hapter 15 of the Acts of 2023, the Regulated Health Professions Act, is pleased to make new regulations
just regulations regs 2026 155.pdf
Nova Scotia — Regulations
Executive A certified copy of an Order in Council dated Council June 23, 2026 2026-202 The Governor in Council on the report and recommendation of the Minister of Health and Wellness dated June 4, 2026, and pursuant to Sections 4, 13, 14 and 177 of
Chapter 15 of the Acts of 2023, the Regulated Health Professions Act, is pleased to make new regulations respecting nursing and midwifery, in the form set forth in
Schedule “A” attached to and forming part of the Report and Recommendation, effective on and after June 30, 2026.
Schedule “A” Regulations Respecting Nursing and Midwifery made by the Governor in Council under Sections 4, 13, 14 and 177 of
Chapter 15 of the Acts of 2023, the Regulated Health Professions Act
Interpretation Citation 1 These regulations may be cited as the Nursing and Midwifery Regulations.
Definitions 2 In these regulations, “Act” means the Regulated Health Professions Act; “Board” is further defined to mean the board of the Regulator; “competency framework” means a framework approved by the Board establishing the competencies that registrants are required to possess to practise safely and ethically within the scope of practice of their designation or licensing category; “former Acts” is further defined to mean
Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2019, the Nursing Act and
Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2006, the Midwifery Act; “General Regulations” means the Regulated Health Professions General Regulations made under the Act; “Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia” means the council constituted under
Section 3 of
Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2006, the Midwifery Act; “Nova Scotia College of Nursing” means the college established under
Section 3 of
Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2019, the Nursing Act; “registration and licensing decision maker” means the registrar, the registration and licensing committee or the registration and licensing review committee, as applicable;
Schedule “A”: Page 1 of 17 2026-202 June 23, 2026
“Regulator” means the Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator; “title protection” means the restriction on the use of a title associated with a particular designation or category of licence to persons who are authorized to practise within the scope of that designation or registered and licensed in that category of licence. Regulator Nova Scotia College of Nursing continued 3 The Nova Scotia College of Nursing is continued as a regulatory body under the name Nova Scotia Nursing and Midwifery Regulator with the purpose of regulating the professions of nursing and midwifery in accordance with the objects set out in
Section 6 of the Act. Other existing regulator replaced 4 The Regulator replaces the Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia as the regulator of the profession of midwifery. Bylaw authorization 5 The Regulator is authorized to make bylaws under any of the following, in accordance with the Act and these regulations: (a) clauses 12(2)(d), (j), (k), (
l) and (
m) of the Act; (
b) subject to subsection 7(1), clause 12(2)(
a) of the Act. Public representatives on Board 6 In addition to the requirement of subsection 7(2) of the Act, the number of public representatives on the Board must be no fewer than 3 and no more than 4. Appointment of public representatives to Board 7
(1) One of the public representatives described in
Section 6 must be appointed to the Board by the Governor in Council and, if that Governor in Council-appointed public representative position on the Board becomes vacant, it must be filled by an appointment by the Governor in Council.
(2) To appoint a public representative other than the public representative described in subsection (1) to the Board in order to meet the requirements of
Section 6, the Regulator must do all of the following: (
a) publicly advertise an opening for a public representative on the Board on the Regulator’s website, another website or another publicly available
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digital platform (
i) for no fewer than 60 days, if the opening is for a public representative to serve a full term on the Board, or (ii) for no fewer than 30 days, if the opening is for a public representative to serve a partial term on the Board; (
b) select an applicant and appoint them to the Board after the applicable period described in clause (
a) has elapsed.
(3) The Board may remove a public representative described in subsection (2) from the Board before the expiration of their term of office if (
a) the Board makes a special motion to remove the public representative from the Board; and (
b) a 2/3 majority of the Board votes in favour of the special motion described in clause (a).
(4) If the Board position of a public representative described in subsection (2) becomes vacant before the expiration of the public representative’s term of office, (
a) the Board may select and appoint a new public representative to fill the vacancy on the Board by using the results of previous recruitment efforts or undertaking additional recruitment; and (
b) the public representative described in clause (
a) may complete the term of the public representative they are replacing and that term is not included in any term limit set out in the General Regulations. Scope of Practice Scope of practice of nursing 8
(1) The scope of practice of nursing is the application of specialized and evidence-based nursing knowledge, skills and judgment that have been taught in an approved education program or are set out in 1 or more of the following approved by the Board: (
a) competency frameworks; (
b) standards of practice; (
c) practice guidelines.
