Canada's healthcare system is seeking dedicated professionals to bolster its services, with a special focus on welcoming nurses into our dynamic workforce. If you've already trained and practiced as a nurse internationally, you possess a wealth of foundational skills that make you a perfect fit for Canadian healthcare.
To begin your journey as a nurse in Canada, you need to be licensed from one of the nursing regulatory bodies in the country. To aid you in this endeavor, the Comparative Education Service offers an educational credential assessment tailored for nursing licensing purposes. This assessment will serve as a strong foundation for your application, propelling you towards a successful career as a licensed nurse in Canada. Please check with each nursing regulatory bodies before applying.
Each nursing regulatory body has unique application requirements. Please see below for details:
Application Instructions for NCAS IENs Pathway Pilot
Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS) has an agreement with the Comparative Education Service (CES), University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies to accept the credential evaluation for your nursing credential(s). Please refer to NCAS's website.
Application Instructions:
CES provides an online application for applicants who want to apply to the new registration pathway.
New CES Applicants:
Choose Document-by-document Application for NCAS (new application) - $149 per credential
Select Certified Electronic Copy for NCAS only (including copies of your academic documents) – no additional cost but the assessment report is not available to you
Or
Select Certified Electronic Copy - $21 if you also wish to receive the assessment report. NCAS will receive your assessment report electronically, too.
Existing CES Applicants:
You have an IRCC ECA completed and issued by CES
Choose Document-by-document Application for NCAS (upgrade from a CES IRCC ECA report)-Do not complete Credential 2 to 4 - $135.6
Select Certified Electronic Copy for NCAS only (including copies of your academic documents) – no additional cost but the assessment report is not available to you
Or
Select Certified Electronic Copy - $21 if you also wish to receive the assessment report. NCAS will receive your assessment report electronically, too.
You have a general-use assessment report completed and issued by CES
Request Duplicate Copies of Official Transcript Sent Directly to Institutional Third-Party - $84
ONLY complete the following sections:
Read Instructions
Enter Your Information
Duplicate Copies of Official Transcript and Additional Services (skip 3. Duplicate copies of ECA Report and Additional Services in the online form)
Include NCAS information as the third party
Enter ienp.reports@ncasbc.ca as the email for the third party
You will be required to provide additional documents (official statement of clinical hours and Certificate of Registration). If you have any questions through the process, please contact our Support Team.
Application Instructions for College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
CES is an approved provider of nursing credential assessment for the College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador for individuals seeking RN registration with the College. For more information, please visit https://crnnl.ca
Application Instructions:
New CES Applicants:
Choose Document-by-document Application in our online application system - $149 (only your entry-level nursing credential is required)
Select Certified Electronic Copy to receive the assessment report - $21
And
Select Send an additional copy of your ECA to a Third Party and Certified Electronic Copy - $51
Include the CRNNL information as the third party
registration@crnnl.ca should be the email for the third party
Existing CES Applicants:
You have an IRCC ECA completed and issued by CES
Log in to your online profile in our online application system
Download the Assessment Report Conversion Application and complete it – fees are listed on the form
Select Send an additional copy of your ECA to a Third Party and Certified Electronic Copy
Include the CRNNL information as the third party
registration@crnnl.ca should be the email for the third party
Upload the application form and scanned copies of required documents through the CES Missing Documents (Complete only if requested)
You have a general-use assessment report completed and issued by CES
Request Duplicate Copies of Official Transcript Sent Directly to Institutional Third-Party - $84
ONLY complete the following sections:
Read Instructions
Enter Your Information
Duplicate Copies of Official Transcript and Additional Services (skip 3. Duplicate copies of ECA Report and Additional Services on the online form)
Include the CRNNL information as the third party
Enter registration@crnnl.ca as the email for the third party
You will be required to provide additional documents (official statement of clinical hours). If you have any questions through the process, please contact our Support Team.
Application Instructions for National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) Expedited Service
CES is an approved provider of nursing credential assessment for NNAS’s Expedited Service. For more information, please visit https://www.nnas.ca/expedited-service/
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
New CES Applicants:
- Choose Course-by-Course Application in our online application system - $155 (for the first credential). If you have more than one nursing credential, the second credential and beyond incur an additional $149 per credential
Select Certified Electronic Copy to receive the assessment report - $21
And
- Select Send an additional copy of your ECA to a Third Party and Certified Electronic Copy - $51
- Include NNAS information as the third party
- CES will upload your assessment report to the NNAS portal.
Existing CES Applicants:
You have an ECA report (IRCC or General Stream) completed and issued by CES
- Log into your online profile in our online application system
- Download the Assessment Report Conversion Application and complete it – fees are listed on the form
- Select Send an additional copy of your ECA to a Third Party and Certified Electronic Copy
- Include NNAS information as the third party
- CES will upload your assessment report to the NNAS portal.
- Upload the application form and scanned copies of required documents through the CES Missing Documents (Complete only if requested)
You will be required to provide additional documents (official statement of clinical hours). If you have any questions about the process, please contact our Support Team.
Document Requirements for All Applicants
The document requirements outlined below apply to all applicants, including both new and existing applicants. If the applicant (you) have previously completed an ECA report for IRCC or General purposes and find that the bolded documents were not included in your previous ECA application, you are required to obtain them. In such an instance, a member of the CES communication team will contact you to provide further instructions.
A scanned copy of government-issued identification (ID)
A scanned copy proof of name change if applicable
Select your country of education in the Country-Specific Academic Document Tool to review and prepare for academic documents
Request the Official Academic Record following the instructions here
Request Official statement of clinic hours completed from the appropriate issuing institution.
A scanned copy of the Certificate of Registration (NCAS Pathway only) from the issuing nursing board/council
All above-mentioned documents that are not in English or French must be accompanied with a scanned copy of official translations done by a certified professional translator
You can also download the above checklist here.