All Nursing Exams

Philippine nurse to Canada: the exams and the steps

Most provinces start with the NNAS Expedited Service (CA$750); Ontario and British Columbia differ. The NCLEX-RN is CA$360, CA$570 from Feb 1, 2027.

Checked November 10, 2026

Short answer: Each Canadian province has its own nursing regulator, and for most provinces a nurse from the Philippines starts with the National Nursing Assessment Services (NNAS) Expedited Service (CA$750), applies to the regulator and passes the NCLEX-RN (CA$360 plus local taxes, or CA$570 for registrations from February 1, 2027). Ontario now asks for a credential assessment from one of three approved providers, and British Columbia sends nurses to Inspire Global Assessments.

This page is not immigration or legal advice. NNAS says nursing regulation is a provincial responsibility, so start on your regulator's own page. Our examples are the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

The steps in order

  1. Choose a province (provincial regulator). You do not need to be in Canada or hold permanent residency to start, NNAS says.
  2. Have your education assessed (NNAS, or the provider your regulator names).
    • NNAS Expedited Service: one application covers registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) for any of the 13 participating regulators. You upload two notarized IDs. An approved organization sends a Course-by-Course Assessment Report, which you pay for separately. The authorities that issued your first and current nursing licenses send a verification.
    • Ontario: CNO requires an educational credential assessment (ECA) from World Education Service (WES), International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES), or an NNAS expedited report. The report must reach CNO before you can submit your application.
  3. Apply to the regulator and pay (CNO or BCCNM). CNO asks for an approved nursing program, practice within the past three years, language proficiency and proof of status in Canada. BCCNM assesses most applicants for LPN and RN licensure in one application, and strongly recommends holding Canadian work permits first.
  4. Complete the assessments and courses (CNO, or BCCNM and Inspire). Ontario asks for a transition to practice (TTP) course and an online jurisprudence exam. In British Columbia, apply to BCCNM and Inspire at the same time. Inspire confirms your identity and assesses your English, credentials and competence. BCCNM says you will likely need additional education.
  5. Register for the NCLEX-RN when the regulator allows it (regulator, then Pearson VUE). Each regulator tells you when you are eligible. You pay Pearson VUE, receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) and schedule.
  6. Register to practice (CNO or BCCNM). In Ontario, the Temporary Class lets qualifying applicants work while finishing the General Class requirements.

Where the official pages disagree: NNAS lists BCCNM ("RN and LPN only") in its Expedited Service, but BCCNM's own page sends applicants to Inspire and does not mention NNAS. Follow BCCNM's page.

What it costs

Only fees the official bodies publish are listed. Travel, document, courier and immigration lawyer costs are not.

Fee Amount Who you pay
NNAS Expedited Service CA$750, no refunds NNAS
Course-by-Course report or Ontario ECA Not published by NNAS, CNO or BCCNM The provider
CNO application (General Class), jurisprudence exam, initial registration 2026: CA$433.00, CA$40.00, CA$69.00. 2027: CA$454.00, CA$42.00, CA$72.00 CNO
BCCNM international RN application assessment; practising RN registration CA$690 plus goods and services tax (GST); CA$781.10 BCCNM
Inspire application (non-refundable); RN assessment CA$600; CA$3,000; each plus GST Inspire
NCLEX-RN registration CA$360 plus local taxes; CA$570 from February 1, 2027 Pearson VUE
International scheduling fee, outside Canada and the mainland United States (for example Manila) CA$150 plus value added tax where it applies Pearson VUE

CNO fees carry 13% Harmonized Sales Tax. BCCNM's fees run from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, and BCCNM says most fees can be reimbursed through the Internationally Educated Nurse Bursary Program.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) sets the NCLEX fee. CNO says you keep the CA$360 price if you register and pay before February 1, 2027. See How much does the NCLEX cost? and NCLEX in Canada and in the United States.

English language requirement

NNAS stopped collecting language scores on October 14, 2022, so your regulator checks your English. A test is only one option. CNO also accepts an English nursing program with a clinical part, or nursing practice in a primarily English setting, within the past two years. BCCNM accepts an employer's confirmation of practice in a mainly English setting. Evidence must be no more than two years old.

Test CNO (Ontario) BCCNM (British Columbia)
CELBAN Reading 8, listening 9, writing 7, speaking 8 The same
IELTS General Training or Academic: reading 6.5, listening 7, writing 6.5, speaking 7, total 7 Academic: reading 6.5, listening 7.0, writing 6.5, speaking 7.0, overall 7.0
OET Reading C+ (330), listening B (350), writing C+ (320), speaking B (350) Reading C+, listening B, writing C+, speaking B
PTE Academic Reading 66, listening 73, writing 68, speaking 75 The same

CNO wants all scores from one complete sitting, except the IELTS One Skill Retake. Neither page we read gives a start date for these scores.

How long it takes

  • NNAS Expedited Service: the Advisory Report is released within five business days after all documents arrive.
  • CNO: about 12 months for the whole process, which CNO calls a guideline. Your application stays open for two years.
  • BCCNM and Inspire: no processing time is published on the pages we read.

What to do next

  1. Confirm on your regulator's page which assessment it accepts today.
  2. If you can, register for the NCLEX before February 1, 2027 to pay CA$360.

Common questions

Can I take the NCLEX-RN in the Philippines for Ontario?

Yes. CNO allows Pearson VUE international test centers, where extra fees may apply. See Can you take the NCLEX outside the United States?.

How many NCLEX-RN attempts does Ontario allow?

CNO says as many as necessary while your application is open.

Can I work as an LPN first in British Columbia?

Yes. BCCNM says you can start as an LPN while you finish the RN requirements.

Prep from our team

NCLEXPace has NCLEX-RN practice questions with rationales, Next Generation NCLEX case studies, CAT Readiness Exams and a personal Study Plan. You can try 10 free questions without payment, and plans start from US$59 paid once, with nothing that renews. All Nursing Exams, NCLEXPace and NPractitioner are run by the same team. See https://www.nclexpace.com.

Sources