FAQs

College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia

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Frequently Asked Questions

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About NCAS
Assessments
Triple-track assessment (RN/LPN/HCA)
Preparing for your assessment
Fees and financial assistance

About NCAS

What is NCAS?

NCAS is the Nursing Community Assessment Service.

We operate a competency-based assessment program that serves the health care registry in British Columbia, and nursing regulators in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. NCAS assesses internationally educated health practitioners seeking licensure in these provinces.

Who is eligible to take an assessment?

The NCAS assessment is aimed at healthcare practitioners who obtained their healthcare education outside of Canada, and are looking to license in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

NCAS also assesses healthcare assistants trained in other jurisdictions, nursing professionals who are returning to practice after a period outside the profession, and those for whom employers may have requested a competency review. In all instances, NCAS is assessing the extent to which an applicant demonstrates entry-to-practice level competencies.

To be eligible for an NCAS assessment, you must be referred to NCAS by the appropriate regulatory college or registry in your province.

Why do I have to go through the NCAS process?

Regulators require different kinds of information to determine your eligibility for registration.

NCAS provides an assessment of an applicant's skills and competencies. Other agencies assess the authenticity and equivalence of education, for instance, or an applicant's criminal record. NCAS also provides an opportunity for internationally educated and re-entry nurses to demonstrate their current competence to practice, competence that may not have been evidenced by a paper assessment.

All this information together offers the regulator or registry the best picture of the applicant, and helps these organizations determine whether the applicant can practice safely, ethically, and competently in their chosen province.

Assessments

What does the assessment look like?	Each assessment consists of two parts: A computer-based assessment (CBA) – 3 to 5 hours in length A simulation lab assessment (SLA) – 2.5 to 6 hours in length The length of each assessment depends on the profession(s) for which you are being assessed.
How much time do I have to complete the NCAS assessments?	You have one year to complete your NCAS referral, from the date that NCAS processes your referral to the date you complete your final assessment component. It is important to note that the CBA and SLA(s) must be completed within six months of each other. If six months is exceeded, the CBA will need to be retaken at full cost. This is because the NCAS assessment evaluates competencies and knowledge at a specific point in time: the more time that lapses, the less valid the results. If you are unable to complete your assessment in one year, please contact us to apply for an extension.
What is the CBA? Where can I take it?	The CBA is a 3 or 5-hour proctored, computer-based assessment that can be taken at one of more than a hundred testing centres in 60 countries in the world. The CBA for the RPN assessment can be done virtually via a remote proctor. The CBA seeks to assess your knowledge of the skills and competencies required to enter practice in the health practitioner role you are assessing for. It is made up of gradually unfolding cases that take you through the step-by-step process of clinical thinking and decision making. There is no pass or fail. Rather, the assessment is aimed at identifying strengths and gaps. Your results will not be sent to you until you have completed the Simulation Lab Assessment. Learn more about the Computer-Based Assessment.
What is the SLA? Where can I take it?	The SLA is the Simulation Lab Assessment. The SLA is a 2.5 to 6-hour assessment, taken in-person at an NCAS Assessment Centre. Candidates seeking licensure in British Columbia must take their SLA at the NCAS Assessment Centre in Vancouver, BC. Candidates seeking licensure in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Price Edward Island must take their SLA at the NCAS Assessment Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The SLA is compromised of either three or five different stations, depending on the profession being assessed. Each station focuses on one simulated clinical scenario; some will have a mannequin and others will involve face-to-face interaction with a standardized patient (trained actor). Learn more about each simulation lab assessment: HCA SLA RN/LPN SLA RPN SLA
Can I be assessed for more than one profession at a time?	Yes! NCAS offers: a triple-track assessment (RN/LPN/HCA) in British Columbia; and a dual-track assessment (RN/LPN) in Nova Scotia. In assessing your competency for multiple professions at once, you can expand your career options and find work faster in your chosen province.
How and when do I get my NCAS results?	Within 60 days of your completion of all assessment components (CBA and SLA), NCAS will issue you a performance report. Further information can be found on the Results page.

