Licensing (or registration) for Canadian Nursing School Graduates
To work as a Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in British Columbia, registration with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) is required.
Applying for BCCNM Registration
As a newly graduated nurse from a Canadian nursing school, your first step to obtaining registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), will be to open a BCCNM account and begin an application for practicing registration.
You can begin this process immediately following graduation.
Submitting Required Documents and Information
As part of your BCCNM application for practicing registration, you may be asked to:
- Consent to a Criminal Record Check
- Provide Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Provide Information on your Fitness to Practice, Character & Nursing Education
- Submit Notarized Identity Documents.
For more information on what you will need to submit as part of your application to BCCNM, visit the BCCNM website:
Once you have fully completed your application for practicing registration with BCCNM, you will be asked to pay an application fee.
Registration Decisions
Once you have completed your BCCNM application for practicing registration, and your post-secondary institution has provided confirmation, BCCNM will review your application and issue a registration decision.
If you are deemed eligible for registration, you will be able to pay the BCCNM registration fee and will receive an email invitation to schedule your registration exam.
For information on BCCNM fees, visit:
Registration Exam
BCCNM will refer you to take the registration exam for your nursing designation after you have submitted your application for registration. The exams include the:
- National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) for Registered Nurses (RN),
- the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada Exam (RPNCE) for Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN), or
- the Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse (REx-PN) for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).
Provisional BCCNM Registration (Optional)
Provisional registration may be granted to eligible applicants who want to work while meeting their outstanding registration requirements (like writing and passing your NCLEX-RN or RPNCE). When these requirements are met, your provisional registration is automatically converted to practising registration. If you are not planning to practice nursing before gaining full registration, you do not need provisional registration.
Practising (Full) BCCNM Registration
After meeting all the BCCNM application requirements, passing the NCLEX (RN), RPNCE (RPN), or REx-PN (LPN) exam, and paying the annual BCCNM practising registration fee, BCCNM will grant you practising registration, and your name will be listed in the online directory as a practising registrant.
How Can We Help You?
Health Match BC is dedicated to supporting new graduates from Canadian nursing schools through the registration process with BCCNM. Once you’re registered, we will facilitate connections with public health employers in BC to help you find perfect employment opportunities. Our goal is to make your transition to working in BC as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Note: This information is subject to change & based on the requirements set by the BCCNM. For the most up to date information, please contact us.
