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Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) integrated assessments

MY ACCOUNT

British Columbia - IEN Pathway

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Fee changes for B.C. applicants have come into effect. Please read details here. 

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWNG BEFORE APPLYING TO BCCNM OR INSPIRE …

Internationally educated nurses (IENs): If you are an IEN planning to apply for registration to practice in British Columbia, Inspire Global Assessments is the right place to start!

Regulator referrals: If you have been referred by a regulator, we will reach out to you once we have received the referral information from the regulator.  DO NOT create your own Inspire account as this will delay processing time. If you have questions about the referral process, please email info@inspireassessments.org or visit the BC Referrals webpage.

Returning candidates: If you have an existing account and have completed your Health Care Assistant (HCA) assessments with us, please email ienp.info@inspireassessments.org to continue your RN and/or LPN registration application.  Our team will determine the best pathway for you.

RNs practicing, registered or educated in the United States: If you want to practice in British Columbia, a recently streamlined application process requires you to apply directly to BCCNM for licensure.  Do not apply to Inspire.

Applicants from Australia, New Zealand, and United Kingdom: To be eligible to apply through BCCNM’s expedited application process for nursing in British Columbia, you must meet both of the following requirements:

  • Have graduated from an approved Registered Nurse (RN) education program in Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom that led to your initial RN licensure; and
  • Have completed the nursing education program or 1,125 verified practice hours within the five years before your application date.

We will review your application and determine if you meet the requirements to bypass taking our Inspire competency assessments.

All applicants: If you did not complete your education or had substantial nursing practice within the last 10 years, applicants should contact BCCNM directly before applying to either BCCNM or Inspire.

To be eligible to apply to BCCNM, you must meet either or both of  following requirement(s):

  • completed your nursing education program within the last 10 years; and/or
  • had substantial practise experience as a nurse in the last 10 years.

If you do not meet the criteria, please refer to BCCNM’s website to learn about  recognized re-entry, bridging, or other nursing education program before applying for licensure with BCCNM. If you choose to continue with your Inspire application, any fees you pay are non-refundable.

 

Additional note: In British Columbia, assessments are only available in English.

Application Checklist [pdf]

Inspire’s B.C. IEN Pathway is designed to assist nurses who are educated outside of Canada on their journey to gaining nursing registration in British Columbia.

About the assessments offered for B.C.’s IEN Pathway:

Inspire offers one integrated assessment (formerly known as “Triple-Track”) to assess your skills and knowledge for three nursing-related roles at the same time:

  • Registered Nurse (RN)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • Health Care Assistant (HCA) *

*Standalone Health Care Aide (HCA) Assessment Notification (effective August 1, 2025)

Inspire offers a separate assessment for those wanting to practice in British Columbia as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN).

We recommend you start your IEN Pathway application process after you have gathered all the needed documents. This will help minimize delays and streamline the overall process for you.

As an Inspire applicant, you will have one year from the date you submit and pay for your Inspire application form to provide all required documents.  We will close your incomplete application if you have not made a payment or not provided all required documents within that time.  

Below are the steps you’ll need to complete on your registration journey if you want to practice in British Columbia.

The Steps to take to apply to practice as a nurse in British Columbia (B.C.)

Step 1. Review our website to ensure you are aware of the Inspire application and competency assessment process, including all fees, required documents, and eligibility.

Step 2. Collect the documents needed for your Inspire application process, and ensure they meet the requirements outlined on our website. Required documents include:

Step 3. Create your Inspire Global Assessments online user account, if you are applying through the IEN Pathway.

Step 4. Once logged into your online service account, you will need to submit your IEN Pathway Application form and upload your notarized IDs. Please be aware that starting on November 27th, an Inspire application fee will be charged to applicants at the time of application submission. This is a non-refundable fee of $600+GST. Inspire applications are valid for one year from the date you make your payment.

Step 5. Apply to the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), which is the regulator for nurses and midwives in BC.

Step 6. Review the IEN Pathway fees.

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IEN Pathway Eligibility Requirements

BC - Fees and Policies

Identity Document Requirements

English-Language Proficiency

Education Credential Review

Competency Assessment Overview

Let us help you with your journey!

Download our checklist below for easy reference, and see the FAQ section for frequently asked questions.

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST [PDF]