Are you an internationally educated nurse from Nigeria, India, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, or the United Kingdom?
If so, applying to the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) may be the fastest way for you to become a registered nurse in Canada.
In this post, we’ll go through the steps you need to take to apply to the NSCN and take advantage of their expedited licensing process for internationally educated nurses.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this pathway, you must be currently registered and licensed in good standing as an RN in one of the following countries: Philippines, Nigeria, India, USA UK, Australia, or New Zealand.
If you are not currently licensed in one of those countries, you are not eligible for this pathway.
Step-by Step Guide- How to Apply to the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN)
To apply to the NSCN, follow these steps:
1. Go to the NSCN website and look for the tab that says “International nurses not currently licensed in Canada learn more and apply.
2. Click on that tab and answer “yes” when asked if you are currently registered and licensed in good standing as an RN in one of the eligible countries.
3. Create an account here . Applications are submitted through the NSCS registrant portal.
4. Enter the email address that you have access to and fill out your name and gender. A phone number is not required at this time.
5. Select the designation you wish to apply to (LPN or RN) and enter the code provided on the screen.
6. Read the terms of service before agreeing and then click “sign up.”
7. A confirmation email will be sent to your email address. Go to that email and click on “complete registration.”
8. Enter a password that you can remember and then log in with your email and password.
9. Once logged in, click on “apply here” to start your application.
Filling Out Your Application
When filling out your application, make sure to provide accurate information and answer all questions truthfully.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
– Anything with a red star is required information.
– Report all previous legal names if applicable.
– Provide two proof of name documents (examples include birth certificate, passport, nexus card, Canadian issue government ID, permanent resident card, or citizenship card).
– Identify languages in which you currently can safely provide nursing services.
– Indicate which country your license is from.
English Language Proficiency
If you graduated from a nursing program in any of those seven countries (Nigeria Philippines India Australia New Zealand UK US), then you don’t have to take any English language proficiency test anymore.
Also, if you meet the English language proficiency requirements stated in the application, you don’t have to take the IELTS test.
You also don’t have to submit any evidence as long as you are from one of those seven countries and took your nursing program in one of those seven countries.
Entrance Exam
Answer all questions in the Entry To Practice Exam section.
Proceed to answer all questions at the Entry/ Initial Nursing Education section as well as the Post Entry Nurse Examination.
Be honest with your application as you’ll be asked to provide evidence.
Employment
Full out the questions about your employment status and your employment information. Also, fill out your record of nursing employment. For the Professional Licensure section, answer all questions.
If you have skills in Emergency Preparedness, add them to this section. In the Good Standing Declaration section, read the questions carefully and answer accordingly.
Release of Information and Research Purpose, Commercial Electronic Messages, and Declaration sections should be read carefully and answered accordingly.
Criminal Record Check
The Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) has partnered with CSI background screening.
Wait for the NSCN team to review your application first and let you know when you are required to complete your criminal record check.
Go to their website at and complete this process. Once completed, CSI background screening would submit your results directly to the Nova Scotia College of Nursing.
If you have lived in Canada for over two years, you can just submit a Canadian criminal records check.
If you have lived in Canada for less than two years, you would need to submit a criminal record check for Canada and for the country where you last lived.
Note that each option has a cost for each country and a time limit. Full out the forms and submit them online.
We hope this post has given you an idea of what to expect when applying for a license with the Nova Scotia College of Nursing as an internationally educated nurse.
Remember to read all instructions carefully and provide accurate information when filling out your application.
If you want to learn about how to apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), click here.
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