
Internationally Educated Nurse Bursary Program
Internationally educated nurses who are pursuing BCCNM registration may be eligible for fee waivers to eliminate some upfront costs. The following financial supports are available:
Registration Requirement | Available Bursary/Fee Waivers |
---|---|
Credential Assessment | Up to $1,200 CAD for fees related to a BCCNM accepted credential assessment application. |
English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) | Up to $400 CAD for English Language Proficiency Tests (ELPT). Maximum of two attempts. |
BCCNM Application | Fee waived with signed Return of Service (ROS). |
Inspire Global Assessments | Up to $3,150 CAD for fees related to assessments. Fee waived with signed Return of Service (ROS). |
Inspire Global Assessments Travel Stipend | Up to $1,000 CAD reimbursement to offset some of the costs associated with travel and accommodation. Available to residents of British Columbia only; distance conditions apply. |
Transitional Education | Up to $10,000 CAD for tuition fees for mandatory education upgrading for Internationally Education Nurses, as directed by BCCNM. Nurses advised by BCCNM to retake a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in its entirety are not eligible for the Transitional Education Bursary. |

Eligibility Criteria
For Inspire Global Assessments/Inspire Évaluations Mondiales and BCCNM fee waivers, applicants must make an upfront commitment by signing a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the BC Ministry of Health. * To request an ROS agreement for fee waivers, please email info@nursingjobsbc.ca For all other IEN bursaries (reimbursements), in addition to committing to a Return of Service agreement, applicants must also meet the following criteria:
- Not currently hold (or have previously held) registration as a Registered Nurse in any other province or territory in Canada.
- B.C. must be the only province or territory the applicant has applied for registration as a Nurse. If the applicant has active applications for registration in any other Canadian province or territory, those applications must be withdrawn.
- Have applied for registration with BCCNM or to Inspire Global Assessments/Inspire Évaluations Mondiales prior to January 31, 2023.
- Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). Applicants without a valid SIN may be eligible for bursary support but will not receive payment until they have a valid Canadian SIN.
- Have incurred costs on or after May 1, 2021, and have or will complete the BCCNM registration process on or after May 1, 2022.
Important Notes: To ensure fair distribution of resources, if an applicant possesses qualifications in more than one profession that is eligible under the Internationally Educated Nurse Bursary Program and/or Internationally Educated Allied Health Bursary Program, the applicant must proceed with an application for only one profession (i.e., eligible for one funding stream only). Please contact a Health Match BC Nursing Navigator or email info@nursingjobsbc.ca for additional information, as multiple applications may result in funding being denied or returned to the Province.
Additionally, recipients of the Access to Practical Nursing (APN) Education Incentive Bursary are not eligible for further funds or fee waivers through the IEN Bursary program.
Applicants who choose to pay the Inspire Global Assessments/Inspire Évaluations Mondiales assessment and BCCNM application fees themselves may still apply for bursary (reimbursement) of these fees at a later date if all the bursary eligibility criteria have been fulfilled.
Please register to receive detailed information about bursary eligibility, Return of Service, the application process, required documentation, as well as other important information as it becomes available. If you have already registered, we will contact you when new information is available. Helpful information is also available in the Financial Supports (Bursaries) and Return of Service sections of our FAQs.
Note: This information is subject to change. For the most up to date information, please contact us.

Return to Practice Nursing (RTPN) Bursary
Competency assessments and remote travel assistance (from within B.C.) to the in-person testing facility and educational upgrading. These may be available to former, non-practicing or practicing registrants with insufficient recent practice experience from Canadian provinces and territories and meet the return-to-practice nursing (RTPN) eligibility criteria:
Registration Requirement | Available Bursary/Fee Waivers |
---|---|
Inspire Global Assessments/Inspire Évaluations Mondiales competency assessment | Up to $3,150 CAD (including GST) |
Remote Travel/Accommodation assistance | Up to $1,000 CAD reimbursement to offset some of the costs associated with travel and accommodation. Only available to residents of British Columbia; distance conditions will apply. |
Educational Upgrading | Up to $10,000 CAD for tuition fees only. Education covered must be those that the applicant is directed to take by BCCNM and/or approved by BCCNM in order to obtain registration with practice status. |
Additional Bursary available only to former BCCNM registrants:
Registration Requirement | Available Bursary/Fee Waivers |
---|---|
BCCNM Re-instatement to practicing RN/RPN/LPN application fee | $265 CAD + GST |

Eligibility Criteria
Applicants eligible for this bursary (whole or partial):
- Held a practicing registration in Canada; and
- Consolidated their practice (worked) in Canada; and
- Do not meet the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) practice hours requirement in their respective designation in the previous five years immediately preceding registration, at registration renewal, or during reinstatement of their registration.
This includes applicants seeking to:
- Convert their BCCNM registration from non-practicing to practicing; or
- Reinstate their former BCCNM practicing registration; or
- Register (out of province applicants) for an initial practicing license in their designation (e.g., LPN, RPN or RN) in British Columbia when they do not meet the BCCNM practicing hour requirement.
- Important Note: Recipients of the Access to Practical Nursing (APN) Education Incentive Bursary or the Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Bursary are not eligible for additional funding through the Return to Practice Nursing (RTPN) Bursary program.
Return to Practice Nursing (RTPN) Bursary Application and Coverage
Additional RTPN Bursary Information
Nursing FAQs
Explore answers to frequently asked questions about the internationally educated allied health professionals bursary program, and internationally educated occupational therapist bursary program here.
Licensing
To work as a Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in British Columbia, registration from the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) is required.

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