Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Registered Nurse in British Columbia

Last checked 6 sources checkedNOC 31301

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

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

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“You are not authorized to practice as a nurse until you are listed in the online directory.”

From bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/..., 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
  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 1 step without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,977.35

  1. Create a BCCNM account, sign in, and apply for a practising RN licence.

    Source
    “Create a BCCNM account, and then sign in and apply for a practising RN license.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx

  2. After BCCNM notifies you that you are eligible, register and pay for the NCLEX through the Pearson Vue website.

    Source
    “If you are eligible to take the NCLEX, you will receive an email from BCCNM Licensing Services with instructions to register and pay for the exam through the Pearson Vue website.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx

  3. BCCNM will notify you of your exam results and any other licensure requirements, and if you have met all requirements your licence will be completed or your provisional licence converted.

    Source
    “We will notify you of your exam results and any other licensure requirements. If you have met all requirements and have provisional registration, your provisional license will automatically be converted to a practising registered nurse license.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx

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%

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $2,977.35 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Annual fees: $2,977.35

Steps not listed by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $690
  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 6 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $2,977.35

  1. Apply to Inspire, which will confirm your identity and evaluate your English language proficiency, education credentials, and nursing skills and knowledge through a competency assessment.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

  2. Create a BCCNM account and apply for practising licensure.

    Source
    “Create a BCCNM account (if you haven't already) and apply for practising licensure.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

  3. BCCNM will confirm your nursing practice and licensure using forms sent directly from your employers and nursing regulators.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

  4. BCCNM reviews your application once all documents are submitted and Inspire has sent your applicant package, and determines if your education and practice are substantially equivalent.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/IENapplicant/Pa...

  5. You will likely need to complete additional education or coursework, ranging from one course to a full re-entry or bridging program, and ask the school to send confirmation of completion to BCCNM.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

  6. Once you have completed any required education or coursework, BCCNM will send you instructions to register for the NCLEX-RN regulatory exam.

    Source
    “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).”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

  7. After you pass the regulatory exam you are eligible for practising licensure; if you have a provisional licence it updates automatically, otherwise you will be sent instructions to pay your licensing fee.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

  8. Review BCCNM's Ethics, Standards and Practice Standards, including the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility and Anti-racism Practice Standard.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

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%

1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

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

Annual fees: $2,977.35 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

  • All internationally educated nurses must demonstrate they have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgement expected of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized education program.

    Source
    “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.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/...

Good character

Other

  • Internationally educated applicants who apply after January 31, 2023 must submit their evidence of English language proficiency to Inspire.

    Source
    “Internationally educated applicants who apply after January 31, 2023 need to submit their evidence of English language proficiency to Inspire.”
    bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/Pages/English_proficiency.aspx

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Applicants currently registered as a registered nurse (or equivalent) in another Canadian province do not need to take the NCLEX-RN to practise in B.C.

Source
“You do not need to take the NCLEX-RN if: You are currently registered as a registered nurse (or equivalent) in another Canadian province and want to practice in B.C.”
bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

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 31301, Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. 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 $35.00 $47.58 $57.00 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $30.00 $43.27 $54.37 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Registered nurses in other provinces and territories

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

Compare registered nurse licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Internationally educated nurses bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/InternationalEN/... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. How to apply bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Exam (NCLEX-RN) bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Fees bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/fees/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Internationally educated nurses bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/IENapplicant/Pa... · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. English proficiency bccnm.ca/RN/applications_registration/Pages/English_proficiency.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

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

Yes. Registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives is required to practise in British Columbia.

Which exams are required?

NCLEX-RN.

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