Updates to IEN Application Process

Since the fall of 2022, the College has announced a series of major updates to the application processes for internationally educated nurses, including new ways to demonstrate language proficiency, additional flexibility around the clinical competence assessment, and to help offer similar employment opportunities to IENs while they navigate the application process.

The College is committed to ongoing modernization of its application processes to ensure the timely handling of applications for registration as a registered nurse in Manitoba. Following extensive review of its processes, available evidence and consultations with applicants, partners and interest holders, the College implemented numerous changes delivering on our commitment to ensuring patient safety as well as helping to address the significant health human resource challenges in Manitoba.

Major updates and initiatives supporting streamlined IEN application process

Registration Pathway Coordinator Role Now Implemented

Since June 23, 2025, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (College) has offered additional registration assistance to help understand the various Manitoba registered nursing registration pathways and augment the work of the College’s registration department. Pathway coordination services are available Monday through Friday during College business hours. The Registration Pathway Coordinator supports individuals who have yet to start the application process with the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.

Substantial Updates to Direct IEN Application Pathway

On June 11, 2025, the College announced a suite of initiatives to enhance supports and further streamline the path to registration for internationally educated nurses. This included enhanced supports for applicants, such as the creation of a dedicated IEN application navigation role at the College to provide personalized guidance and support throughout the registration process, and the establishment of a committee to manage complex applications. It also announced further commitments to broaden expedited registration pathways, expand the use of conditional registration and modernize documentation requirements, along with updates and review of assessment tools.

Internationally Educated Nurses from the United States – Expedited Registration Pathway

On May 20, 2025, the College implemented another expedited registration process for applicants from the United States.

Under this new pathway, US applicants will no longer be required to complete the Registered Nursing Practice (NRSG-1012) course prior to registration. Instead, applicants will have one year from the time of registration to complete the course, allowing them to start working sooner. 

Not all US applicants will have to complete 250 transitional RN practice hours. US applicants who completed their entry-level nursing education within the last two years and do not meet the minimum practice hours (450 RN hours in the US) will still need to complete 250 hours of supervised RN practice once registered to support their successful integration into RN practice in Manitoba.

Expedited application process for IENs educated in designated countries

Effective July 3, 2025, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (the College) will expand eligibility for its expedited registration pathway for nurses from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Previously limited to applicants educated in these four countries, the pathway will now also include those who are currently registered and practicing there—regardless of where they completed their initial nursing education—provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

This update aligns the eligibility criteria with the College’s expedited registration process for U.S. applicants, announced on June 11, 2025. Under that process, applicants are not required to have been educated in the U.S., as long as they meet all other requirements.

This expansion is part of the College’s broader commitment to supporting internationally educated nurses and builds on the streamlining initiatives announced on June 23, 2025, aimed at improving access to Manitoba’s nursing workforce.

For more information, see the IEN handbook, application form and frequently asked questions. If you are interested in applying as an internationally educated nurse and have questions, contact the College’s Registration Pathway Coordinator. If you have an open application, please contact Registration Services.

NNAS Expedited Service accepted for IEN applicants

This change is effective October 2, 2024, and IEN applicants will transition to this new process. With this expedited service, NNAS will issue applicant advisory reports within five days of all documents being received.

Previously, 80-90% of these advisory reports were issued from NNAS within 12 weeks of receipt of documentation. The new process removes the requirement for applicants to gather curriculum documents and will allow the applicant to open an application with the College earlier. It will also reduce the overall burden on applicants including a lower overall cost for IEN applicants in Manitoba.

Updated ways to demonstrate English language proficiency

The ways that an applicant can demonstrate English language proficiency have been significantly updated since the fall of 2022, with major updates implemented on August 1, 2024 and March 26, 2025. As a result of a national review of language testing benchmarks, as well as the College’s own review of additional ways to demonstrate language proficiency, there are now 8 different ways that an applicant can meet the requirements for RN registration in Manitoba: In addition to the updated testing scores shown below, applicants can now demonstrate their language proficiency via current or previous registration as a nurse in Canada, nursing education completed in Canada or internationally, international nursing practice in English within the past 2 years, and an employer attestation letter. Further details on all accepted language proficiency measures and requirements are outlined in our language proficiency policy.

