To work as an RN in Saskatchewan you license with the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS). Unusually, you register with Pearson VUE first, then apply to CRNS with your NCSBN ID; CRNS makes you eligible, Pearson VUE sends the Authorization to Test within three business days, and results arrive within two business days of the exam. A Graduate Nurse licence lets you work for up to three four-month terms while you wait.
✓ Checked against CRNS's official pages on October 7, 2026
At a glance
RegulatorCollege of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS)
ExamNCLEX-RN, through Pearson VUE
Order of stepsPearson VUE first (CA$378), then the CRNS application
The steps, in order (graduates of a Saskatchewan program)
Tick each step as you finish it; your progress is saved on this device.
8 steps
If you were educated outside Canada
The exam is the same; the path to being allowed to write it is longer. These are the extra steps.
8 steps
Documents to have ready
NCLEX Registration Acknowledgement from Pearson VUE with your 8-digit NCSBN ID (needed to apply to CRNS)
Program Completion document sent by your university to CRNS (Saskatchewan graduates) or Verification of Program Completion form and transcripts emailed by the school to exams@crns.ca (other Canadian graduates)
Criminal record check no older than six months from police, RCMP or CSI Background Screening (Graduate Nurse licence and all licences)
CNPS professional liability protection
Internationally educated: NNAS advisory report, birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate if applicable, proof of initial and most recent registration, English test results, RN Employment/Education History form, international criminal record check if you nursed abroad in the last ten years
Fees
Initial application, Saskatchewan graduateincludes GST; paid with the CRNS initial application
CA$294
Initial application, graduate of another Canadian programincludes GST (listed as the RN or GN assessment fee)
CA$157.50
CRNS NCLEX applicationincludes GST; other Canadian graduates, internationally educated nurses and every retake
Practising RN licence, full year (Dec 1, 2026 to Nov 30, 2027)includes GST; CA$292.38 from June, CA$194.92 from September; not prorated, not refundable
CA$487.31
Reinstatement / late renewalonly if you let the licence lapse
CA$157.50 / CA$100
How long it takes
The Graduate Nurse form appears on your portal 3 to 5 business days after you book the exam.
Pearson VUE sends the ATT within 3 business days of CRNS confirming eligibility.
Exam results are emailed within 2 business days.
Retake: 45 days after the last attempt; a new ATT starts on day 46 at the earliest.
Canadian RN applicants get a decision within 20 business days of the last document; internationally educated applicants hear next steps within 50 business days.
Fees must be paid within 90 days of the application or request, or it is cancelled.
Mistakes that cost people time or money
Saskatchewan is Pearson VUE first, CRNS second. Keep the acknowledgement email: the NCSBN ID in it is what CRNS asks for.
Order the criminal record check early; it must be under six months old when you use it, and you will need it for the Graduate Nurse licence.
Licensing in June or September costs less than a full year; if you pass in the summer, check the fee schedule before you pay.
The practising year ends November 30 for everyone, and renewal runs October 1 to November 30, so a licence bought in September still renews that autumn.
Questions people ask about Saskatchewan
How do I register for the NCLEX in Saskatchewan?
Wait for your university to send the Program Completion document to CRNS, register with Pearson VUE and pay CA$378, then create a CRNS Portal account, submit the initial application with the NCSBN ID and pay CA$294 (CA$157.50 plus a CA$136.50 NCLEX application for graduates of other Canadian programs). CRNS emails eligibility, Pearson VUE sends the Authorization to Test within three business days, and you book inside its dates.
How much does it cost to become an RN in Saskatchewan?
For a Saskatchewan graduate: CA$294 application, CA$378 for the NCLEX-RN, optionally CA$179.05 per four-month Graduate Nurse licence, and CA$487.31 for a full-year practising licence (CA$292.38 from June, CA$194.92 from September, 2027 schedule). Internationally educated nurses pay CA$525 for the application plus CA$136.50 for the NCLEX application, and their NNAS and English-test costs.
Can I work in Saskatchewan before I pass the NCLEX-RN?
Yes, on a Graduate Nurse licence once you have booked your exam date: CA$179.05 for 120 days, renewable twice, with a current criminal record check and CNPS liability protection. You practise under supervision and cannot work independently until you hold the RN licence.
Which English tests does CRNS accept?
CELBAN (speaking 8, writing 7, listening 9, reading 8), IELTS Academic (overall 7; speaking 7, writing 6.5, listening 7, reading 6.5), OET (speaking B, writing C+, listening B, reading C+) and PTE Academic (speaking 75, writing 68, listening 73, reading 66). All components on one test, scores under two years old, no mixing of tests. A one-year English-speaking nursing job with an employer attestation or a Canadian re-entry program can count instead.
How soon can I retake the NCLEX-RN in Saskatchewan?
Forty-five days after the last attempt. You may apply earlier, but the new Authorization to Test only begins on day 46. Each retake means registering with Pearson VUE again (CA$378) and a new CRNS NCLEX application (CA$136.50).
I am a Canadian graduate registered to write the NCLEX in another province. Can I still work in Saskatchewan?
Yes. Submit the CRNS initial application (CA$157.50), have your school send the completion form and transcripts, and once approved complete the Graduate Nurse change form with a criminal record check and CNPS protection. The GN licence appears on your portal and on Nurse License Check.
Official links and sources
Rules and fees change. Everything on this page was read on CRNS's and NCSBN's own pages on October 7, 2026; when a detail matters to you, confirm it there:
This guide explains the process; it is not legal or immigration advice. Decisions about your eligibility are made by College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan.
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