Currency of Practice

You must meet 1 of the following Currency of Practice options to be eligible for registration and/or licensing in Nova Scotia:

• Hold current licensing in another Canadian jurisdiction for the same designation you are applying for (only available when applying for registration and an initial practising licence with NSCN).
• Have practised within the past 3 licensing years before your application. See the Practice Hours Assessment tool.
• Have completed at least 320 hours of practice within the past 5 licensing years before your application. See the Practice Hours Assessment tool.
• Have passed the registration exam within the past 3 licensing years before your application.
• Have successfully completed a re-entry program, bridging education, or entry-level nursing program within the past 5 licensing years before your application.
• Have successfully completed a competence assessment and bridging education within the past 5 licensing years before your application.

Additional Information for LPN and RN Applicants

• If you have practised within the last 10 licensing years but do not meet any of the above options, you may be eligible for a conditional licence with conditions and restrictions.
• If you have not practised within the last 10 licensing years and have not passed the registration exam, you are not eligible for a conditional licence. You must pass the required registration exam to qualify for a practising licence.
• If you passed the registration exam more than 3 years ago and have not practised within the last 10 licensing years, you are not eligible for licensing. You must successfully complete a competence assessment and bridging education or a nursing re-entry program.

Information for RN Prescribers

• You must have practised at least 600 hours as an RN prescriber in the past 1 licensing year or have completed an RN prescribing education program in the past 2 years. See the Practice Hours Assessment tool.
• Hours worked as an RN but not in an RN AP role cannot be counted toward the 600-hour requirement.
• You must apply to NSCN to request to renew your RN prescriber authorization if you:
  • Have not practised as an RN prescriber for 1 or more licensing years
  • Not completed an RN prescribing education program in the past 2 years
  • Your application will be reviewed to determine if additional requirements must be met before your authorization to prescribe is approved.

Answering the Currency of Practice Questions on Your Application for Licensing

When answering the currency of practice questions, remember that the NSCN licensing year runs from November 1 to October 31. For example, the 2024 licensing year was from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024.

Hours That Can Be Included in Your Calculation:

• Orientation hours
• Actual hours worked as a nurse (overtime hours count as one practice hour)

Hours To Exclude from Your Calculation:

• Paid leave (vacation, sick leave, long-term sickness/injury, maternity-leave)
• Hours worked in another healthcare role (e.g., CCA hours cannot count toward LPN or RN licensing)
• Hours worked in a different nursing designation (e.g., LPN hours cannot count toward an RN application, and RN hours cannot count toward an NP application)
• Volunteer hours
• Hours spent in nursing education

Note: You must keep a record of all hours worked in the past 5 licensing years in case you are audited by NSCN.

How to Change Your Reported Practice Hours

To adjust your practice hours for any year other than the previous licensing year, your employer must submit a Statement from the Employer directly to registration@nscn.ca.

How to Re-Establish Currency of Practice

If you need to re-establish your currency of practice, there are 2 ways to do it:

1. Complete a re-entry education program for your designation. Learn more about LPN re-entry programs and RN re-entry programs.
2. Complete a competence assessment and successfully finish any required bridging education, up to and including a full nursing re-entry program.

You must meet 1 of the following Currency of Practice options to be eligible for registration and/or licensing in Nova Scotia:

• Hold current licensing in another Canadian jurisdiction for the same designation you are applying for (only available when applying for registration and an initial practising licence with NSCN).
• Have passed the NP registration exam within the past 3 licensing years before your application.
• Practised as an NP no later than 3 licensing years prior to application.

How to Change Your Reported Practice Hours

To adjust your practice hours for any year other than the previous licensing year, your employer must submit a Statement from Employer directly to registration@nscn.ca.

Note: If you do not meet 1 of the options listed above, the Registration and Licensing Committee will need to review your NP education and experience. 

To start this process, complete the Nurse Practitioner Currency of Practice Application Form (PDF) attaching your current CV along with the application form. We will contact you with next steps. 

Nursing practice occurs in a variety of roles and settings. To practice as a nurse in Nova Scotia, you must be registered and hold a current licence with NSCN. Only hours accumulated in a role that requires nursing knowledge, education, and meets the legal definition of nursing services can be counted towards your nursing practice hours. The below assessment tool will help you determine if you can count your practice hours as nursing practice or if you need additional clarity from NSCN on your individual role.

Nursing Practice Hours Assessment Tool