The standard path: first apply to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which verifies your education and credentials, then apply to the nursing regulator in your province — for example, the College of Nurses of Ontario. The regulator may require a competency assessment, bridging courses, and language proof, and you must pass the licensing exam (NCLEX-RN for registered nurses). The full process often takes one to two years. Many internationally educated nurses work as personal support workers meanwhile — real income and healthcare experience while you complete licensing.
Updated July 2026