Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in British Columbia

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 32101

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives to work as a licensed practical nurse in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
LPN
Show the source
“Without current licensure, it is an offence under the Health Professions and Occupations Act and a breach of the LPN Standards of Practice to use any variation of the LPN title or to practise nursing in BC.”

From bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $1,046.10
  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $3,022.13

  1. Create a BCCNM account, fill in all the fields, and write down your BCCNM ID number.

    Source
    “Create a BCCNM account - Fill in all the fields - Remember your email address and password.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

  2. Sign in and complete the online application, including consenting to a criminal record check, providing information about your capacity, character and nursing education, and consenting to the exam.

    Source
    “Complete the online application form by: Verifying the information you provided when you created your BCCNM account - Choosing whether you wish to apply for provisional licensure - Consenting to a criminal record check”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

  3. Submit payment for the application using one of the accepted payment methods.

    Source
    “Step 3: Submit your payment - BCCNM accepts the following payment methods: Credit card (VISA and MasterCard)”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

  4. Submit the required documentation, including demonstrating English language proficiency if English was not your first language.

    Source
    “Step 4: Submit the required documentation - We review information from your program about your knowledge, skills, attitudes, critical thinking, and clinical judgment”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

  5. Once you meet all requirements, BCCNM emails you instructions to register and pay for the REx-PN directly with the exam provider.

    Source
    “we will email you instructions on how to register and pay for the REx-PN directly with the exam provider, Pearson Vue.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

  6. Schedule your exam appointment and, after receiving your exam results, pay the practising licensure fee through your BCCNM account.

    Source
    “Step 7: Schedule your exam appointment - The email with your exam results includes a link for paying the practising licensure fee.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

  7. After paying the practising licensure fee and before working as an LPN, check the Public Register to confirm BCCNM has authorized you to practise.

    Source
    “Once you pay the practising licensure fee and before going to work as an LPN, check the Public Register to confirm BCCNM has authorized you to practise nursing.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $1,046.10

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $265 25%
Registration $781.10 75%
One-time total $1,046.10 100%

5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $3,022.13 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Listed one-time fees: $1,126.10
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $3,022.13

  1. Create a BCCNM account, submit an application for practising licensure, and pay the application fee.

    Source
    “Create a BCCNM account. Sign in to your BCCNM account and submit an application for practising licensure. After submitting the application, you'll be asked to pay the application fee.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

  2. Have a lawyer or notary public notarize two valid government-issued IDs and upload a scanned PDF or photos of them.

    Source
    “Have a lawyer or notary public notarize your identity documents (two valid government issued IDs, i.e. driver's license or passport). One ID must include a picture.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

  3. Request a verification of licensure form from all jurisdictions where you have been registered and an employment verification form for each nursing employer of the last five years, sent directly to BCCNM.

    Source
    “Request a verification of licensure form from all jurisdictions you are currently and/or have previously been registered. Request an employment verification form for each of your nursing employers within the last five years.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

  4. BCCNM begins assessing your application once it receives your fees and all required documents, and sends you email updates.

    Source
    “We will begin the assessment of your application once we have recieved your application fees and all required documents.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

  5. Once BCCNM determines you have met all registration requirements, you will be emailed instructions on how to pay your licensing fee.

    Source
    “If you are granted licensure, you will be emailed instructions on how to pay your licensing fee.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

  6. After paying the licensing fee you will receive an email confirming licensure, and you will appear in the online directory once authorized to practise.

    Source
    “Once you have paid your licensing fee, you will be sent an email confirming that you have been granted licensure with BCCNM.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $1,126.10

One-time fees listed for Licensed in another province, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $345 31%
Registration $781.10 69%
One-time total $1,126.10 100%

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $3,022.13 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Annual fees: $3,022.13

Steps not listed by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of a nursing education program recognized by BCCNM or another Canadian nursing regulatory body.

    Source
    “Providing evidence of successful completion of a nursing education program recognized by BCCNM or another Canadian nursing regulatory body (either entry, re-entry, or refresher).”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

Police check

Good character

Other

  • Applicants are unlikely to meet the eligibility criteria if they have not completed their nursing education program within the last 10 years or had substantial practise experience as a nurse in the last 10 years.

    Source
    “completed their nursing education program within the last 10 years; and/or had substantial practise experience as a nurse in the last 10 years.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

  • Applicants must satisfy BCCNM they have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment expected of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized education program.

    Source
    “To be eligible for licensure, applicants must be able to satisfy BCCNM they have the knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment expected of a graduate of a BCCNM-recognized education program.”
    bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_...

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Source
“You do not need to take the REx-PN if: You are currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse (or equivalent) in another Canadian province and want to practice in B.C.”
bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with BCCNM

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 32101, Licensed practical nurses. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $29.00 $34.57 $42.00 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $25.00 $31.32 $38.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Licensed practical nurses in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare licensed practical nurse licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. B.C. graduates bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/BC_grad.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Fees bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/fees/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Nurse from another Canadian province or territory bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Canadian_... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. How to apply bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/how_to_apply/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Exam (REx-PN) bccnm.ca/LPN/applications_registration/exam/Pages/Default.aspx · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a licensed practical nurse in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title LPN.

Which exams are required?

REx-PN.

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