August 29, 2026 | Manitoba

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can provide a direct route into regulated nursing practice, but the pathway is not identical across Canada. 

Practical nursing is regulated provincially and territorially. Where you plan to work determines the education, examination and registration requirements you need to meet. Most jurisdictions use Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), while Ontario uses Registered Practical Nurse (RPN). 

What Is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)? 

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are regulated nursing professionals who provide care in a variety of healthcare settings. They use nursing knowledge, clinical judgement and hands-on skills to assess clients, provide nursing interventions, administer medications within their scope, promote health and collaborate with other healthcare professionals. 

The exact scope of practice can differ between jurisdictions because provincial legislation, regulatory standards, individual competence and employer policies all affect what an LPN or RPN can do. 

According to the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR), the title "nurse" is protected across Canada. You must be registered before you can use the nursing title, be employed as a nurse or provide regulated nursing services. 

Is the LPN Pathway the Same Across Canada? 

No. Practical nursing may share common professional competencies across the country, but there is no national LPN or RPN licence in Canada. You must be registered with the regulatory authority in the province or territory where you intend to practise, according to the CCPNR’s registration guidance. 

Requirements can differ in areas such as: 

• the provincial or territorial nursing regulator 
• whether the title is LPN or RPN 
• recognition or approval of Practical Nursing education 
• the entry-to-practice examination 
• jurisprudence requirements 
• language proficiency 
• criminal record and character requirements 
• application and registration fees 

Three provinces illustrate these differences: 

In British Columbia, new Practical Nursing graduates seeking LPN licensure must take the REx-PN through the BCCNM registration process. 

Ontario also uses the REx-PN for RPN applicants. The College of Nurses of Ontario registration requirements also include a separate jurisprudence examination that assesses knowledge of the laws, regulations and professional standards governing nursing in Ontario. 

Alberta follows a different route. The College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides of Alberta continues to use the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE) for applicable new LPN applicants. 

This is why you should verify the requirements for the jurisdiction where you intend to practise rather than assuming there is one Canada-wide LPN pathway. 

How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada

Although specific requirements vary, the general pathway can be understood in five steps. 

Step 1: Decide Where You Want to Practise 

Start by choosing the province or territory where you intend to work. Because practical nursing is regulated by jurisdiction, this determines which regulator, education requirements, examination and registration process apply to you.

If you plan to study in one province and work in another, check with the destination regulator before choosing your Practical Nursing program. 

Step 2: Complete the Required Practical Nursing Education 

Next, complete Practical Nursing education that meets the requirements of the regulator where you intend to become licensed. The terminology differs by jurisdiction. A regulator may refer to programs as recognized, approved or use another regulatory designation. 

For example, the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) reviews and recognizes BC nursing education programs required for initial registration. Students who graduate from a recognized BC program can then apply for a BCCNM licence. 

Admission requirements are set separately by individual schools and programs and may include prerequisites in English, mathematics, biology, anatomy or physiology. 

Step 3: Apply to the Nursing Regulator 

Graduating from a Practical Nursing program does not automatically make you an LPN or RPN. You need to apply to the regulator in the jurisdiction where you want to practise. 

Depending on the province and your circumstances, the registration process can include: 

• verification of nursing education 
• proof of identity 
• language proficiency requirements 
• criminal record checks 
• character or fitness-to-practise requirements 

The regulator then determines whether you meet the applicable registration requirements and can proceed with the required examination. 

Step 4: Complete the Required Registration Examination 

The entry-to-practice examination depends on the jurisdiction. 

• British Columbia: REx-PN 
• Ontario: REx-PN 
• Alberta: CPNRE 

In BC, applicants first apply to BCCNM. Once BCCNM determines they are eligible to take the REx-PN, applicants receive instructions to register for the examination through Pearson VUE. 

Ontario RPN applicants also write the REx-PN required by CNO, while Alberta uses the CPNRE for applicable new LPN applicants. 

Step 5: Complete Registration and Obtain Licensure 

After passing the required examination, you must complete any remaining registration requirements before beginning practice. 

For example, BC graduates who pass the REx-PN receive instructions to pay their practising licensure fee. BCCNM then instructs them to check the Public Register to confirm that they are authorized to practise before beginning work as an LPN. The full sequence is available in BCCNM’s application process for BC Practical Nursing graduates. 

If you later move to another province or territory, you will need to follow the registration process of the regulator in your new jurisdiction. A nursing licence is not automatically a national licence. 

How Much Do Licensed Practical Nurses Make in Canada? 

Licensed Practical Nurse wages vary by province, region, employer, experience, work setting and schedule. 

The latest Government of Canada Job Bank wage data for Licensed Practical Nurses reports the following national hourly wages: 

British Columbia currently reports a higher median wage than the national figure: 

The BC figures come from the latest Job Bank wage data for Licensed Practical Nurses in British Columbia. 

These figures are labour-market benchmarks rather than guaranteed wages. Actual earnings depend on the employer, region, position, experience and work schedule.

If you are planning to work in British Columbia, read How Much Do Practical Nurses Make in BC? for more detailed provincial and regional wage information. 

How CDI College's Practical Nursing Program Supports the BC Pathway

CDI College offers its Practical Nursing diploma in British Columbia, so the program is specifically connected to the BC LPN pathway. CDI College’s Practical Nursing Programs in Surrey and Richmond are recognized by BCCNM.

CDI Practical Nursing Program at a Glance 

The curriculum includes Professional Practice, Professional Communication, Pharmacology, Health Promotion, Variations in Health and Integrated Nursing Practice. Students develop nursing assessment, medication administration, clinical decision-making, communication and collaborative practice skills. 

Build Experience Through Practice Education 

Students complete 655 hours of practice education, progressing from foundational nursing care to experience involving older adults and chronic illness, community nursing and acute care. 

The program concludes with a 180-hour preceptorship, where students have an opportunity to integrate their knowledge, skills and clinical judgement in a workplace environment under appropriate nursing supervision. 

Prepare for the REx-PN 

REx-PN preparation is also built into the program. Students complete 60 hours of Academic Review, Flex Days and REx-PN preparation near the end of their training. 

CDI College Surrey achieved a 90.48% REx-PN pass rate in 2026. Exam results can vary between cohorts, so this result should be considered alongside the curriculum, practice education and exam preparation provided by the program. Read more about CDI College Surrey’s 2026 REx-PN results. 

Graduation itself does not automatically make a student an LPN. Graduates must still complete BCCNM’s applicable registration and examination requirements. For the complete BC process, read How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in BC. 

Start Your Practical Nursing Pathway 

There is no single licensing process for becoming a Practical Nurse across Canada. Start by deciding where you want to practise, then confirm that jurisdiction’s requirements for education, examination and registration. 

For students planning an LPN career in British Columbia, CDI College’s Practical Nursing Diploma Program combines BCCNM-recognized education, practice experience, a final preceptorship and dedicated REx-PN preparation to support the pathway toward LPN licensure in BC. 

Request more information for details, availability, admission requirements and financial options.