Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in British Columbia

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 31302

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives to work as a nurse practitioner in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
nurse practitioner
Show the source
“You are not authorized to practice as a nurse practitioner in British Columbia until we send you an email confirming your registration.”

From bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau..., checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $265
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $4,107.64

  1. New graduates must first qualify for RN licensure with BCCNM before their NP licensure can be considered, unless they already hold RN licensure with BCCNM.

    Source
    “New graduates must qualify for RN licensure with BCCNM before they can be considered for NP licensure.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P...

  2. Complete the application form for new graduates of B.C./Canada, provide details about the NP education program and registration exam taken, and submit it with all supporting documents.

    Source
    “Submit your application and all supporting documents to [email protected].”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P...

  3. After submitting all required documents and information, the applicant is sent instructions to pay the application fee.

    Source
    “Once you have submitted all required documents and information, we will send you instruction to pay your application fee.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P...

  4. Applicants may apply for provisional licensure to work while meeting final registration requirements such as passing the regulatory exam, and practising licensure is granted once BCCNM receives confirmation of successful completion of the written exam.

    Source
    “Provisional licensure is granted to eligible applicants who want to work while meeting their final registration requirements (such as passing the regulatory exam).”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P...

  5. If all requirements are met the applicant becomes eligible for practising NP licensure, and those without provisional licensure are sent instructions to pay the registration fee.

    Source
    “If you do not have provisional licensure, you will be sent instructions to pay your registration fee.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $265

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $265 100%
One-time total $265 100%

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $4,107.64 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Annual fees: $4,107.64

Steps not listed by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $690
  • 6 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $4,107.64

  1. The applicant reviews the "who should apply" section and confirms they are eligible to apply.

    Source
    “Review the "who should apply" section above and confirm you are eligible to apply.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

  2. Applicants must qualify for RN licensure with BCCNM before they can be considered for NP licensure, and may submit the NP application while the RN application is being processed.

    Source
    “Applicants must qualify for RN licensure with BCCNM before they can be considered for NP licensure.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

  3. The applicant completes the application for NP registration for internationally educated applicants, providing details about their NP education program and licensing exam, and submits it with all supporting documents.

    Source
    “You'll be asked to provide details about your NP education program, and licensing exam taken (if applicable).”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

  4. After submitting all required documents and information, the applicant is sent instructions to pay the application fee.

    Source
    “Once you have submitted all required documents and information, we will send you instruction to pay your application fee.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

  5. The applicant must have the Certification Board or nursing regulator where they took the exam send their successful exam result directly to BCCNM.

    Source
    “We need a copy of your successful exam result. Please request that the Certification Board or nursing regulator in the province where you took the exam send your exam result directly to BCCNM at [email protected].”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

  6. If the applicant meets the requirements they become eligible for practising NP registration, and those without provisional registration are sent instructions to pay the registration fee.

    Source
    “If you meet the requirements, you will be eligible for practising NP registration.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

  7. BCCNM holistically reviews the competency assessment report, education, identity, language proficiency, licensing history, and practice experience to decide whether the applicant meets the substantial equivalency standard, and identifies transitional education or experience if gaps exist.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $690

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $690 100%
One-time total $690 100%

6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $4,107.64 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

Experience

Police check

  • Applicants must consent to a criminal record check and provide evidence of identity, capacity to practice, and character.

    Source
    “You'll be asked to consent to a criminal record check, provide evidence of identity, capacity to practice, and character, and provide details of your nursing education and applications for licensure in Canada or internationally.”
    bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P...

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The pages identify an application route for NPs currently or formerly licensed in another Canadian province or territory, but do not state whether they can register without retaking an entry-to-practice exam or competence assessment.

Source
“You are currently or formerly licensed in another Canadian province or territory.”
bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Default.aspx

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 31302, Nurse practitioners. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $42.49 $59.53 $74.59 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $42.00 $61.54 $75.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Nurse practitioners in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare nurse practitioner licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Internationally educated NPs bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/lENP/Pages/Defau... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Graduates of Canadian NP programs bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Canadian_grads/P... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Fees bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/fees/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. How to apply bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. English proficiency bccnm.ca/NP/applications_registration/Pages/English_proficiency.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a nurse practitioner in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title nurse practitioner.

Which exams are required?

recognized written exam, regulatory exam, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

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