How to Get Licensed in Another Province as a Travel Nurse

In Canada, nursing is regulated by each province and territory, not nationally. A licence from your home province lets you practise there only. Before you start a travel contract somewhere else, you need to be registered with that province's nursing regulator.

The good news is that if you already hold an active licence in good standing in Canada, moving between provinces is usually much simpler than registering for the first time.

Who regulates nurses in each province

• Manitoba: College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) for RNs, and the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM) for LPNs


• British Columbia: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)


• Saskatchewan: College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) for RNs, and the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) for LPNs


• Alberta: College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) for RNs, and the College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA) for LPNs and health care aides


• Ontario: College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), which registers both RNs and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs, Ontario's term for LPNs)


• Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR), formerly the Nova Scotia College of Nursing


• Northwest Territories and Nunavut: College of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CNNN)

What you will usually need

• Proof of your current Canadian licence and good standing from your home regulator


• A criminal record check with vulnerable sector screening


• Proof of identity


• Professional liability insurance


• Evidence of recent practice hours (many regulators look for 1,125 hours in the last five years)


• English language test results, if you were educated outside Canada in another language

Each regulator sets its own fees, forms and processing times, so always check the regulator's own website for the current requirements before you apply.

How long does it take?
Processing times vary by province and by how complete your application is. Start as soon as you are considering a contract, and have your documents ready before you apply. Missing paperwork is the most common cause of delays.

Tips to make it smoother

• Keep digital copies of your licence, certifications (such as BLS) and immunization records in one place.


• Request your verification of registration from your home regulator early.


• Keep track of renewal dates. Holding licences in more than one province means more than one renewal each year.


• Ask your staffing agency which province your contract is in before you apply, so you register with the right regulator.

We can help
Elite Intellicare Staffing helps nurses through registration in the provinces where we place staff. See the licensing requirements, open roles and pay in each province on our nurse staffing by province page, or read our complete guide to travel nursing in Canada.