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(2) The scope of practice of nursing as described in subsection (1) includes the performance of any or all of the following activities: (
a) planning, implementing and evaluating physical, mental and psychosocial health care; (
b) assessing, diagnosing, treating and managing health conditions and diseases; (
c) planning, implementing and evaluating interventions to promote health and prevent health conditions and diseases; (
d) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the bylaws.
(3) The scope of practice of nursing also includes health promotion, research, education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management, administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the activities and application of specialized and evidence-based nursing knowledge, skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2). Scope of practice of midwifery 9
(1) The scope of practice of midwifery is the application of specialized and evidence-based midwifery knowledge, skills and judgment that have been taught in an approved education program or are set out in 1 or more of the following approved by the Board: (
a) competency frameworks; (
b) standards of practice; (
c) practice guidelines.
(2) The scope of practice of midwifery as described in subsection (1) includes the performance of any or all of the following activities: (
a) prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care of clients; (
b) assessing, diagnosing, treating and managing health conditions and diseases related to sexual and reproductive health; (
c) health promotion and disease prevention activities related to the activities described in clauses (
a) and (b);
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(
d) performing any other services, roles, functions and activities included in the scope of practice of the designations and licensing categories set out in the bylaws.
(3) The scope of practice of midwifery also includes health promotion, research, education, inter-professional collaboration, consultation, management, administration, advocacy, regulation or system development that is related to the activities and application of specialized and evidence-based midwifery knowledge, skills and judgment described in subsections (1) and (2). Scope of practice of designations and licensing categories 10 Under clauses 12(2)(
k) and (
l) of the Act, the Regulator may make bylaws setting out all of the following: (
a) the scope of practice of each designation and licensing category established (
i) in these regulations, and (ii) in the bylaws; (
b) the title protection authorized for each designation and licensing category established in the bylaws. Registration and Licensing Practising licence categories 11 The following are the practising licence categories for nursing and midwifery: (
a) licensed practical nurse practising licence; (
b) registered psychiatric nurse practising licence; (
c) registered nurse practising licence; (
d) nurse practitioner practising licence; (
e) registered midwife practising licence; (
f) any other category of practising licence established in the bylaws. Conditional licence categories 12 The following are the conditional licence categories for nursing and midwifery:
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(
a) licensed practical nurse conditional licence; (
b) registered psychiatric nurse conditional licence; (
c) registered nurse conditional licence; (
d) nurse practitioner conditional licence; (
e) registered midwife conditional licence; (
f) any other category of conditional licence established in the bylaws. Application and criteria for registration in practising register 13
(1) An application required by
Section 34 of the Act must be completed in the form required by the registrar.
(2) In addition to the completed application, an applicant for registration in a practising register must submit all of the following to the registrar: (
a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the criteria are waived under
Section 59 of the Act: (
i) they are a graduate of 1 of the following: (
A) an education program approved for registration in the practising register in which they seek to be registered, (
B) an education program that, in the opinion of the registration and licensing decision maker, is equivalent to an education program approved for registration in the practising register in which they seek to be registered, (
C) an education program that, together with the applicant’s additional education and experience and in the opinion of the registration and licensing decision maker, provides the applicant with the competencies to practise in the scope of practice of registrants in the practising register in which they seek to be registered, (ii) they have successfully completed any examinations required by the Board for registration in the practising register in which they seek to be registered,
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(iii) they have completed a competence assessment, if directed to do so by the registration and licensing decision maker, (iv) they have successfully completed any bridging education required for registration that was determined to be necessary by a competence assessment, (
v) they have demonstrated proficiency in the English language, in the manner prescribed by the registrar, (vi) for an application submitted on or after December 1, 2026, they are a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to live and work in Canada, (vii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek to be registered without conditions or restrictions, (viii) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions, agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other registration or licensing authority that would preclude registration in a register other than a conditional register, (ix) they are the person named in the documentation submitted in support of the application, (
x) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the bylaws, they are eligible for a practising license that corresponds with the practising register in which they seek to be registered, (xi) they meet any additional criteria for registration in a practising register set out in the bylaws; (
b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.
(3) The processing under
Section 36 of the Act of an application and its associated information, documents and fee described in subsections (1) and (2) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.
(4) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.
