Licensing guide · Manitoba

How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Manitoba

Last checked 8 sources checkedNOC 32101

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba to work as a licensed practical nurse in Manitoba or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
licensed practical nurse, LPN, graduate practical nurse, GPN
Show the source
“Any person who wishes to practise as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), graduate practical nurse (GPN), or student practical nurse (SPN) in Manitoba must hold valid registration with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba.”

From clpnm.ca, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with CLPNM

Your roadmap

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

Trained in Canada

  • 4 steps without a listed fee

  1. Before becoming registered as a graduate practical nurse, the applicant must hold the professional liability protection available from the Canadian Nurses Protective Society with a minimum limit of five million dollars, renewed annually.

    Source
    “Hold the professional liability protection available from the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) with a minimum limit of protection of five (5) million dollars, renewed annually.”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates

  2. The applicant must complete the CLPNM's online Jurisprudence Education Module and Quiz and pay the associated fee.

    Source
    “Complete the CLPNM’s online Jurisprudence Education Module and Quiz and pay the associated fee.”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates

  3. While waiting to complete the national examination, the applicant may be registered as a graduate practical nurse and is required to practise under the supervision of another regulated nurse.

    Source
    “While waiting to complete the national examination, GPNs are required to practise under the supervision of another regulated nurse (LPN, RN or RPN).”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates

  4. The applicant must successfully complete the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination to be registered as an LPN.

    Source
    “An applicant for registration as a GPN may have their name entered on the register of graduate practical nurses once they have met all criteria for registration as an LPN, other than successfully completing the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination.”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CLPNM

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

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  1. Source
    “The endorsement application pathway is available to practical nurses who are currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

  2. If the applicant is moving to Manitoba because of a Federal Government transfer, they should contact the CLPNM office before starting the endorsement application, as they may be eligible for an application fee reduction.

    Source
    “If you are registered as an LPN in another Canadian jurisdiction and are moving to Manitoba as a result of a Federal Government (National Defence, Armed Forces, or RCMP) transfer, please contact the CLPNM office prior to starting the endorsement application process, as you may be eligible for an application fee reduction.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

  3. The applicant reviews the application requirements carefully to understand which of the CLPNM's registration requirements they still need to satisfy, since holding registration in another province or territory only evidences that some of the requirements are met.

    Source
    “For endorsement applicants, holding LPN registration in good standing in another province or territory acts as the evidence that the CLPNM needs to be satisfied that some (but not all) of the CLPNM’s requirements for registration are met. Be sure to review the application requirements carefully to understand which requirements you will still need to satisfy.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

  4. The applicant applies to the CLPNM through the endorsement application pathway.

    Source
    “Read more about the endorsement application pathway here.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CLPNM

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

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  1. Source
    “The internationally educated nurse (IEN) credential assessment pathway is available to nurses educated outside of Canada who wish to practise as LPNs in Manitoba.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

  2. The applicant must also open a file with the National Nursing Assessment Service using the NNAS Expedited Service through its centralized online application portal.

    • NNAS Expedited Service main application: $750 (for the Expedited Service, which covers multiple professions and regulators)
      Source
      “$750 CAD for multiple professions and regulators.”
      nnas.ca/fees
    Source
    “IENs applying to the CLPNM must also open a file with the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) using the NNAS Expedited Service. You will provide information to the NNAS using its centralized online application portal, which is accessible through the NNAS website.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/applying-fo...

  3. After payment is verified, the applicant downloads forms and arranges for the required documents to be submitted to NNAS, noting that most documents must be sent by third parties.

    Source
    “After your payment has been verified, you will gain access to the document submission screens. Here, you will be able to download forms and submit certain documents to NNAS. Please note that most documents must be sent to NNAS by Third Parties—not by you.”
    nnas.ca/application-process-timeline

  4. If required, the applicant completes a clinical competence assessment, which is currently offered with no wait time and can be repeated if unsuccessful on the first attempt.

    Source
    “There is currently no wait time to register for and complete a clinical competence assessment (CCA). IENs who are unsuccessful on their first CCA will have the opportunity to repeat it, at the discretion of the Executive Director.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/applying-fo...

  5. If the assessment shows further education is needed, the applicant completes Manitoba's bridging education program, which currently has no wait time and is offered two times per year.

    Source
    “There is currently no wait time to enroll in Manitoba’s bridging education program, which is offered two times per year.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/applying-fo...

  6. At the end of the credential assessment process, the CLPNM advises the applicant whether they are eligible to apply for registration with the CLPNM.

    Source
    “At the end of the credential assessment process, the CLPNM will advise you whether you are eligible to apply for registration with the CLPNM.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/applying-fo...

Listed fees for this route

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

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

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.

