Every Canadian province is short of nurses, and several have introduced faster registration routes for internationally educated nurses (IENs). Nursing also features in Express Entry’s healthcare category draws.
Pay
Registered nurses in Canada typically earn about CA$40–$55 an hour, depending on province and seniority. Northern and rural posts often add premiums and relocation help.
Read also: How to Verify a Canadian LMIA Job Offer and Avoid Immigration Scams
Registration steps
- NNAS: most provinces outside Quebec start with the National Nursing Assessment Service, which verifies your education, licence and experience.
- Provincial regulator: for example CNO (Ontario), BCCNM (British Columbia) or CRNA (Alberta). Several now have streamlined routes for nurses from certain countries or with recent practice.
- NCLEX-RN: the entry-to-practice exam used in most provinces.
- Some applicants need a bridging programme or competency assessment.
Immigration routes
- Express Entry: healthcare category draws have invited nurses with relatively modest scores.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): many provinces have dedicated streams for nurses.
- Employer-supported work permit: health authorities sometimes hire through LMIA-supported or employer-specific permits.
How Canadian employer sponsorship works: most employers hiring a foreign worker must first get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), proving they could not find a Canadian to do the job. The employer pays the $1,000 LMIA fee and may not recover it from you. From 1 April 2026, low-wage LMIAs still face a 10% workforce cap (up to 15% for some rural employers in participating provinces) and are refused in many cities with unemployment at or above 6%. Rules change often, so check Canada.ca.
Where to find jobs
Provincial health authority career sites (for example Alberta Health Services, Fraser Health or Nova Scotia Health), and Job Bank. Many provinces also run international nurse recruitment programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need NNAS for every province?
Most provinces outside Quebec use NNAS. Some streamlined routes have changed the order of steps, so check your target province's regulator.
Can I work as an RPN or care aide while I wait?
Some provinces allow pathways into practical nursing or health care aide roles while you complete RN registration.
Is French useful?
Yes. It earns extra Express Entry points and helps in Quebec, New Brunswick and some francophone communities.
Information checked in October 2026. Immigration rules change often, so always confirm the latest requirements on the official government website before applying or paying any fees.