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Criteria for practising licence 14
(1) In addition to the completed application in a form approved by the registrar required by
Section 35 of the Act, an applicant for a practising license must submit all of the following to the registrar: (
a) proof satisfactory to the registration and licensing decision maker that the applicant meets all of the following criteria, except if any or all of the criteria are waived under
Section 59 of the Act: (
i) they meet the registration criteria in subclauses 13(2)(a)(iii), (iv), (v), (vii) and (ix) and, for an application submitted on or after December 1, 2026, in subclause 13(2)(a)(vi), (ii) they are registered in the practising register that corresponds with the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence, (iii) they have professional liability insurance or another form of malpractice coverage or liability protection in the form and amount set by the Board, (iv) they meet the requirements of the continuing competence program for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence, (
v) they meet the currency of practice requirements for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence, (vi) they have no outstanding complaints, prohibitions, conditions, agreements or restrictions originating from the Regulator or any other registration or licensing authority that limit their ability to practise, (vii) they have completed any assessments or education required by the Board for the licensing category for which they are seeking a practising licence, (viii) they meet any additional criteria for issuing a practising licence set out in the bylaws; (
b) the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The processing under
Section 36 of the Act of an application and associated
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information, documents and fee described in subsection (1) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.
(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable. Criteria for registration in conditional register 15
(1) The registrar must enter the name of a person who meets all of the following in a conditional register: (
a) for an existing registrant in a practising register, they have (
i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or (ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process; (
b) for an applicant for registration in a register, they meet all of the following requirements: (
i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, except as provided in subsection (4), other than the criteria in (
A) subclauses 13(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (
x) and (xi), and (
B) for an application submitted before December 1, 2026, subclause 13(2)(a)(vi), (ii) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek to be registered with conditions or restrictions, (iii) they have either (
A) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or (
B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process, (iv) under the requirements of the Act, these regulations and the
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bylaws, they are eligible for a conditional licence that corresponds with the conditional register in which they seek to be registered, (
v) any other requirements for registration in a conditional register set out in the bylaws, (vi) they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The processing of an application under
Section 36 of the Act for an applicant described in clause (1)(
b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.
(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(
b) must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.
(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection 16(1), may be granted conditional registration by the registration and licensing decision maker pending the passing of the registration examinations. Criteria for conditional licence 16
(1) The requirements to be met for issuing a conditional licence under
Section 43 of the Act are as follows: (
a) for a person who is an existing registrant holding a practising licence, they have (
i) agreed to conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or (ii) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed on them as a result of a regulatory process; (
b) for an applicant for a licence, they meet all of the following requirements: (
i) all of the criteria for registration in a practising register, except as provided in subsection (4), other than the criteria in (
A) subclauses 13(2)(a)(vii), (viii), (
x) and (xi), and (
B) for an application submitted before December 1, 2026, subclause 13(2)(a)(vi),
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(ii) they are registered in a conditional register that corresponds with the licensing category for which they are seeking a conditional licence, (iii) the requirements for a practising licence in subclauses 14(1)(a)(iii) and (vii), (iv) they have the capacity, competence and character to safely and ethically engage in the practice of the profession in which they seek to be licensed with conditions or restrictions, (
v) any additional criteria for issuing a conditional licence set out in the bylaws, (vi) they have either (
A) agreed to the registration and licensing decision maker’s imposition of conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise, or (
B) had conditions or restrictions that limit their ability to practise imposed by the registration and licensing decision maker or a statutory committee; (
c) for all applicants, they have paid the applicable fee, within the time determined by the registrar and using a method acceptable to the registrar.
(2) The processing of an application under
Section 36 of the Act for an applicant described in clause (1)(
b) must be completed by the registrar as soon as practicable.
(3) A review and decision under Sections 37 and 38 of the Act regarding an application made by an applicant described in clause (1)(
b) must be completed by the registration and licensing committee as soon as practicable.
