Maritime Canada
In Maritime Canada, NCAS provides a competency assessment for registered nurses seeking licensure in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and/or Prince Edward Island, and licensed practical nurses seeking licensure in Nova Scotia only.
Getting Referred
To complete an NCAS assessment, you must be referred to us by the appropriate referring organization for your chosen profession. NCAS cannot accept referrals from candidates themselves. Each referring organization has unique requirements you must fulfill to ensure your eligibility for a competency assessment.
Dual-track RN/LPN: two professions, one assessment
A unique facet of the NCAS assessment is the opportunity to be assessed as a Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the same time – we call this a dual-track assessment. In Maritime Canada, this is available in Nova Scotia only.
The dual-track assessment aims to get you into the healthcare workforce as quickly as possible, while saving you time and money in the long run. Learn more about how it works.
- A candidate must be referred by the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN). Those registering for the dual-role assessment require two referrals and will need to meet the specific requirements set by NSCN to obtain the referral.
- Once completed, NCAS will send results for both roles to the Nova Scotia College of Nursing.
- There is one fee for the dual-track assessment.
Please note:
- Trained LPNs cannot ask to be assessed in the role of an RN unless they have met the RN educational requirements set out by the regulatory college.
What happens after NCAS receives my referral?
Once we have received a referral directly from your referring organization, you will receive an email from NCAS to get your assessment started.
In the meantime, let us tell you more about how the assessment works.