Become a licensed practical nurse in Nova Scotia through the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator: a two-year practical nursing diploma, the CPNRE, and the registrant portal application.
Applies in: Nova Scotia
To become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Nova Scotia, complete a practical nursing diploma, apply through the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR), and pass the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE). NSNMR is the regulator — it was formed on June 30, 2026, replacing the former nursing college and the former midwifery council — so every application and exam step runs through NSNMR, not the old college. Nova Scotia uses the CPNRE, not the REx-PN used in British Columbia and Ontario.
The education step is a practical nursing diploma. Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) offers a practical nursing diploma that is usually completed in two years over six semesters, in class or in a blended format, and its graduates are eligible to write the CPNRE. Apply to the college directly for a seat; this guide does not re-walk college admissions, and program length, intake dates, and tuition are on the college's own page.
New Nova Scotia graduates apply for the CPNRE through the registrant portal. You can pay and select a writing window when you submit your initial registration and licensing application. Two points from NSNMR's exam page matter for planning:
You must show photo ID to the camera before the exam starts and have it verified before being admitted to the online exam. The name on your photo ID must match the name on your NSNMR exam application; if it does not match, you will not be allowed to take the exam and your exam fee will be forfeited.
The CPNRE runs in month-long windows. The 2027 windows published by NSNMR are January 1 to 31, March 1 to 31, May 1 to 31, July 1 to 31, September 1 to 30, and November 1 to 30. The deadline to submit your CPNRE application and pay the fees is the first day of the window — January 1, 2027 for the January window, March 1, 2027 for the March window, and so on.
Since October 21, 2026, you must meet the currency of practice requirement to take or re-take the exam. You have three attempts to write the CPNRE.
The test administrator provides examination results to NSNMR within four weeks after each test window closes, and NSNMR emails the results to you within five business days of receiving them. If you pass, you will receive an email with instructions on how to apply for registration and licensing. If you do not pass, you will receive a Candidate Performance Report and information on next steps.
Rescheduling has a fee rule worth knowing before you book: you can reschedule without paying the $57.50 fee if you do so at least 24 hours before your scheduled exam date and time, and only within the same exam window. If you reschedule less than 24 hours before the exam, request a future exam window, or are registered but do not appear, you must pay a $57.50 fee. To request a new CPNRE test window and arrange payment, email NSNMR's registration team at registration@nsnmr.ca.
If the way the CPNRE is offered creates barriers for you, you can request accommodations. They must be based on reasons protected under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. Send a written request to accommodations@nsnmr.ca explaining your need, and email the same address to obtain the required documentation. NSNMR suggests you apply for the CPNRE and pay the exam fees at the same time you submit your accommodation request.
The deadlines to submit accommodation documentation for the 2027 windows are:
Apply early: the accommodation deadline falls about two months before the window opens.
Apply to NSNMR and wait for your initial application to be assessed and approved before writing the CPNRE. NSNMR's published pathway for internationally educated nurses runs through a National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) advisory report for Nova Scotia; the NNAS steps themselves are in our How to Start Getting Your Foreign Nursing Credentials Recognized in Canada (NNAS + Provincial Regulator) guide and are not repeated here. One caution: NSNMR paused its traditional licensure pathway for new applicants on January 20, 2025, so confirm the current pathway on the NSNMR site before you apply rather than assuming the older pathway documents still apply. If you were educated as a registered nurse, you can apply for the LPN designation, the RN designation, or both at the same time.
The NSNMR exam page states the $57.50 rescheduling fee but does not publish the CPNRE exam fee itself or the NSNMR application and licensing fees, so this guide states no exam or licence fee — check the fee information linked from the NSNMR exam page before you pay. The opened pages also do not state the current processing time for an initial registration and licensing application after a pass, beyond the results timing above. This guide gives no advice on whether you qualify — that is NSNMR's decision when it assesses your application.
The Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator (NSNMR) regulates licensed practical nurses in Nova Scotia. It was formed on June 30, replacing the former nursing college and the former midwifery council. Do not apply through the old college — NSNMR is the current regulator.
Complete a practical nursing diploma. Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) offers a practical nursing diploma that is usually completed in two years over six semesters, and its graduates are eligible to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE).
New Nova Scotia graduates apply for the CPNRE through the NSNMR registrant portal. You can pay and select a writing window when you submit your initial registration and licensing application. Internationally educated nurses must wait until their initial application is assessed and approved before writing the exam.
The 2027 windows run January 1 to 31, March 1 to 31, May 1 to 31, July 1 to 31, September 1 to 30, and November 1 to 30. The deadline to submit your CPNRE application and pay the fees is the first day of the window you want — for example, January 1, 2027 for the January window.
You have three attempts to write the CPNRE. Since October 21, 2026, you must also meet the currency of practice requirement to take or re-take the exam. Results reach NSNMR within four weeks after a test window closes, and NSNMR emails them to you within five business days.
Apply to NSNMR first and wait until your initial application is assessed and approved before writing the CPNRE. NSNMR's published pathway for internationally educated nurses runs through a National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) advisory report for Nova Scotia — this guide does not re-explain the NNAS process; the steps are in our foreign nursing credentials guide. Note that NSNMR paused its traditional licensure pathway for new applicants on January 20, 2025, so check the current pathway on the NSNMR site before you apply.