(4) An applicant who has not passed the examinations required for registration, but who otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (1), may be issued a conditional licence by the registration and licensing decision maker pending the passing of the registration examinations. Practice and Title Use Restrictions, Services Not Prohibited and Publication Restrictions Restriction on practice of nursing 17 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of nursing or describe their
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activities as “nursing” unless they are 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding a licensed practical nurse practising licence or a licensed practical nurse conditional licence; (
b) a registrant holding a registered psychiatric nurse practising licence or a registered psychiatric nurse conditional licence; (
c) a registrant holding a registered nurse practising licence or a registered nurse conditional licence; (
d) a registrant holding a nurse practitioner practising licence or a nurse practitioner conditional licence; (
e) otherwise authorized to practise nursing, in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws; (
f) exempt from the application of the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on practice of midwifery 18 No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of midwifery or describe their activities as “midwifery” unless they are 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding a registered midwife practising licence or a registered midwife conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise midwifery, in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws; (
c) exempt from the application of the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of “licensed practical nurse” title, description or designation 19 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “licensed practical nurse”, the abbreviation “LPN” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws: (
i) a licensed practical nurse practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(
a) of the Act,
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(ii) a licensed practical nurse conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise as a licensed practical nurse or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of “registered psychiatric nurse” title, description or designation 20 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “registered psychiatric nurse”, the abbreviation “RPN” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws: (
i) a registered psychiatric nurse practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(
a) of the Act, (ii) a registered psychiatric nurse conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise as a registered psychiatric nurse or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of “registered nurse” title, description or designation 21 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “registered nurse”, the abbreviation “RN” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws: (
i) a registered nurse practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(
a) of the Act, (ii) a registered nurse conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise as a registered nurse or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of “nurse practitioner” title, description or designation 22 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “nurse practitioner”, the
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abbreviation “NP” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws: (
i) a nurse practitioner practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(
a) of the Act, (ii) a nurse practitioner conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise as a nurse practitioner or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of “registered midwife” title, description or designation 23 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “registered midwife” or “midwife”, the abbreviation “RM” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws: (
i) a registered midwife practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(
a) of the Act, (ii) a registered midwife conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise as a registered midwife or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of “nurse” title, description or designation 24 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of “nurse” or any derivation or abbreviation of them either alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding 1 of the following under these regulations or the bylaws: (
i) a licensed practical nurse practising licence, a registered psychiatric nurse practising licence, a registered nurse practising
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licence or a nurse practitioner practising licence, as permitted by clause 40(
a) of the Act, (ii) a licensed practical nurse conditional licence, a registered psychiatric nurse conditional licence, a registered nurse conditional licence or a nurse practitioner conditional licence; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise as a nurse or to use the relevant title, description or designation in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of bylaw licensing category title, description or designation 25 No person may take or use the title, description or designation of a licensing category established in the bylaws under clause 12(2)(
l) of the Act, unless the person is 1 of the following: (
a) a registrant holding a licence in the category that authorizes the use of that title, description or designation; (
b) otherwise authorized to practise within the scope of the designation or to use the title, description or designation of that licensing category, in accordance with the Act, these regulations, the General Regulations or the bylaws. Restriction on use of title or designation in advertisement or publication 26 In any advertisement or publication, including business cards, websites and signage, that refers to activities that fall within the scope of practice of nursing or midwifery, the following restrictions apply: (
a) only a person who is authorized to do so by these regulations may use the following alone or in combination with other words, letters or descriptions: (
i) the title of “licensed practical nurse”, “registered psychiatric nurse”, “registered nurse”, “nurse practitioner” or “registered midwife” or any other title or designation protected by these regulations or the bylaws, (ii) any derivation or abbreviation of the titles or designations described in subclause (i); (
b) only a person who is authorized to do so under
Section 17 may describe their activities as “nursing”;
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(
c) only a person who is authorized to do so under
Section 18 may describe their activities as “midwifery”. Fines Professional conduct fine maximum 27 A fine imposed by the professional conduct committee under clause 110(1)(
m) of the Act must not exceed a maximum amount of $100 000. Criminal Offences and Withdrawal or Suspension of Privileges Criminal offence or suspension or withdrawal of privilege of applicant or registrant 28 In addition to the requirements of
Section 61 of the Act and
Section 60 of the General Regulations, an applicant or registrant who is charged with, pleads guilty to or is convicted of any offence under the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) or its regulations or who has privileges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) suspended or withdrawn must immediately report the offence, suspension or withdrawal to the registrar. Transition from Former Acts to Act Board member requirements for first 12 months or until replacement of initial Board 29
(1) An initial Board member is exempt from the board membership requirements in subsection 8(5) of the Act until the earlier of 12 months after the date the Regulator is established under these regulations and the replacement of the initial Board if they transitioned from the board of the Nova Scotia College of Nursing to the initial Board.
(2) The initial Board described in
Section 9 of the Act must meet all of the following requirements until the earlier of 12 months after the date the Regulator is established under these regulations and the replacement of the initial Board: (
a) it must not include any of the following positions designated by
Section 4 of
Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2006, the Midwifery Act, to be on the Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia: (
i) a registered nurse recommended by the Nova Scotia College of Nursing, (ii) a physician recommended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons; (
b) it must be composed of no more than 15 members.
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(3) The initial Board described in
Section 9 of the Act includes any member of the board of the Nova Scotia College of Nursing whose term of office has expired, but who remains a member of the board under clause 5(1)(
f) of
Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2019, the Nursing Act, until the earliest of the following dates: (
a) the date that is 12 months after the date the Regulator is established under these regulations; (
b) the date of the replacement of the initial Board; (
c) the date the member resigns from the initial Board.