  • Reactivation of expired NNAS application: $240
    Source
    “Reactivation of expired application | $240 CAD ($175 USD)”
    nnas.ca/fees
  • NNAS document translation: $115 (per page, when documents are translated by NNAS)
    Source
    “NNAS document translation (per page) | $115 CAD ($80 USD)”
    nnas.ca/fees
  • Appeals to NNAS: $500 (if the applicant submits an appeal through the Expedited Service; refundable if the appeal is successful)
    Source
    “The appeal fee is $500 CDN for the Expedited Service and $500 USD for the RPN Pathway. (The appeal fee is refundable if the appeal is successful.)”
    nnas.ca/fees

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

  • The Licensed Practical Nursing Regulation requires 1,000 hours of practical nursing practice in every 4-year period to maintain registration as an LPN in Manitoba.

    Source
    “The Licensed Practical Nursing Regulation requires 1,000 hours of practical nursing practice in every 4-year period to maintain registration as an LPN in Manitoba.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/re-entering-the-lpn-profession

Police check

  • All applicants must provide criminal record checks that include vulnerable sector searches, child abuse registry checks and adult abuse registry checks as part of their first application to the CLPNM.

    Source
    “All applicants must provide suitability checks as part of their first application to the CLPNM.”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/license-renewal/suitability-checks

Insurance

  • Applicants for graduate practical nurse registration must hold professional liability protection from the Canadian Nurses Protective Society with a minimum limit of five million dollars, renewed annually.

    Source
    “Hold the professional liability protection available from the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) with a minimum limit of protection of five (5) million dollars, renewed annually.”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates

Good character

  • Being free of a criminal record that places the public at risk is a requirement for registration.

    Source
    “Being free of a criminal record that places the public at risk is a requirement for registration, as per section 6 of The Licensed Practical Nurses Regulation (the Regulation).”
    clpnm.ca/for-registrants/license-renewal/suitability-checks

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The endorsement pathway states that holding LPN registration in good standing in another province or territory evidences that some, but not all, of the CLPNM's registration requirements are met, and applicants must review which requirements they still need to satisfy.

Source
“For endorsement applicants, holding LPN registration in good standing in another province or territory acts as the evidence that the CLPNM needs to be satisfied that some (but not all) of the CLPNM’s requirements for registration are met.”
clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

  1. Apply for endorsement

    Source
    “The endorsement application pathway is available to practical nurses who are currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction.”
    clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CLPNM

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

  • NNAS Advisory Report

    Assesses the internationally educated nurse's nursing education for comparability to Canadian practical nursing.

    Source
    “The NNAS Advisory Report includes all the documents that have been submitted and verified by NNAS and any correspondence you have had with NNAS.”
    nnas.ca/application-process-timeline

Exams

Language tests

No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with CLPNM

Exemptions: The CLPNM accepts a number of language proficiency tests and a number of alternatives to testing.

Source
“The CLPNM accepts a number of language proficiency tests and a number of alternatives to testing.”
clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/applying-fo...

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

The streamlined reinstatement pathway requires at least 500 hours of Canadian practical nursing practice in the past 4 years.

Source
“they have at least 500 hours of Canadian practical nursing practice in the past 4 years”
clpnm.ca/for-applicants/re-entering-the-lpn-profession

Supervised practice

Required

While waiting to complete the national examination, graduate practical nurses are required to practise under the supervision of another regulated nurse (LPN, RN or RPN).

Source
“While waiting to complete the national examination, GPNs are required to practise under the supervision of another regulated nurse (LPN, RN or RPN).”
clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32101, Licensed practical nurses. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Manitoba and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Manitoba $25.00 $33.57 $38.57 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $25.00 $31.32 $38.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Manitoba

Wages in every province and territory

Licensed practical 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 licensed practical nurse licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Home - CLPNM clpnm.ca · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Graduates - CLPNM clpnm.ca/for-registrants/students-and-graduates/graduates · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Choosing the Right Application Pathway - CLPNM clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/choosing-th... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Applying for a Credential Assessment - CLPNM clpnm.ca/for-applicants/internationally-educated-nurses/applying-fo... · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Fees - National Nursing Assessment Service nnas.ca/fees · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Application Process & Timeline - National Nursing Assessment Service nnas.ca/application-process-timeline · fetched October 9, 2026
  7. Suitability Checks - CLPNM clpnm.ca/for-registrants/license-renewal/suitability-checks · fetched October 10, 2026
  8. Re-Entering the LPN Profession - CLPNM clpnm.ca/for-applicants/re-entering-the-lpn-profession · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a licensed practical nurse in Manitoba?

Yes. Registration with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba is required to practise in Manitoba, and to use the title licensed practical nurse, LPN or graduate practical nurse.

Which exams are required?

Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination, Jurisprudence Education Module and Quiz, Clinical competence assessment (CCA).

Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too

Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.

Schedule a Call

Free consultation. No commitment.