Canada Nurse Registration for International Nurses
2 min read
2 min read
Canada regulates nursing at the provincial or territorial level. Internationally educated nurses should identify the province first because registration requirements vary.
NNAS role
NNAS states that it is the first credential-assessment step for many internationally educated nurses and that its Advisory Reports are accepted by nursing regulatory bodies across Canada except Quebec and the territories.
Credential documents
NNAS collects and verifies education and professional-experience documentation according to its current process.
Advisory report
The Advisory Report summarizes the credential assessment for use by participating regulatory bodies. It is not itself a licence to practise.
Provincial regulator
After the NNAS stage where applicable, the provincial regulator evaluates the applicant under its own requirements.
Exams/additional requirements
Depending on province, registration category and assessment, applicants may need examinations, language evidence, jurisprudence, bridging or other requirements.
Registration
Only the provincial/territorial regulator can determine whether an applicant is registered to practise in that jurisdiction.
Job search
Match jobs to the registration category and province where you are eligible.
Immigration separately
Professional registration and Canadian immigration/work authorization are separate processes.
Sources
- WHO — State of the World's Nursing 2025 — Current global nursing-workforce context, including workforce scale, shortages and migration.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nurses — Current U.S. RN education, licensure, work-setting and 2025–2035 outlook context.
- NNAS — Internationally Educated Nurses — Current Canadian credential-assessment context for internationally educated nurses.