Nursing Programs in Saskatchewan: A Student Guide
The short answer
Registered nurses in Saskatchewan are regulated by the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS), the former Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association. Registered psychiatric nurses are regulated by a separate college, and licensed practical nurses have their own regulator. When we checked, the CRNS listed two approved RN routes for Canadian student graduates: the University of Regina (the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing, SCBScN) and the University of Saskatchewan.
How the SCBScN works
The SCBScN is delivered jointly by the University of Regina and Saskatchewan Polytechnic; the University of Regina announced in 2023 that the two institutions agreed to continue offering it together. Ask each campus where you would take each year and what the application route is, since the same degree may be taught at different sites.
The path to registration
The CRNS lists these steps for Canadian student graduates: register with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX-RN, create a CRNS account and submit the initial application, provide verification of program completion and transcripts, receive an authorization to test, book and write the exam, then pay licensure fees after passing. Fees and wording change, so use the current CRNS page for amounts and sequence.
A fill-in comparison sheet
Fictional examples of what to record in each column.
| Item | Program A (fictional) | Program B (fictional) |
|---|---|---|
| Credential and length | Direct-entry BN, as stated on the program page | After-degree BN, as stated on the program page |
| Approved by the regulator? | Listed on the regulator page, date checked: ____ | Listed on the regulator page, date checked: ____ |
| Prerequisites (and do any expire?) | Written out course by course | Written out course by course |
| Application deadline and selection method | Date and criteria copied from the admissions page | Date and criteria copied from the admissions page |
| Placement sites and travel | Ask the school where students are placed | Ask the school where students are placed |
| Language and other requirements | As listed by the school | As listed by the school |
| Delivery | Collaborative program with two institutions (example) | Single-university program (example) |
| Where you would live for each year | Your own plan | Your own plan |
Questions worth asking
- Which campus delivers each year and could the site change?
- How are placements allocated across the province?
- Are northern or rural pathways available, and how do you apply?
- What is the school's own published information on graduate exam results?
Common mistakes
- Applying to the SCBScN without understanding that it is a joint program.
- Starting the registration steps in the wrong order; the authorization to test comes before booking.
- Mixing up the RN, psychiatric nursing and practical nursing regulators.
FAQ
Q: Does a program listed by a school automatically qualify me to register?
No. Registration is decided by the regulator, not the school. Check that the program is on the CRNS' approved list and read the registration requirements that apply to graduates.
Q: Should I rely on this page for deadlines or tuition?
No. This page deliberately gives no deadlines, fees or admission averages because they change. Use the admissions page of each school and note the date you checked.
Q: Is this page legal or registration advice?
No. It is educational. Fiabita is a documentation and study tool, not a regulator or an admissions service.
Sources and further reading
- CRNS: Register and license (Canadian student graduates) — checked October 2026
- Sask Nursing Degree: SCBScN
- University of Regina: SCBScN continues (2023)
- Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada
- CASN accreditation and accredited-programs directory — national accreditation is separate from regulator approval