Internationally educated nurses

Who should apply​

​​Nursing education and practice vary around the world. To ensure applicants can practise safely, competently, and ethically, all internationally educated nurses must demonstrate they have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgement expected of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized education program. ​​Applicants are more likely to be successful in their application if they have:

• Completed their nursing education program within the last 10 years; and/or
  
• Practised consistently as a nurse in the last 10 years.

If you don't meet this criteria, you may want to consider completing a recognized re-entry, bridging, or other nursing education program and apply for licensure after you complete the program. ​​

What you need to know ​​

Assessing for LPN and RN registration at one time

BCCNM assesses most internationally educated nurses for both licensed practical nurse (LPN) and registered nurse (RN) licensure in one application. This means:

• After assessing your application, BCCNM will provide the steps you need to take to be eligible for LPN or RN registration.
• You can choose whether you want to enter the healthcare workforce as an LPN while completing the requirements for RN registration, without having to reapply.

Immigration

We strongly recommend that you have the permits required to legally work in Canada before you apply to BCCNM to avoid delays in processing your application. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website or the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program ​for more information.  

Application fees and support ​

• BCCNM fees
• Inspire fees​
• The majority of fees are available for reimbursement through the Internationally ​Educated Nurse Bursary Program.
  

​​Scams targeting IEN applicants

Please be wary of any agencies or individuals who are offering to complete applications to BCCNM and Inspire for a fee. These agencies are not endorsed by BCCNM or Inspire and should not be used by applicants. Applications must be competed and submitted by the person applying for licensure.

How to apply

To work through the licensing process as quickly as possible, we recommend that you apply and complete the requirements for BCCNM and Inspire at the same time.

1A. Apply to Inspire Global Assessments​

• Apply to Inspire Global Assessments​ (Inspire).
• Inspire will confirm your identity and evaluate your English language proficiency, your education credentials, and your nursing skills and knowledge through a competency assessment.
• Inspire will provide this information to BCCNM, and we will review it as part of our assessment.

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​​​​​1B. Appl​y to BC​CNM​​

• Create a BCCNM account​(if you haven't already) and apply for practising licensure​.

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2. Verification of nursing practice and licensure

• We will confirm any nursing practice and licensure.
• Licensing Services will provide instructions and forms to send to employers and nursing regulators.
• Forms must be sent to BCCNM directly from the employer or regulator and must be completed in English.

3. Application assessment & final requirements

• We will review your application when all documents have been submitted and Inspire has sent us your applicant package.
• We'll assess your application to determine if your knowledge, skills, ability, and judgement are consistent with what we would expect of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized nursing program​.
• If we determine your education and practice are not substantially equivalent, we'll identify education and/or experience that will address any gaps.

4. Transitional education or coursework

To help ensure you can practise safely and competently in the B.C. healthcare system, you will likely need to complete additional education to become licensed with BCCNM.

• Education requirements will depend on education needs identified during our assessment. They can range from one course to familiarize yourself with the Canadian health system to a more substantial re-entry/bridging program.
• If you have limited nursing experience or have been away from practice for a long time, it’s more likely that you’ll have to complete a full nursing or re-entry program.​
• When you have finished your additional education or coursework, please ask the school to send confirmation of your course completion to IENapplications@bccnm.ca​.

​​5. Regulatory exam + provisional registration

Once you have completed any required education or coursework, we'll send you instructions to register for the regulatory exam: REx-PN​ (LPNs) or NCLEX-RN (RNs).

Optional: If you have completed all your final requirements except the regulatory exam, you will be eligible for provisional regist​ration. If you want provisional registration, we will send you instructions to pay your registration fee. You are not authorized to practice as a nurse until you are listed in the online directory.

6. Practising licence  + fees

After you pass the regulatory exam, you will be eligible for practising licensure.

• If you have a provisional licence, your licensure will automatically update in the online directory​.
• If you do not have a provisional licence, you will sent instructions to pay your licensing fee. You are not authorized to practice as a nurse until you are listed in the online directory.​​​​​

​​7. ​Familiarize yourself with practice in British Columbia

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• Nursing scope and standards are slightly different in every Canadian jurisdiction. Please familiarize yourself with the Ethics Standards and Practice Standards to ensure you understand the expectations related NP practice is B.C.
• In particular, please ensure you review the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility and Anti-racism Practice Standard, which outlines how BCCNM registrants are to provide culturally safe and anti-racist care for Indigenous clients.

​​Assessing your application

Good character

Good character refers to having the qualities and traits relevant to nursing, such as:

• moral or ethical strength;
• integrity, integrity, candour, empathy and honesty;
• an appreciation of the difference between right and wrong; and​
  
• the moral fibre to do that which is right and not to do that which is wrong.
  

To determine if you meet the good character eligibility standard, the information we consider includes:

• the completeness, correctness, and accuracy of the information you provided on the application form or in any communication with BCCNM;
• past or current regulatory investigations and outcomes;
• outstanding criminal charges, convictions for crimes, and other breaches of laws;
• past or current workplace investigations;
• concerns raised from educational institutions;
• any history of unethical or dishonest behaviour;
• disrespectful conduct when engaging with BCCNM;
• your explanation, and context, for past events;
• steps taken to rehabilitate after past actions and/or misconduct;
• character and employment references; and
• reflections and insights demonstrating an appreciation of the problematic nature and harms caused by past actions and/or misconduct.

Capacity to practice

Capacity is having the competence to practice without undue impairments by a health condition. If you have disclosed, or other information indicates you have, a health condition that may currently impair your ability to practice competently, the information we consider includes:

• complaints, in any jurisdiction, related to your competence and/or capacity;
• past or current regulatory investigations and outcomes;
• outstanding criminal charges, convictions for crimes, and other breaches of laws;
• past or current workplace investigations;
• concerns raised by education institutions;
• substantial breaks in practice;
• self-disclosure of a current, or recently manifested, physical or mental ailment, an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or problematic substance use, that may impair your physical, mental, or emotional ability or capacity, to practise;
• your explanation, and context, for a past event;
• information from treating physician(s), specialist(s), or other healthcare provider, who can provide an opinion as to your current health status, it’s potential to impair competence to practice, any recommendations for safe entrance into the profession, (we only request this information in certain circumstances);
• supports and/or strategies you have in place; and
• reference letters.

​Equivalency determination

• An equivalency determination considers whether an applicant has the knowledge, skills, abilities and judgement substantially equivalent to what is expected of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized nursing education program.
• BCCNM will review competency assessment report, education, identity, language proficiency, licensing history, and practice experience holistically to determine whether the applicant meets the substantial equivalency eligibility standard.
• The applicant will be notified of the outcome of the equivalency determination and, if their education and practice are not considered substantially equivalent, transitional education or experience will be identified to address any deficiencies or gaps.​
• Under the Health Professions and Occupations Act, applicants may be eligible to apply for a reconsideration​ of a BCCNM equivalency determination.​
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