Canadian RNs

Requirements for Licensure

• You must be able to demonstrate evidence of practice
• Recent graduate from an approved nursing program in the last 3 years; or,
• Wrote and passed the NCLEX-RN; or,
• Worked in approved nursing activities in the last 3 years
• Proof of legal name-a clear copy of your original or certified birth certificate, current government issued photo ID and if applicable marriage certificate
• Current Canadian Criminal Record Check (CRC) issued within six months of application from the local police force, RCMP or CSI Background Screening
  • If your local authorities require a signed and dated letter from the CRNS, contact register@crns.ca to request this. Please include your name and application number.
• Obtain a current International Criminal Records Check if you have worked as an RN outside the country in the last 10 years.
• Must have completed an approved nursing education program in Canada or approved by another Canadian jurisdiction.
• Complete and upload the Consent Form to Obtain Employment Verification Information. You must provide an RN employer reference from your most recent nurse manager or supervisor who is familiar with your practice. The CRNS will process this requirement on your behalf.
• If English is not your primary language, proof of English language proficiency is required. You can demonstrate English proficiency by:
  • Successful completion of one of the following approved tests of English within the last two years: Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) or International English Language System (IELTS) Academic Version; or,
  • If you have been employed in an English-speaking role (Care Aide, Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse) for at least one (1) year, complete the Consent for Employer Attestation of English Language Proficiency Form and upload it into your application The CRNS will process this form on your behalf; or
  • Provide evidence of successful completion of a Canadian RN re-entry program by submitting official transcripts.
• Complete and upload the Consent Form to Obtain Employment Verification Information. You must provide an RN employer reference from your most recent nurse manager or supervisor who is familiar with your practice. The CRNS will process this requirement on your behalf.
• Declare any RN practice hours for the last five years from all other RN regulatory bodies (Note: do not include hours worked as a Care Aide, Practical Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse). If you do not have nursing practice hours for a given year, please enter 0.
• You will need to verify your original and current/most recent RN registration and licensure.
  • Complete the Verification of Registration/Licensure form for your current or most recent registration. Send it to the registration body of the province or country where you have most recently registered as an RN.
  • Complete the Verification of Registration/Licensure form for your original registration. Send it to the registration body of the province or country where you have obtained original registration as an RN.
• You may have to submit verification(s) of registration(s) from jurisdictions where you have previously been registered if we require this information to establish a complete registration history.

Next Steps

CRNS will begin assessing your application once we have received your application fees and all required documents.

As we assess your application, we will send you updates through the Application Portal and let you know if we need more information to complete the assessment. Check your applicant portal regularly to view the required and/or outstanding documents.

Once your application for RN Eligibility has been approved, you will be sent a link to pay for the annual RN licensure fees  .

Regulations and entry requirements are subject to bylaw and policy changes.

If you have questions, contact register@crns.ca.