Nurses from countries with Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) or comparable nursing education systems, such as:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• New Zealand

IENs from exempt countries (e.g., the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand) should apply directly to their chosen provincial regulatory body. In British Columbia, nurses must first apply through Inspire Global Assessments (IGA) to assess their credentials and English language proficiency before submitting an application to the BCCNM.

For nurses from these exempt countries applying in British Columbia: They may not need to complete a competency assessment but must still submit all required documents, including proof of language proficiency through Inspire Global Assessments

Educational Transcripts

Your nursing school must send official transcripts directly to the provincial regulatory body. These transcripts should include details of your clinical hours and the theoretical content covered during your studies.

Example (Ontario):
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) requires transcripts that demonstrate education in areas such as critical care, pharmacology, and patient safety to meet Canadian standards.

Proof of Licensure

A Verification of Registration from your home country’s nursing regulatory authority is required to confirm your current standing as a licensed nurse. This document must detail your registration history.

Example (U.S.):
Nurses from the U.S. can request verification from their State Nursing Board, while nurses from the U.K. should obtain it from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Work Experience

Some provinces, like British Columbia, require proof of recent work experience in nursing. Employment verification forms, signed by your previous employers, must confirm your roles, responsibilities, and areas of expertise. Documentation may include time spent in critical care, primary care, or other specialized roles.

Note:
Employers must send these forms directly to the provincial regulatory body, ensuring all required details are captured.

Language Proficiency

Even for nurses from English-speaking countries, some provinces may require proof of language proficiency, typically demonstrated through:

• IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 7.0
• CELBAN: For nurses from non-English-speaking countries

How to Submit Documents

• Transcripts: Nursing schools send transcripts directly to the regulatory body.
• Proof of Licensure: Contact your home country’s regulatory authority to send the verification directly.
• Work Experience: Employers submit verification forms directly to the regulatory body.
• Language Proficiency: Test results (IELTS or CELBAN) must be sent from the testing organization.

Nurses from non-English-speaking countries must provide proof of language proficiency. For most provinces, the IELTS Academic is required, with an overall score of 7.0 (Ontario, BC, and others). Alternatively, work experience in an English-speaking country, participation in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP), or bridging programs may fulfill this requirement

Depending on your nursing role, you may need to pass the NCLEX-RN or CPNRE (for LPNs). For NPs, the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination (CNPE) is required, and in some cases, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is needed for Adult and Pediatric streams​ (BCCNM).

U.S.-licensed nurses must provide proof of licensure through their State Nursing Board. This document confirms that the nurse is in good standing and ensures that no disciplinary actions have been taken against them. The verification process is typically managed by the Nursys system, which allows for electronic license verification in participating states. If your state does not participate in Nursys, the verification must be requested directly from the state’s nursing board

If you have already passed the NCLEX-RN in the U.S., most Canadian provinces will accept this as proof of meeting the licensure exam requirement, eliminating the need to retake it. However, requirements can vary by province, and some provinces may require additional assessments depending on specific provincial regulations

While reciprocity agreements do not exist in the same way they do between U.S. states, Canada recognizes the NCLEX-RN and U.S. nursing education standards. Some provinces may streamline the application process for U.S. nurses based on the similarity of training and exam requirements. However, certain provinces may still require a competency assessment to ensure that nurses meet Canadian standards. This assessment may depend on the province’s specific regulations​