If you want to work abroad as a nurse, Canada is a strong option. The country continues to admit hundreds of thousands of new permanent residents each year, and registered nurses remain in demand. According to Canada’s Job Bank, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses are expected to face a strong risk of labor shortage nationally over the 2024–2033 period. Wages vary by province, territory, and employer, but the national hourly range for registered nurses was $30.00 to $54.37, with a median of $43.27, for the 2023–2024 reference period.
Canada has two official languages, English and French. English is widely used in many provinces and territories, while French is especially important in Quebec and in some Francophone communities. Your language requirements will depend on the province or territory where you plan to practice and the nursing regulator you apply to.
It’s important to remember that each province and territory has its own regulator and slightly different requirements for internationally educated nurses. This article provides a general guide for Canada as a whole. Always check the regulator in the province or territory where you want to work before applying.
How to Become a Nurse in Canada
Step 1. Study Nursing
Becoming a registered nurse in Canada requires approved or recognized nursing education. The exact rules vary by province or territory, so the place where you plan to work should be an important factor in where you choose to study or apply for registration.
If you were educated outside Canada, your education, practice history, language ability, and competency may need to be assessed. Some regulators use the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), while others have additional or separate assessment processes. British Columbia, for example, directs internationally educated nurses to apply to both the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and Inspire Global Assessments, which reviews identity, English proficiency, education, and nursing skills and knowledge.
In some cases, internationally educated nurses may need to complete additional coursework, a bridging program, a re-entry program, or transitional education before receiving full licensure. The exact requirement depends on the regulator’s assessment of your education and practice.
Of course, one of the most direct ways for foreigners to become nurses in Canada is to study there. Many RN pathways are baccalaureate-level programs, although program length varies. Some Canadian nursing degrees take four years, while accelerated or second-entry programs can be shorter. Universities to consider include the University of Toronto, which offers an accelerated two-year BScN, the University of Alberta, which offers a four-year BScN, and the University of British Columbia, which offers a 20-month BSN.
Step 2. Demonstrate Proficiency in English and/or French
The language of day-to-day life in Canada depends heavily on where you live. Alberta and British Columbia are primarily English-speaking, while French is central to practice in Quebec. New Brunswick is officially bilingual, and nurses in many provinces may serve patients in English, French, or other languages depending on the community. Proving proficiency in English and/or French is an important part of becoming a nurse in Canada.
Language requirements are set by the nursing regulator, so there is no single national rule for every applicant. CELBAN and IELTS are still widely used. For example, British Columbia currently lists CELBAN minimum scores of reading 8, listening 9, writing 7, and speaking 8, and IELTS Academic minimum scores of overall 7.0, reading 6.5, listening 7.0, writing 6.5, and speaking 7.0. Alberta lists the same CELBAN and IELTS Academic minimum scores. Ontario accepts a broader list of tests, including CELBAN, IELTS, OET, PTE Academic, TEF, and TCF, provided the applicant meets the required benchmarks.
In Quebec, nurses must meet French-language requirements to hold a regular permit unless they qualify for an exemption. The Government of Quebec states that professionals who do not otherwise prove the required French knowledge must obtain a certificate from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF). For that certificate, the OQLF exam is required, and no other exam is accepted.
Step 3. Apply to be a Registered Nurse in the State of Your Choice
If you received your education abroad, the next step is to have your credentials and registration eligibility assessed by the process used in your target province or territory. In many jurisdictions, internationally educated nurses begin with NNAS, which collects and verifies documents and issues an Advisory Report. NNAS says most documents must be sent by third parties, not by the applicant.
WES is not a universal first step for every applicant. It is currently required for applicants using the NNAS Expedited Service, which requires a WES Course-by-Course ICAP report. Other applicants should follow the instructions from NNAS and the regulator where they plan to practice.
Documents commonly requested at some stage of the process include proof of identity, nursing education documents, verification of current or previous nursing registration, employment or practice history, and evidence of language proficiency. Because the exact list varies, check the official instructions from NNAS and your provincial or territorial regulator before ordering documents.
After your assessment report or provincial pathway is complete, you will usually apply to the nursing regulator in the province or territory where you want to work. Examples include the College of Nurses of Ontario, the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives, and the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
These regulators often have requirements in addition to document assessment, so it’s best to check the website of the one you plan to apply to. Most RN applicants outside Quebec must pass the NCLEX-RN, a computerized regulatory exam used by Canadian nursing regulators. Quebec uses its own OIIQ process and professional exam.
Step 4. Get Work Authorization
Once you have a path toward registration, you will also need legal authorization to work in Canada. This may mean permanent residence, a temporary work permit, or another status that allows work. Canada has employer-specific work permits, which generally require a job offer and may require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and open work permits, which are available only in specific situations.
Permanent residence pathways may also be relevant for nurses. Express Entry manages several economic immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and FSWP eligibility is assessed using selection factors such as education, language ability, skilled work experience, age, arranged employment, and adaptability. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) can also lead to permanent residence, but availability and eligibility depend on the province or territory. Quebec and Nunavut do not have PNPs.
Healthcare experience can also be relevant under Express Entry category-based selection. Canada’s current healthcare and social services category includes registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, and nursing coordinators and supervisors, provided applicants meet the category instructions and are eligible for an Express Entry program.
If you want to work in Quebec, you generally need to follow Quebec’s immigration process before applying to the federal government for permanent residence as a Quebec-selected skilled worker. Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program is for people who wish to immigrate permanently to Quebec to work, and French ability can be important both for immigration and nursing licensure.
Canada remains a strong destination for internationally educated nurses, but the process is regulated carefully and varies by province and territory. Before spending money on assessments, language tests, or immigration applications, choose the province or territory where you want to practice and read that regulator’s current instructions. In general, you should expect to prove your education, competence, language ability, nursing registration history, and legal authorization to work.
We hope this article on steps to become a nurse in Canada was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Canada and Available Courses for International Students pages for more articles.
