Nurse from another Canadian province/territory

• Create a BCCNM account

• Fill in all the fields

• Remember your email address and password. (You will use them every time you sign in.)

• Click continue

• Write down your BCCNM ID number. (You will need it for verifying your registration on the Public Register.)

• Sign in to your BCCNM account with the email address and password you used to create an account.

• Complete the online application form by:

• Verifying the information you provided when you created your BCCNM account

• Consenting to a criminal record check

• Providing information related to your character & fitness to practise nursing

• Providing information related to your nursing education

• Providing information related to your current/previous nursing/healthcare employment, if applicable.

• Providing information related to all current/previous regulatory organizations at which you hold/held registration/licensure 

• Acknowledging that you have read and understand all the consent and declaration requirements, including declaring that all information you have provided is true and accurate.​

​Submit payment using one of the secure online payment options. Read more about fees and payment options​.

• Visit a lawyer or notary public to request that he or she notarizes your identity documents (two valid government issued IDs, e.g., driver's license, provincial health care card, passport). One ID must include a picture.

• Upload a scanned PDF of the notarized identity documents or submit them as photos (.jpg or .png files) in the application or by email after your application is submitted.

• Verification of Registration Form from the Canadian jurisdiction(s) you are/were registered

• Employment ​Verification Form(s)​ for each of your nursing employers within the last five years

• If you are not currently registered in another jurisdiction, we will also require an original transcript from nursing education program recognized in the province you were formerly registered with. Your regulatory body may provide a certified true copy of transcripts.​​

BCCNM will begin the assessment of your application when we have received:

• your application

• applicable fees

• required documents

As we assess your application, we will send you updates by email and let you know if we need more information to complete the assessment.

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

Good Character

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 

• Current or previous registration history, including any past investigation, resolution, and/or discipline

• Information related to current and/or previous employment

Fitness to Practise Nursing

When determining whether you are fit to engage in practical nursing practice, we review:

• Self-disclosure of a physical or mental ailment, an emotional disturbance or an addiction to alcohol or drugs that could impair your ability to practise

• Information from previous employer(s) disclosing the same, if applicable

• Information regarding any previous registration cancellation or voluntary relinquishment of registration related to the same, if applicable

• Information regarding any limits and/or conditions placed on your practice from current/previous registration

• 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/Continuing Competence

There are a few ways of showing competence to practice, including successful completion of one of the following, in the last five years:

• Providing evidence of satisfactory practical nursing practice (1,125 practice hours as an LPN)

• Providing evidence of successful completion of a practical nurse education program recognized by BCCNM or another Canadian practical nursing regulatory body (either entry, re-entry, or refresher)

• Completing a competency assessment by the Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS), and any additional education required by the Registration Committee following review of the NCAS report 

If you were not educated in Canada and are applying from a Canadian jurisdiction with different requirements for demonstrating substantial equivalent competence then BCCNM, and have not practised as an LPN or completed additional recognized practical nursing education, you will be required to undergo a competence assessment and/or additional training, experience or examination to be eligible for registration in BC.

English Language Proficiency

If English is not the first language you learned at home in childhood and the language primarily used for reading, writing, listening and speaking, you will be required to demonstrate your English language proficiency. All Canadian nursing regulators have the same English language proficiency requirements, so by meeting the requirements in another jurisdiction, you will be considered to have met this requirement for registration with BCCNM. However, if there is any indication during the assessment of your application that your proficiency is not conducive to safe practice, we will require an English language test. 

Visit the English Language Proficiency page for more information on meeting this requirement.​

Once we determine you have met all the requirements and are ready to grant registration, we will notify you by email. You will then be asked to sign in to your BCCNM account, and make a payment using one of the secure online payment options.

BCCNM accepts the following payment methods:

Once you pay the practising registration fee and before going to work as an LPN in BC, check the Public Register to confirm BCCNM has authorized you to practise nursing. 

Remember the expiry date of your registration. Without current registration, it is an offence under the Health Professions Act and a breach of the LPN Standards of Practice​ to use any variation of the LPN title or to practise nursing in BC. BCCNM charges a $300 fee for unregistered practice.​