Updated language testing benchmarks and new test options

The language testing scores accepted by the College are outlined here, and reflect the results of a national study the College participated in looking at the current language proficiency requirements for competent registered nursing practice in Canada. The results of this study brought about changes to the listening and writing test scores accepted for the IELTS Academic test, as well as the listening scores accepted for the CELBAN test, and in May 2024, introduced the OET.

On March 26, 2025, the College added IELTS General and Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic version to the list of accepted English language tests to provide an additional option to applicants:

	IELTS Academic	IELTS General	CELBAN	OET	PTE
Reading	6.5	7.0	8	C+	68
Listening	7.5 to 7.0	7.0	10 to 9	B	75
Writing	7.0 to 6.5	7.0	7	B	73
Speaking	7.0	7.0	8	C+	66
Overall	7.0

In addition, as of May 2024, the College now accepts a combination of results from 2 sittings of the same test in order to meet the minimum benchmarks. See our language proficiency policy for more information.

Updates to Nurse Re-Entry Program (NREP) and Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA) eligibility

Option to complete full Nurse Re-Entry Program instead of a CCA

In September 2022, the College made updates to the IEN application process allowing qualified applicants to choose to do the full slate of NREP courses at RRC Polytech in lieu of a CCA, giving flexibility to applicants who may prefer this pathway, while also providing the College with more ways to recognize and value the education and experience that applicants bring to the table.

Option to Complete a Second CCA

The College implemented a further update in February 2023 giving applicants required to undergo a CCA the option to take a second CCA if the results of the initial assessment did not meet expectations. An applicant may undergo a CCA a total of 2 times. As of March 5, 2024, applicants have 6 months to complete the second CCA following the CEO/Registrar’s decision on registration eligibility.

If you previously completed a CCA as part of your registration application requirements, you may be eligible to take this option. Please contact the Registration team to see if the policy change is applicable to you and for information regarding next steps.

Supports for the IENs in Manitoba Project and Philippines recruitment mission

Expedited IEN application process for Philippines recruitment mission

As part of its support for a recruitment mission in the Philippines, led by the Manitoba government , to recruit internationally educated nurses and other healthcare providers, the College developed an expedited registration pathway for applicants who are recruited as part of this initiative.

Once development of a virtual CCA is complete, applicants will be able to complete a greater portion of the application process while still living abroad. The expedited processes allows the educational credential assessment application and CRNM applications be completed simultaneously so that applicants’ total time in the assessment process is substantially reduced.

Work being done by the College’s partners in education and in government continues to enable availability of NREP courses in a remote learning environment. Further details will be announced as they become available.

Expedited process specific to the PRI

Other key supports for IENs in Manitoba project and Philippines recruitment

Expansion of the Undergraduate Nurse Employee (UNE) role

Throughout the fall of 2022, the College led a process, together with partners in the health system to update the Undergraduate Nurse Employee (UNE) role to allow qualified IEN applicants to begin working in the health system earlier and gain valuable clinical experience.

This culminated in December 2022 with the College’s approval of changes to its rules regarding RN supervision of Undergraduate Nurse Employees (UNEs) to update the definitions of a UNE to include Undergraduate Nurse students who have the competencies for this role and is currently enrolled in an approved nursing program, or who are currently enrolled in a course of instruction in order to obtain registration as an applicant seeking re-entry to practice/internationally educated applicant.

Ongoing process leadership and commitment to continuous modernization of application processes

In addition to the changes outlined above, the College remains committed to the ongoing modernization and streamlining of its application processes to ensure that qualified applicants can get to work in the timeliest manner possible. The College will continue to make improvements to our processes while never compromising on safety. Our focus will always be on serving and protecting the public interest through a fair, accountable, and transparent approach to registered nursing regulation.