New Graduates

In order to practise as a registered nurse (RN) in New Brunswick, you must be registered with the Nurses Association of New Brunswick (NANB). It is illegal to practise as a registered nurse without a valid NANB registration.

To qualify for registration as an RN, you must meet the registration requirements set out in NANB’s bylaws and rules.

In order to become a registered nurse, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Submission of the required application form.
2. Payment of all application (processing) and registration fees.
3. Successful completion of a nursing program at an approved school of nursing in Canada or the equivalent.
4. Proof of legal name (eg. certified copy of birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate).
5. One of the following requirements must be met to prove current nursing knowledge and skills:
   • graduating within the past 5 years;
   • providing evidence of at least 1125 hours of practice in the previous five years;
   • providing evidence of 450 hours of practice within the 6 months prior to application along with a reference from your employer (confirming your competence and recommending registration);
   • completion of an approved refresher program;
   • completion of continuing education in nursing or health care.
6. Successful completion of the Jurisprudence module found under your  “My Profile” account on the NANB website.
7. Good Character, as demonstrated through:
   • a current criminal record check through CSI screening. Log on to www.csiscreening.com, follow the instructions to complete the Canadian Criminal Record Check (with or without eConsent), and indicate “NANB” as the company / employer. Criminal record checks are valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
   • A letter of good standing from every regulatory/licensing body where you have practised and/or been registered (each province, state, or country).
8. Successful completion of the registration examination.

1. All Canadian graduates must  complete the application form and return it to nanbregistration@nanb.nb.ca.
   A Confirmation of Nursing Education form must be completed and sent directly to NANB by your school.
2. Pay the NANB processing fee of $57.50 by Visa or MasterCard through, once their applicant profile is created.
3. Submit proof of your legal name (birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license) to nanbregistration@nanb.nb.ca.Please send a photo or scanned copy of these documents to the above email address. If any of your supporting documents are in another name, you will need to provide proof of your name change (e.g. marriage certificate, or name change certificate).
4. Submit a current criminal record check through CSI Screening. Log on to www.csiscreening.com, complete the Canadian Criminal Record Check and indicate “NANB” as the company. This must be sent directly from CSI to nanbregistration@nanb.nb.ca. For criminal record checks from other sources, NANB will require the original be sent to us by mail. Criminal record checks are valid for six months from the date of issue.
5. Complete the Jurisprudence module found under your “My Profile” account on the NANB website. You will need to complete the module before being eligible to receive a temporary registration and work as a graduate nurse.
6. Arrange for your nursing school to send the following documents directly to nanbregistration@nanb.nb.ca:
   a) Confirmation that you have successfully completed the nursing program (if you are applying before your official graduation date);
   b) Official transcript

The NCLEX-RN is administered by Pearson VUE, a third party. They control all dates, scheduling and exam planning. The role of NANB is to determine your eligibility to write the exam and, once you have passed the exam, to determine your eligibility to register as a nurse in New Brunswick. NANB does not control exam dates, times and schedules.

All inquiries related to the NCLEX-RN, other than questions related to exam eligibility must be directed to Pearson VUE at nclexquestions@pearson.com.

Please do not create a profile with Pearson VUE until you are instructed to do so by NANB. You will be granted eligibility to write the NCLEX-RN and instructed to create your Pearson VUE profile at that time.

1. Once NANB has received confirmation that you have completed an approved nursing education program and you have submitted all required documents, you will be deemed eligible to write the registration examination (NCLEX-RN);
2. NANB will send you an email confirming your eligibility to write the exam;
3. Register and create a web account with Pearson VUE at www.pearsonvue.com and pay the exam fee; Within 2-3 business days you will receive your Authorization To Test (ATT) by email. After creating your profile there is no need to advise NANB.
4. Once you register your account, NANB will inform Pearson VUE of your eligibility to take the NCLEX; if you have requested an accommodation, all of your documents must be received and your request approved before NANB will confirm your eligibility with Pearson VUE;
5. Pearson VUE will then send you an email confirming your authorization to test (ATT) and provide instructions on how to schedule an appointment online to take the NCLEX;
6. Schedule an appointment to take the exam. If you have been approved for accommodations, you must call the Pearson VUE to schedule your appointment;
7. Once you write the exam, NANB will receive results from Pearson VUE. You will be notified by email about your examination results within 1-5 business days after you write the exam (although most applicants will receive exam results on the next business day, Pearson VUE sometimes holds exam results for up to 5 business days for review).

If you have a medical or physical condition or disability that requires an accommodation to write the NCLEX-RN nursing exam, you must notify NANB as soon as possible.  Please note: Not all accommodations are offered at all testing locations. Pearson VUE will instruct you on how to schedule an exam with accommodations.

The following forms are required to request an accommodation:

• Testing Accommodation – Candidate Form
• Testing Accommodation – Health Professional Form
• Consent for Release of Information – University Form

The NCLEX will be offered in Fredericton up to three times each year. Seat availability and exam schedules are determined by Pearson VUE. All questions related to exam schedules and availability should be directed to nclexquestions@pearson.com.

The NCLEX is available at other writing centers outside of the province on an ongoing basis. For more information on available testing dates, please contact Pearson VUE or log into your Pearson VUE account.

The NCLEX is available at other writing centers outside of the province on an ongoing basis.

Applicants who have scheduled an NCLEX-RN may apply for a temporary registration permit (TRP). The TRP allows you to practise as a graduate nurse (GN), with restrictions, while you wait to write and pass the NCLEX-RN.

It is illegal to practise nursing without a valid registration in New Brunswick. You must have Temporary registration to begin orientation and/or work as a graduate nurse.

TRPs are issued for periods of six months provided that:

1. The application for TRP is completed and fee remitted to NANB;
2. The applicant is scheduled to write the NCLEX-RN within the following six months;
3. The applicant applies for the TRP within 12 months from the date that the nursing program was completed.

TRPs may be extended for six-month periods (to a maximum of 24 months from the date the candidate is first deemed eligible) provided that:

1. The application for TRP is completed and fee remitted to NANB;
2. The applicant has written the NCLEX-RN at least once during the previous six-month period; and
3. The applicant is scheduled to write the NCLEX-RN within the following six months.

Once you pass the NCLEX-RN, NANB will provide you with instructions on how to complete your registration. Before you can be registered, you must provide any missing documents (for example: official transcripts or updated criminal record check), have your application approved by the registrar, and pay the registration fee.

You may not practice as a registered nurse or use the RN title until you have received confirmation from NANB that you are registered.