How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Newfoundland and Labrador

The short answer

To become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Newfoundland and Labrador, complete a practical nursing diploma, apply to the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses (NLCN) as an exam candidate, and pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE). NLCN is the regulator — it was formed on April 15, 2026, when the province's two nursing colleges merged — so every application and exam step runs through NLCN. If you trained outside Canada, get an educational credential assessment from one of the five providers NLCN accepts before you apply; NNAS is one of the five, not a required first step.

Step 1: Complete a practical nursing diploma

The education step is a practical nursing diploma. College of the North Atlantic offers a practical nursing diploma over five semesters, starting each September, brokered from the Centre for Nursing Studies. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates write the CPNRE, and success in the CPNRE is required to obtain licensure to practise as an LPN. The program is approved until 2031. Apply to the college directly for a seat; this guide does not re-walk college admissions.

Step 2: Apply as an exam candidate

New graduates seeking LPN licensure, and internationally educated nurses seeking initial licensure in Canada who have not previously passed an approved licensure exam, must apply to the College as an exam candidate. Individuals approved for exam candidate registration are granted three years to successfully complete the applicable licensure exam. If you already hold an active practising licence in another Canadian jurisdiction, that may be accepted as satisfactory proof that you completed an approved exam, and you do not apply as an exam candidate.

Step 3: Write the CPNRE

The College Board's approved exam for LPNs is the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE). You have a maximum of four attempts within the three-year exam candidate registration period, and you must wait 45 days between exam attempts. If you do not pass within the allowed attempts or the eligibility period, you are no longer eligible to seek licensure with the College. You can also request an exam rescore or exam accommodations through the College.

Step 4: Meet currency of practice and apply for a practising licence

Currency of practice is set in legislation. You meet it by graduating from an entry-level nursing program in the last three years, or practising for 1,125 hours in the last five years or 450 hours in the last two years, or completing an approved re-entry program in the last three years. Following successful completion of the CPNRE and meeting currency of practice, you may be deemed eligible for licensure, and the College will notify you by email and direct you to the next steps to apply for a practising licence.

If you trained outside Canada

This route starts with a credential assessment — but not necessarily NNAS:

1. Get an educational credential assessment (ECA) first. You must have applied for and received your ECA report from one of the approved ECA providers before you submit your application to the College. You can get an ECA from World Education Services (WES), the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), the International Credential Evaluation Service at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, or the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS). The ECA report must be sent to the College directly from the ECA source; the College will not accept an ECA report from you. NNAS is one accepted provider among five — do not carry the NNAS-first sequence from other provinces into this one.
2. Check which pathway applies. If you completed your entry-level registered nurse education in Australia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, or the UK, you meet the education requirement for registration under the designated countries pathway. If you completed your entry-level LPN education in the USA, or your entry-level nursing education outside one of the designated countries, you will require further competence assessment through Inspire Global to determine if your education meets the requirements. You are not eligible to apply if you were educated only as a midwife or specialty nurse — you must have completed a general nursing program.
3. Show English proficiency and a criminal record check. All applicants must show acceptable English proficiency; the College reviews your application to determine if you need to complete an English language test. You must submit a criminal record check and declare any convictions on your application.
4. Apply as an exam candidate through the Nurse Portal. Create a College member account via the Nurse Portal and apply as an exam candidate. Upload two government-issued identification documents, one with a photo. Submit the College application processing fee of $231.04 including HST with your application; the fee is non-refundable, and your application will not be processed until it is paid. Applications remain open for 12 months. You must complete your own application — you cannot use an immigration consultant, company, or other third party to complete it or take part in the process.
5. Wait for the decision. Once all required documentation is received, your file goes for review. A complete application is reviewed and decided within 30 business days. If you meet the education requirements, you will be eligible to take the CPNRE, and the College will contact you by email with next steps, including applying for a temporary licence if you have potential LPN employment in the province. A temporary licence is a time-limited four-month permit to practise while finalizing licensure requirements. If you do not meet currency of practice, you may be eligible for a temporary licence to take part in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEPP) with a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, or you may be required to complete the LPN re-entry program.

What it costs: the 2026–27 College fees

The College publishes its fees for 2026–27, and all prices include HST:

• CPNRE exam fee: $690
• CPNRE exam late fee: $57.50
• Initial licensure fee: $433.16 (includes professional liability protection)
• Annual licensure fee: $375 (includes professional liability protection)
• Initial application processing fee: $231.04 — the same figure internationally educated applicants pay; it is non-refundable, and your application is not processed until it is paid
• Exam rescoring fee: $81.42
• Temporary LPN licence fee: $433.16 (includes professional liability protection); if you pass the CPNRE while holding a temporary licence, you are converted to an annual LPN licence at no additional cost

What the opened pages do not state

The opened NLCN pages list five accepted ECA providers, while the batch slate described six — this guide lists the five the College's own page names and states no sixth. The opened pages do not state the current CPNRE sitting dates in Newfoundland and Labrador, so check the College's exam information before booking. The opened pages also do not state the current CPNRE sitting dates in Newfoundland and Labrador, so check the College's exam information before booking. This guide gives no advice on whether you qualify — that is NLCN's decision when it assesses your application.

Related guides:

• How to Become a Registered Nurse in Newfoundland and Labrador — the RN route through the same regulator, NLCN, with the NCLEX-RN instead of the CPNRE.
• How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in British Columbia — the BC LPN route, which uses the REx-PN instead of the CPNRE.
• How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Manitoba — another CPNRE province, for comparison with Newfoundland and Labrador's process.
• How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Saskatchewan — another CPNRE province with its own regulator and program route.
• How to Start Getting Your Foreign Nursing Credentials Recognized in Canada (NNAS + Provincial Regulator) — the NNAS process, which in Newfoundland and Labrador is one of five accepted credential assessments rather than a required first step.

Sources

• Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses, Internationally Educated LPN — the five accepted ECA providers, the designated countries pathway, the Inspire Global assessment for the general pathway, English proficiency and criminal record check requirements, the exam candidate application through the Nurse Portal, the $231.04 fee, the 12-month application window, the 30-business-day decision, the four-month temporary licence, and the SPEPP route.
• Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses, Licensure Exams policy — the CPNRE as the approved LPN exam, exam candidate registration for three years, a maximum of four attempts, and 45 days between attempts.
• Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses, Licensure and Service Fees — the 2026–27 fees: CPNRE exam $690, late fee $57.50, initial licensure $433.16, annual licensure $375, initial application processing $231.04, exam rescoring $81.42, and temporary LPN licence $433.16; all prices include HST.
• College of the North Atlantic, Practical Nursing — Program Details — the practical nursing diploma over five semesters starting each September, graduates writing the CPNRE, and program approval until 2031.