Updated on May 4, 2026 by canadian immigration experts
Canada is calling, and it is calling loudly. With hospitals stretched thin, long-term care facilities navigating staff shortages, and a national nursing workforce in which 26% of current workers are aged 50 and over, the country is actively seeking skilled healthcare professionals from around the world. If you trained as a nurse abroad and are considering Canada as your next chapter, 2026 is one of the most promising moments you could have chosen to make that move.
But possibility is not the same as simplicity. The path from foreign credentials to a Canadian nursing license requires patience, precision, and a clear understanding of how the system works. In this article, we will walk you through what it takes and what to realistically expect throughout the process.
Canada’s Nursing Shortage: Why You Are in Demand
The numbers speak plainly. The Government of Canada projects that there will be 155,400 open nursing positions by 2031. Every province, from British Columbia and Ontario to Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Manitoba, continues to recruit qualified nurses at an accelerated pace. The shortage was already significant before the COVID-19 pandemic; what followed only deepened it.
This demand has translated directly into immigration policy. In 2025, Express Entry held several healthcare-focused draws, inviting qualified nurses with CRS scores lower than those of general rounds. With nursing classified under NOC 31301, a TEER 1 designation reserved for highly skilled professionals, registered nurses are eligible for occupation-specific draws that do not require a job offer to qualify. The opportunity, in short, has rarely been more accessible.
Understand Your Nursing Category
Before anything else, it is important to understand where your training places you within the Canadian nursing framework. Canada recognizes three primary nursing designations: Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs). Each carries a distinct scope of practice, different educational expectations, and its own licensing pathway. Knowing which category aligns with your foreign training will shape every step that follows.
Starting with the NNAS
For the vast majority of internationally educated nurses, the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) is the mandatory first step, a Canadian non-profit responsible for collecting and verifying documentation related to nurses’ education and professional experience. NNAS Advisory Reports are accepted by all nursing regulatory bodies in Canada, with the exception of Quebec and the Territories.
NNAS now offers an Expedited Service, through which Advisory Reports are released within five business days of all documents being received, at a reduced fee of $750 CAD. The standard service, at $845 CAD, remains available for those whose circumstances require a more detailed curricular review.
Apply to Your Provincial Regulatory Body
This is where the process becomes provincial, and where a thorough understanding of local requirements matters.
Each province has its own college or regulatory body, its own timelines, and its own criteria for assessing competency gaps. The provincial body reviews the NNAS report and determines whether there are any gaps in your education compared to their standards. If gaps are identified, you may be directed toward bridging programs, refresher courses, or additional clinical hours before being granted a license to practice.
Some provinces have introduced measures that meaningfully accelerate this process. Nova Scotia, for instance, offers expedited pathways for nurses licensed in Australia, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, or the United States, reducing licensure processing time to weeks rather than years. Ontario has introduced “as of right” provisions that allow healthcare workers registered in other provinces to practice in Ontario without undergoing re-registration. British Columbia uses Inspire Global Assessments alongside the NNAS to evaluate English language proficiency, education credentials, and nursing competency in a single coordinated process.
We are well-versed in these provincial nuances and work closely with you to identify the most efficient pathway based on where you want/plan to settle.
Language Proficiency
Regardless of province, demonstrating English or French proficiency is a non-negotiable requirement. Accepted language tests include IELTS and CELBAN, among others. Some provinces offer alternatives: Ontario, for example, may accept evidence of having worked in an English- or French-language healthcare environment in lieu of a formal language test result, provided the documentation is sufficient.
If you are sitting the NCLEX-RN, the licensing exam required for RN registration across most provinces, strong language proficiency is not only a regulatory requirement but a practical prerequisite for success on the exam itself.
Licensing Examinations and Jurisprudence
Following credential assessment, most internationally educated nurses are required to pass the NCLEX-RN (for Registered Nurses) or the relevant practical nursing exam for LPN and RPN designations. Canada accepts the NCLEX-RN, which nurses already hold in the United States, and this significantly accelerates the licensing process for American-trained applicants.
Beyond the clinical exam, some provinces require a jurisprudence exam, an online assessment covering local rules, ethics, and nursing regulations. This step is designed to ensure that internationally trained nurses understand the legal and ethical framework within which Canadian nursing practice operates, which can differ in meaningful ways from other jurisdictions.
The Immigration Dimension
Licensing and immigration are two separate processes that must proceed in parallel. While NNAS licensing is required to practice as a nurse in Canada, it is not required to apply for permanent residence; many applicants complete the licensing process after receiving their PR. That said, coordinating both timelines strategically can save months of waiting.
With Canada’s 2026 Immigration Levels Plan placing healthcare professionals among its top priorities, internationally trained nurses and support workers have a strong opportunity to secure permanent residency through Express Entry or provincial nominee programs. Several provinces, such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba, maintain dedicated PNP streams specifically for healthcare professionals.
A Path Worth Taking
The journey from a foreign-trained nurse to a licensed Canadian healthcare professional is one of the most structured and well-supported professional transitions available to skilled immigrants today. Yes, it requires documentation, time, and careful navigation of a system that varies by province. But Canada has invested significantly in making that path more accessible, and the demand for your skills is real and enduring.
If you are ready to understand exactly where you stand in this process and what your most efficient path forward looks like, our specialist at Jane Katkova & Associates would be more than happy to help you take the first steps. With over 25 years of experience within Canadian Immigration, we understand how overwhelming the process might be. Which is why it is important for you to take the necessary logical steps to continue your practice. We are here to help you map it out.
