Information for foreign-trained practical nurses
(3233) Verified: 2011 10 17
Information on requirements to practise
The nursing profession is regulated in Canada. Practical nurses may be employed in hospitals and doctors' offices; in community health agencies, health centres, and clinics; in nursing homes and extended-care facilities; in rehabilitation centres and mental health centres; in schools, governments, businesses, and industries; and in private homes; or nurses may be self-employed.
It is illegal to practise this profession or use the title "nurse," even as a self-employed nurse, without being registered as a full member in a provincial or territorial regulatory body.
The provincial/territorial regulatory bodies are responsible for setting the standards for entry into the profession and for issuing the designations and licences to those who meet established standards of qualifications and practice. All of them require candidates to successfully pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE), except in Quebec, where the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec has its own exam.
Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who want to work in the operating room require further academic training or on-the-job training.
When you know where you will settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body (see list below) about training and licensing procedures.
Information on assessment of qualifications
The regulatory bodies are not set up to assess foreign credentials before you arrive in Canada.
Even if you are already licensed to practise a regulated occupation in Canada, employers may request that you provide them with a formal assessment of your academic credentials.
If that is the case, or if you wish to have your credentials assessed for a purpose other than practising a regulated occupation in Canada, you may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada" and contact an academic credential evaluation service. Although evaluation services offer expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with academic credentials obtained in Canada, their evaluations are advisory only and do not guarantee recognition of your qualifications for employment or certification purposes in Canada. Please note that evaluation services charge a fee for their assessments.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources Development Canada regarding
You may also be interested in the CICIC information pages for:
- Registered Nurses
- Registered Psychiatric Nurses
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of provincial and territorial regulatory bodies
Alberta
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
- St. Albert Trail Place
13163 146 Street- Edmonton AB T5L 4S8 Canada
- Phone : 780-484-8886
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-661-5877
- Fax : 780-484-9069
- Email : info@clpna.com
- http://www.clpna.com/
British Columbia
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia (CLPNBC)
- 260-3480 Gilmore Way
- Burnaby BC V5G 4Y1 Canada
- Phone : 778-373-3100
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-373-2201
- Fax : 778-373-3102
- Email : register@clpnbc.org
- http://www.clpnbc.org/
Manitoba
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM)
- 463 St. Anne's Road
- Winnipeg MB R2M 3C9 Canada
- Phone : 204-663-1212
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-663-1212
- Fax : 204-663-1207
- Email : info@clpnm.ca
- http://www.clpnm.ca/
New Brunswick
- Association of New Brunswick Licensed Practical Nurses (ANBLPN)
- 384 Smythe Street
- Fredericton NB E3B 3E4 Canada
- Phone : 506-453-0747
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-942-0222
- Fax : 506-459-0503
- Email : execdir@anblpn.ca
- http://www.anblpn.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (CLPNNL)
- 9 Paton Street
- St. John's NL A1B 4S8 Canada
- Phone : 709-579-3843
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-579-2576
- Fax : 709-579-8268
- Email : info@clpnnl.ca
- http://www.clpnnl.ca/
Northwest Territories
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories
- Box 1320, CST-8
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : 867-920-8058
- Fax : 867-873-0484
- Email : samantha_vangenne@gov.nt.ca
- http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/professional_licensing/
Nova Scotia
- College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Nova Scotia (CLPNNS)
- 7071 Bayers Road, Suite 302
- Halifax NS B3L 2C2 Canada
- Phone : 902-423-8517
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-718-8517
- Fax : 902-425-6811
- Email : info@clpnns.ca
- http://www.clpnns.ca/
Nunavut
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
- P.O. Box 390
- Kugluktuk NU X0B 0E0 Canada
- Phone : 867-982-7672
- Phone (alternate): 867-982-7668
- Fax : 867-982-3256
- Fax (alternate): 867-982-7640
- Email : hssnunavutregistrar@gov.nu.ca
- http://www.gov.nu.ca/health/
Ontario
- College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
- 101 Davenport Road
- Toronto ON M5R 3P1 Canada
- Phone : 416-928-0900
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-387-5526
- Fax : 416-928-6507
- Email : cno@cnomail.org
- http://www.cno.org/
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Licensed Practical Nurses Registration Board (PEILPNRB)
- P.O. Box 20058
- Charlottetown PE C1A 9E3 Canada
- Phone : 902-566-1512
- Fax : 902-892-6315
- Email : info@peilpn.com
- http://www.peilpn.com/
Quebec
- Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec (OIIAQ)
- 531, rue Sherbrooke Est
- Montréal QC H2L 1K2 Canada
- Phone : 514-282-9511
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-283-9511
- Fax : 514-282-0631
- Email : oiiaq@oiiaq.org
- http://www.oiiaq.org
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN)
- 700A - 4400 4th Ave.
- Regina SK S4T 0H8 Canada
- Phone : 306-525-1436
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-257-2576
- Fax : 306-347-7784
- Email : lpnadmin@salpn.com
- http://www.salpn.com/
Yukon
- Professional Licensing, Department of Community Services, Government of Yukon
- P.O. Box 2703, (C-5)
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
- Phone : 867-667-5111
- Fax : 867-667-3609
- Email : consumer@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/pl.html