Registered Nurse (RN)

The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) is the regulatory body for registered nursing in the province of Alberta, Canada.

Registration Requirements for Nurses Educated Outside of Canada

All nurses who are educated outside Canada need to be registered with CARNA and obtain a practice permit to be eligible to practice as a registered nurse in Alberta.

Language Requirement

  • Evidence of competence in, and comprehension of, the English language

Nursing Education Requirement

  • Successful completion of a professional nursing education program that was approved in the jurisdiction where the program was completed

Previous/Current Registration Requirements

  • Registered nurse status in the country where you obtained your nursing education

  • Registration in good standing from other jurisdictions where you have practiced nursing in the last 5 years

Practice Requirements

  • Have completed within the last 5 years (not including the current year):

    • 1,125 hours of registered nursing practice

      or

    • A nursing degree or a nursing program satisfactory to the CARNA Registrar

Substantially Equivalent Competency Requirement

  • Evidence of competence to practice that is substantially equivalent to the competencies required of all Alberta nurses. For example: having a combination of education, experience, practice or other qualifications that meets the Alberta entry-to-practice competency requirements.

Fitness to Practice

  • No health problems that impair your ability to practice

Good Character

  • Evidence of good character based on a satisfactory employer references

  • No outstanding relevant criminal charges or convictions

Exam Requirement

  • Achieve a passing score on the Canadian Registered Nurses Examination (CRNE) – Fee approximately CDN$500.00

To view current job postings in Alberta's health care field, visit:

Alberta Employment and Immigration - Jobs in Alberta website:
Browse health care related job postings designed to link foreign workers directly with Alberta employers. Alberta employers advertising on our website are aware of the process to hire foreign workers and may already have a Labour Market Opinion (LMO), as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

For further information, visit the CARNA website:

Other online job site resources for nurses:

Date Updated: May 13, 2008
RDP-707