NCLEX-RN in Canada: what internationally educated nurses need first
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Short answer
Canadian RN applicants take the NCLEX-RN, the same exam used in the US, but internationally educated nurses cannot book it directly. Most start with an NNAS credential review, apply to a provincial regulator such as the CNO or BCCNM, and register with Pearson only after that regulator confirms eligibility. The fee is $360 CAD until February 1, 2027.
Do Canadian nurses take the NCLEX?
Yes. NCSBN states that the same NCLEX-RN is used for Canadian and US entry to practice, and the National Nursing Assessment Service describes it as the mandatory entry-to-practice exam for RN registration across Canada. Canadian graduates write it too, not only internationally educated nurses.
One group is different. Quebec is not part of the NNAS pathways, which cover nine provinces and three territories, so applicants to Quebec should start with Quebec's nursing order instead of this sequence.
The order of steps: NNAS, regulator, then Pearson
Step 1 is NNAS. You are eligible if you completed post-secondary nursing education outside Canada and have never been licensed in Canada in the profession you are applying for. NNAS notes that Canadian citizens and residents educated abroad must apply too. Its report goes to the provincial regulator you choose.
Step 2 is the regulator's own application. Ontario's College of Nurses, for example, assesses your education against a nursing baccalaureate, may require a Transition to Practice course, asks for evidence of recent practice if you graduated more than three years ago, and requires a jurisprudence exam, English or French proficiency, authorization to work and a criminal record check.
Step 3 is Pearson. The CNO says you will be told when you are eligible and must register using the same name you used with the college. NCSBN's bulletin says your regulator sets how long the Authorization to Test is valid and that the average is 90 days, so schedule promptly once it arrives.
Fees and attempt limits in Canadian dollars
As of November 2026, NCSBN lists the Canadian NCLEX registration fee as $360 CAD plus local taxes, rising to $570 CAD on February 1, 2027. The CNO notes you can register and pay before that date without having to write the exam before it. Fees are nonrefundable and separate from your regulator's application fees.
The CNO states candidates can write up to eight times per year with at least 45 days between attempts, and that its applications stay open for a maximum of two years. Other regulators set their own limits, so ask yours. Changing your regulator after registering costs $50 CAD, as does changing exam language between English and French.
NCLEX Canada vs US: what actually differs
The exam content is the same. The differences are administrative: you pay in Canadian dollars, you can request the exam in French, and NCSBN's Quick Results service for unofficial early results is not available to candidates seeking Canadian registration.
Test center rules also differ. For a Canadian applicant, NCSBN counts Canadian provinces and territories and the mainland United States as domestic, so testing in Seattle or Buffalo carries no extra fee. Testing anywhere else adds a nonrefundable $150 CAD international scheduling fee, plus VAT where it applies.
Practical nurses: a different exam
If you are applying as a practical nurse, the NCLEX-PN is not the Canadian exam. BCCNM announced that from January 4, 2022 the REx-PN became the entry-to-practice exam for practical nursing in British Columbia and Ontario, developed with the College of Nurses of Ontario and NCSBN.
Practical nurse applicants in other provinces should confirm the required exam with that province's regulator, since the REx-PN announcement covers only British Columbia and Ontario. The NNAS step still applies for internationally educated practical nurses in the participating provinces.
Sources
NNAS Pathways Project (National Nursing Assessment Service). NCLEX-RN mandatory for RN registration across Canada; nine participating provinces; Quebec not in the pathways.; eligibility incl. Canadian citizens and residents educated abroad (nnas.ca/eligibility).
Next steps: RN in the General Class, internationally educated nurse (College of Nurses of Ontario). Ontario requirements: education assessment, Transition to Practice, evidence of practice, NCLEX-RN, jurisprudence exam, language, work authorization, criminal record check.
Registered Nurse (RN) Examinations (College of Nurses of Ontario). Eight attempts per year, 45 days between attempts, two-year application window, $360 to $570 increase on February 1, 2027, registering under the same name.
2026 NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin (NCSBN, rev. April 2026). Canadian fee table, $150 CAD international fee, domestic test center definition for Canadian applicants, Quick Results not available for Canada.
REx-PN now the practical nursing regulatory exam in B.C. (BCCNM). REx-PN is the practical nursing entry exam in British Columbia and Ontario from January 4, 2022.
Common questions
Does NNAS come before the NCLEX?
In the nine NNAS provinces, yes. NNAS reviews your credentials, the provincial regulator assesses your application, and only then are you made eligible to register with Pearson for the NCLEX-RN.
How much does the NCLEX cost in Canada?
As of November 2026, NCSBN lists $360 CAD plus local taxes, rising to $570 CAD on February 1, 2027. Testing outside Canada and the mainland US adds a $150 CAD international scheduling fee.
Can I write the NCLEX for Canada from outside Canada?
Yes. You can test at Pearson international centers for an extra $150 CAD, or at any mainland US center with no extra fee, since NCSBN counts those as domestic for Canadian applicants.