proficiency, your education credentials, and your nursing skills and knowledge through a competency assessment. Inspire will provide this information to BCCNM, and we will review it as part of our assessment.

1B. Apply to BCCNM

Create a BCCNM account (if you haven't already) and apply for practising registration.

2. Confirmation of employment and registration

We need to confirm any employment and registrations you listed on your application. Registration Services will provide instructions and forms to send to employers and nursing regulators. Forms must be sent to BCCNM directly from the employer or regulator and must be completed in English.

3. Registration decision + final requirements

We will review your application when all documents have been submitted and Inspire has sent us your applicant package.
Your registration decision will be based on an assessment of your application, including your education, nursing experience, any gaps in practice, and competency assessment results.
We will send you the final requirements you must complete before you are eligible for practising registration. All applicants will need to pass the regulatory exam and do some additional education.

4. Transitional education or coursework

To help ensure you can practice safely and competently in the B.C. healthcare system, you will need to complete additional education to become registered with BCCNM.
Education requirements will depend on education needs identified during our assessment of your application. They can range from one course to familiarize yourself with the Canadian health system to a more substantial re-entry program.
If you have limited nursing experience or have been away from practice for a long time, it’s more likely that you’ll have complete a re-entry program.
When you have finished your additional education or coursework, please ask the school to send confirmation of your course completion to IENapplications@bccnm.ca.

5. Regulatory exam + provisional registration

Once you have completed your education or coursework, we will send you instructions to register for the regulatory exam: REx-PN (LPNs) or NCLEX-RN (RNs).

Optional: If you have completed all your final requirements except the regulatory exam, you will be eligible for provisional registration. If you want provisional registration, we will send you instructions to pay your registration fee. You are not authorized to practice as a nurse until you are listed in the online directory.

6. Practising registration + fees

After you pass the regulatory exam, you will be eligible for practising registration.

If you have provisional registration, your registration will automatically update in the online directory.
If you do not have provisional registration, you will sent instructions to pay your registration fee. You are not authorized to practice as a nurse until you are listed in the online directory.

Assessing your application

When we assess your application for registration, we consider the following:

Nursing education

We review the NNAS advisory report, which provides information about the comparability of your nursing education to Canadian nursing education programs.

Good character

Good character refers to a combination of personal qualities and traits, such as

moral or ethical strength
Integrity, candour, empathy and honesty
An appreciation of the difference between right and wrong
The moral fibre to do that which is right and not to do that which is wrong

When determining whether you are of good character, we review:

The circumstances around any previous criminal charges and/or convictions, the results of your criminal record check, and any other information you wish to have considered related to the same, if applicable.
The completeness, correctness, and accuracy of the information you provided on the application form or in any communication with BCCNM.
Current or previous regulatory history, including any past investigation, resolution, and/or discipline.
Information related to current and/or previous employment.
Information from an educational institution, if applicable.
Any history of unethical or dishonest behaviour
A self-reflection of the circumstances, learnings, and growth since the events, or actions taken, that indicate a possible lack of good character.

Fitness to practice nursing

Fitness to practice refers to the absence of any physical or mental ailment, emotional disturbance, or addiction that may impair your ability to practise. When determining whether you are fit to engage in nursing practice, we review:

Self-disclosure of a physical or mental ailment, an emotional disturbance, or an addiction that could impair your ability to practise.
Information from previous employer(s).
Information regarding any previous registration cancellation or voluntary relinquishment of registration.
Any current or past regulatory investigations.
Information regarding any current or previous limits and/or conditions placed on your practice.
Information from treating physician(s) or specialist(s) who can provide an opinion as to your current health status, any recommendations for safe entrance into the profession, and your fitness to practise nursing (we only request this information in certain circumstances).

Competence

When determining whether you are competent to practise as a nurse in B.C., we review:

All relevant nursing practice experience
Results of the NCAS assessment report
Any other experience working in the Canadian health care system
Continuing education in nursing
Consolidation of knowledge
Any periods of non-practice

English language proficiency

If English is not the primary language you use for reading, writing, listening, and speaking, you will be required to demonstrate your English language proficiency. If there is any indication during the assessment of your application your proficiency is not conducive to safe practice, we may require an English language test. When assessing your English language proficiency, BCCNM reviews:

Your first language.
Language test results (if taken).
Information from your nursing education institution.
Information from your employer(s).
Additional evidence of English proficiency (i.e. references from regulated health professionals)

Internationally educated nurses

Important information before you apply​​

How to apply

​​​​Assessing your application

Important information before you apply

Assessing your application