Assessing your application
When we assess your application for registration, we consider the following:
- Good character
- Good character refers to a combination of personal qualities and traits, such as:
- moral or ethical strength
- Integrity, candour, empathy and honesty
- An appreciation of the difference between right and wrong
- The moral fibre to do that which is right and not to do that which is wrong
When determining whether you are of good character, we review:
- The circumstances around any previous criminal charges and/or convictions, the results of your criminal record check, and any other information you wish to have considered related to the same, if applicable.
- The completeness, correctness, and accuracy of the information you provided on the application form or in any communication with BCCNM.
- Current or previous regulatory history, including any past investigation, resolution, and/or discipline.
- Information related to current and/or previous employment.
- Any history of unethical or dishonest behaviour
- Information from an educational institution, if applicable.
- A self-reflection of the circumstances, learnings, and growth since the events, or actions taken, that indicate a possible lack of good character.
- Fitness to practice nursing
- Fitness to practice refers to the absence of any physical or mental ailment, emotional disturbance, or addiction that may impair your ability to practise. When determining whether you are fit to engage in nursing practice, we review:
- Self-disclosure of a physical or mental ailment, an emotional disturbance, or an addiction that could impair your ability to practise.
- Information from previous employer(s).
- Information regarding any previous registration cancellation or voluntary relinquishment of registration.
- Any current or past regulatory investigations.
- Information regarding any current or previous limits and/or conditions placed on your practice.
- Information from treating physician(s) or specialist(s) who can provide an opinion as to your current health status, any recommendations for safe entrance into the profession, and your fitness to practise nursing (we only request this information in certain circumstances).
- Competence
- There are a few ways of showing competence to practise, including successful completion of one of the following in the last five years:
- Providing evidence of satisfactory nursing practice by meeting the required practice hours.
- Providing evidence of successful completion of a nursing education program recognized by BCCNM or another Canadian nursing regulatory body (either entry, re-entry, or refresher).
- Completing a competency assessment by the Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS) and any additional education required by the Registration Committee following BCCNM review of the NCAS report.
- Continuing education in nursing
If you have not practised as a nurse in the designation you are applying for or have not completed a BCCNM-recognized (or equivalent) nursing education program in the previous five years, you may be required to undergo an assessment of your current competence, and/or complete additional education and/or an examination to be eligible for registration. - English language proficiency
- If English is not the primary language you use for reading, writing, listening, and speaking, you will be required to demonstrate your English language proficiency. If there is any indication during the assessment of your application your proficiency is not conducive to safe practice, we may require an English language test. When assessing your English language proficiency, we review:
- Your first language
- Language test results (if taken)
- Information from your nursing education institution
- Information from your employer(s)
- Additional evidence of English proficiency (i.e. references from regulated health professionals)