Letter to the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR)
August 26, 2026
Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR)
Re: 2027 NCLEX-RN Fee Increase and the Financial Cost of Entry to Nursing Practice
Dear CCRNR Leadership,
On behalf of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA), representing more than 36,000 nursing students across Canada, we are writing to express our serious concern regarding the increase to the Canadian NCLEX-RN registration fee from $360 CAD to $570 CAD, effective February 1, 2027 — an increase of $210, or 58.3%.
As the national body bringing together registered nurse regulators across Canada, CCRNR holds an important position in the regulatory landscape through which nursing graduates transition from education into professional practice. For this reason, we believe this increase must be considered not only as a change to the cost of one examination, but within the broader financial realities of becoming a registered nurse in Canada.
The CNSA recognizes that the costs associated with administering a secure and reliable licensure examination may increase over time. We also recognize that the NCLEX-RN registration fee has remained unchanged since 2000 and understand that, after more than two decades, an adjustment may be necessary.
Our concern is the magnitude of this increase and the cumulative financial burden already placed on Canadian nursing graduates as they move from education into regulated practice.
The NCLEX-RN fee does not exist in isolation. Depending on their jurisdiction, graduates may also face application and assessment fees, initial registration and annual practising fees, professional liability protection, and other regulatory costs. In some jurisdictions, combined regulatory and examination costs can exceed $1,700 before applicable taxes and other transition-to-practice expenses are considered.
These expenses come after years of tuition and educational costs, during which nursing students may complete more than 1,200 hours of mandatory clinical practicums, contributing to patient care under supervision throughout Canada’s healthcare system.
CNSA therefore respectfully asks CCRNR and its members to:
raise concerns with NCSBN regarding the magnitude and implementation of the 58.3% Canadian NCLEX-RN fee increase;
advocate for meaningful engagement with Canadian nursing students and recent graduates when decisions affecting the cost of entry to practice are considered;
examine the cumulative regulatory and examination costs facing new RN graduates across Canadian jurisdictions;
explore opportunities to reduce, offset, subsidize, or otherwise mitigate financial barriers to entry to practice; and
work collaboratively with CNSA and other nursing organizations toward a more financially accessible transition from nursing education to professional practice.
We also encourage CCRNR to consider how nursing students and new graduates can be more consistently represented in national discussions concerning entry-to-practice requirements and associated costs. Those preparing to enter the profession should have a meaningful voice in decisions that directly affect their ability to do so.
Canada needs nurses. Addressing nursing workforce challenges must include ensuring that qualified graduates can financially make the transition into the profession they have spent years preparing to join.
CNSA would welcome the opportunity to meet with CCRNR and its members to discuss these concerns, share the perspectives of nursing students and new graduates across Canada, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
CNSA's public statement regarding the 2027 NCLEX-RN registration fee increase is enclosed for your consideration.
https://www.cnsa.ca/updates/the-cost-from-nursing-education-and-serving-our-communities
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
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For media inquiries please contact communications@cnsa.ca