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Internationally educated nurses

All internationally educated nurses (IENs) applicants must meet the mandatory requirements to be eligible for registration.

​​Registered nursing education and practice varies around the world. Based on evidence available, BCCNM accepts that nursing education and practice in some nations is largely comparable to RN practice in Canada. 

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



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, visas + work permits

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 if required, 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. Appl​y to BC​CNM​​

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.​​
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​​​​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:​​
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  • 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)
​

​​​​​​​​​​​Office hours

Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
(Closed statutory holidays)​

Address

900 – 200 Granville St
Vancouver, BC  V6C 1S4
Canada

Contact

info@bccnm​.ca
604.742.6200​
​Toll-free 1.866.880.7101 (within Canada only) ​

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​​Quick links

​​​​​​Territorial acknowledgement

We acknowledge the rights and title of the First Nations on whose collective unceded territories encompass the land base colonially known as British Columbia. We give specific thanks to the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking Peoples the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), on whose unceded territories BCCNM’s office is located. We also give thanks for the medicines of these territories and recognize that laws, governance, and health systems tied to these lands and waters have existed here for over 9000 years.

We also acknowledge the unique and distinct rights, including rights to health and wellness, of First Nations, Inuit​ and Métis peoples from elsewhere in Canada who now live in British Columbia. As leaders in the settler health system, we acknowledge our responsibilities to these rights under international, national, and provincial law.​

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