Internationally educated NPs

Please follow the instructions based on the country of your NP​ education and/or initial registration:

• United States​

• All other nations - follow the instructions below.​​
  

Important information before you apply​​

​​Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for NP registration, you must:

• Establish eligibility for RN registration with BCCNM. You can submit your RN and NP applications at the same time.
• Be educated and registered in the adult, family or pediatric streams of practice.
• Have completed a Master's level nursing education program.
• Demonstrate that your Master's education and expecations for NP practice in your international jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to the Entry Level Competencies for NPs in Canada.
• Have successfully completed a recognized written examination​.
  
• Have completed your education and/or have practised at least 900 hours as an NP in the last three years.

If you do not meet this criteria, please contact us at register@bccnm.ca​ to speak with Registration Services about your specific circumstances.

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.  ​

How to apply

1. Apply for RN registration

Applicants must qualify for RN registration with BCCNM before they can be considered for NP registration. 

• Apply for RN registration.​
• You can submit your application for NP registration while your RN application is being processed.

2. Apply for NP registration

• Complete the Application for NP registration (internationally educated).
  
• You'll be asked to provide details about your NP education program, registration exam taken (if applicable), and your stream of NP practice.
• Submit your application and all supporting documents to register@bccnm.ca.

​3. ​Pay your NP application fee

Once you have submitted all required documents and information, we will send you instruction to pay your application fee.

4. Regulatory exam results

• We need a copy of your successful exam result. Please request that the Certification Board or nursing regulator in the province where you took the exam send your exam result directly to BCCNM at exams@bccnm.ca.
  

5. Practising registration + fees

If you meet the requirements, you will be eligible for practising NP registration.

• If you have provisional registration, your registration will automatically update in the online directory​ and limits and conditions on your practice will be removed.
• If you do not have provisional registration, you will be sent instructions to pay your registration fee​.
  
• You are not authorized to practice as a nurse practitioner in British Columbia until we send you an email confirming your registration. Once granted, your NP registration will appear in BCCNM's online directory​.​
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​​​​​​​​​​​​Assessing your application

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

​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.
  

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.
• Any history of unethical or dishonest behaviour
  
• Information from an educational institution, if applicable. 
  
• 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

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).

Education + competence

• ​Accepted education for NP registration includes BCCNM-recognized NP education programs​ and any program approved or recognized in other Canadian provinces or territories for the purpose of NP registration in Canada.
• By successfully completing a recognized Canadian NP education program in the last three years, you will meet both education and competence reqirements.

​English language proficiency

You will meet the English language proficiency requirement​ through successful completion of your NP education program in English. If French was the language of instruction for your NP education, we will require evidence of your English language proficiency, which can include:

• A reference from a nursing employer indicating your RN practice was predominantly in English-speaking settings and/or with English-speaking clients; or
• An approved English language proficiency test.​
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