Triple-track assessment (RN/LPN/HCA)

What is the triple-track assessment?	The triple-track assessment is an innovative solution designed to assess your competency in the following three professions in a single assessment process: Registered nurse (RN) Licensed practical nurse (LPN) Health care assistant (HCA) In assessing your competency for multiple professions at once, the triple-track assessment can expand your career options and help you find work faster in British Columbia. Key features of the assessment Three professions, one assessment process: save time and get more value out of your competency assessment. Includes the following components: A computer-based assessment: up to 5 hours in length. Two simulation lab assessments: HCA 2.5 hours, RN/LPN 3.5 hours in length Total fee: $3,000 CAD. After completing the assessment, you will receive three competency reports that you can then use to seek registration in the nursing profession of your choice. NCAS will send results for your RN and LPN assessments to the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, and upon request, to the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry for your HCA assessment.
Who is eligible to register for the triple-track assessment?	Internationally educated nurses referred to NCAS by the BC College of Registered Nurses and Midwives to be assessed as an RN and LPN are eligible for the triple-track assessment. Candidates originally referred to NCAS for an HCA assessment may be eligible for the triple-track assessment. Contact the BC College of Registered Nurses and Midwives to see if you qualify for a referral for the triple-track assessment. Candidates with no nursing education (i.e., at the health care assistant level or equivalent) are not eligible. Please note that the triple-track assessment does not assess competency for the role of registered psychiatric nurse (RPN).
I'm seeking licensure as a health care assistant and do not have education at the nurse level. What are my options?	You must meet the requirements of the BC College of Registered Nurses and Midwives to be assessed as an RN or LPN and take the triple-track assessment. Contact the College to see if you qualify for a referral for the triple-track assessment. You can still register for the single-track assessment for health care assistants. See Getting Started for more information.
I'm already registered for an NCAS assessment but haven't completed it yet. Can I take the triple-track assessment instead?	Yes! If you have an active referral as an RN or LPN, you can choose to switch to the triple-track assessment. No new referral is required from the BC College of Registered Nurses and Midwives. Contact us directly to register. The triple-track assessment costs $3,000 CAD. if you already paid for your assessment, an upgrade fee may be required: If you were registered for the LPN assessment: $500 CAD. If you were registered for the RN or dual RN/LPn assessment: no additional fee required.
I already completed either the computer-based assessment (CBA) or simulation lab assessment (SLA). Can I switch to the triple-track assessment?	Yes! If you have an active referral as an RN or LPN, you can choose to switch to the triple-track assessment. No new referral is required from the BC College of Registered Nurses and Midwives. Contact us directly to register. You will need to complete: a CBA to assess your competency in the three professions (RN, LPN and HCA); and an SLA, in whole or in part (depending on your situation), to assess your competency in the three professions (RN, LPN and HCA). The cost to upgrade to the triple-track assessment is $1,000 CAD.
I already completed my NCAS assessment in full, but I wish to take the triple-track assessment. What are my options?	You can upgrade to the triple-track assessment. You will need to: take a new CBA to assess your competency in the three professions (RN, LPN and HCA); complete a new SLA; and pay an upgrade fee: $3,000 CAD if you took the RN or LPN assessment or $2,000 CAD if you tool the dual RN/LPN assessment.
What is the cost of the triple-track assessment?	The total fee for the triple-track assessment is $3,000 CAD. Special upgrade fees apply if you have paid for another assessment, or have completed another assessment in part or in full. Refer to this FAQ or email us at info@ncasbc.ca to determine which fees apply to your situation.
How do I register for the triple-track assessment?	Email us at info@ncasbc.ca to confirm your interest (please include your NCAS ID). A member of our team will reach out to confirm your eligibility and provide more information.

Preparing for your assessment

I need a testing accommodation - what do I do?

A testing accommodation is a modification made to the assessment environment to support applicants with medical, physical, psychological, or learning conditions, or to observe a spiritual or religious observance.

How do I prepare for the CBA or SLA?

There are many ways to prepare for the assessments. Familiarizing yourself with simulation labs is a good place to start. Sample questions, resources and videos are all available under How to Prepare.

Please Note: Independent, private organizations may offer NCAS preparation courses. NCAS has not reviewed, approved or endorsed any of these courses or programs, and cannot attest to whether they will help strengthen your performance on our competency assessments.

How were the competencies established?

Each nursing role has specific competencies that were established and validated by subject-matter experts in each of the professions. NCAS has identified behaviours and indicators that relate to each competency. These competencies are mapped to a blueprint. As you move through each assessment, your responses and behaviours will be assessed against those expected in each competency area. More information can be found on the How to Prepare page.

Fees and financial assistance

How much does the assessment cost?

Assessment fees vary by region. Please visit your province's Fees & Policies page for details:

Is there financial assistance available for IENs?

Yes, there is! The Province of British Columbia has announced it will support IENs who wish to work in B.C. by offering approximately $12 million to consolidate the assessment processes, provide bursaries for internationally educated nurses, launch a marketing campaign and provide nurse navigator supports.

To find out more, please visit the Health Match BC website. The site will be updated frequently in the coming weeks and months.

I have more questions!

NCAS is a small team, with limited capacity to respond to the numerous inquires we receive – though we certainly do our best to reply in a timely manner!

Please review the informa tion in this FAQ or on our Scheduling pages prior to contacting us. If you still have questions, we'd be happy to help.

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