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Becoming a nurse in Northwest Territories

Shares a regulator with Nunavut. Northern and remote practice competencies matter here.

Registered Nurse (RN)

NCLEX-RN

Regulator
RNANT/NU
Format
Adaptive
Length
85–150 items · 5 h
Next Gen formats
Yes

Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut

NCLEX-RN prep

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

CPNRE

Regulator
GNWT
Format
Fixed form
Length
165 items · 4 h
Next Gen formats
No

Government of the Northwest Territories

CPNRE prep

Internationally educated nurses

Northwest Territories assesses through NNAS

Your file begins with the National Nursing Assessment Service, which collects transcripts, licences and references from source institutions and issues an advisory report. Nothing moves until every document arrives, and documents arriving from overseas institutions are the single largest source of delay in the whole process. Start requesting them the week you decide.

The full sequence

  1. 1

    Choose your designation and province

    Days

    RN or RPN/LPN, and where you intend to register. This one decision determines which exam you write and which regulator holds your file.

  2. 2

    Credential assessment

    4 to 8 months

    Most provinces route international applicants through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which collects documents and issues an advisory report. Ontario assesses directly.

  3. 3

    Language proficiency

    1 to 3 months

    CELBAN is the nursing-specific option and is generally the easier route. IELTS Academic and CELPIP are also accepted, with scores set by each regulator.

  4. 4

    Apply to the provincial regulator

    2 to 6 months

    Submit the assessment report, identification, references and jurisprudence requirements to the college in your province.

  5. 5

    Receive Authorization to Test

    2 to 6 weeks

    Once the regulator confirms eligibility, you register with the exam vendor and receive an Authorization to Test with a scheduling window.

  6. 6

    Write the exam

    One day

    NCLEX-RN and REx-PN are adaptive and end when the engine is confident about your result. CPNRE is a fixed 165-item paper.

  7. 7

    Register and begin practice

    2 to 6 weeks

    The regulator issues your registration number. Some provinces allow provisional or conditional practice while the final steps complete.

Registering somewhere else?

OntarioBritish ColumbiaAlbertaSaskatchewanManitobaNova ScotiaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorPrince Edward IslandYukonNunavut

Requirements, fees and processing times change. Always confirm current requirements directly with Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut before making decisions or payments. BeNurse is not affiliated with any regulator.