Changing or Retiring your license

NSCNR has two Registers and two general types of License: Practicing and Conditional. Most registrants hold a Practicing license. There are two kinds of Practicing licenses: Direct patient care and Indirect Patient care.

You may have a need to change from one category of license to another. There are specific processes to enable those changes. If you are retiring, moving, or taking an extended leave from practice, please see your options below.

Direct Patient Care Practicing Licenses

These are the licenses that apply to most Registrants. This is required to provide Naturopathic or Chiropractic care to Nova Scotians in a clinical setting.

Indirect Patient Care Practicing Licenses

These are active practicing licenses issued where the Registrant may not have a traditional practice with direct patient care. Indirect patient care would include those offering clinical advice or patient recommendations other than directly to a patient. Registrants providing clinical expertise in management, insurance or education could be licensed in this category.

To change your license from an Indirect Patient Care license to a Direct Patient Care license there are requirements related to clinical competency that will need to be assessed. Please contact the Registrar by email for more information at registrar@nscnr.ca.

If you wish to change your license from a Direct Patient Care license to an Indirect Patient Care license, contact the Registrar.

Conditional licenses

These may be issued for a variety of reasons. They may or may not relate to a disciplinary issue and should not be assumed to be unless stated in the online Registry.

  • they have not fully met a registration and licensure requirement and are provided time to comply;
  • they require a license with reduced or specific permissions;
  • this is imposed or agreed to as a result of a professional conduct process; or
  • this is imposed or agreed to as a result of another regulatory process.

Provisional License for New Graduates

New Graduates may experience delays in obtaining a practicing licence related to the release of final results of the required entry-to-practice examinations (CCEB or NPLEX, for example).

Applicants can be licensed with a special type of conditional license called a Provisional licence before they meet this requirements where all other requirements for a practicing license are met. The Registrar or Registration and Licensing Committee will determine eligibility and conditions for those who qualify and wish to enter into this temporary licensing option.

A Provisional Chiropractor License or Provisional Naturopath License is valid for a maximum of 90 days or until documentation related to final examination results are obtained. Any Provisional license will be immediately revoked on unsuccessful completion of required examinations. A Provisional license will be transitioned to a Practicing License upon successful completion of the required examinations with the payment of the related additional dues or fees and compliance with any additional requirements.

Once the missing exam results criteria is fulfilled, a Provisional license will be automatically changed to a Direct Patient Care License.

Retiring your License or taking a Leave of Absence from practice?

Are you retiring, unemployed, taking parental or sick leave, or moving outside of Nova Scotia? 

If you will not be practicing Chiropractic or Naturopathy, or using the the Protected titles in Nova Scotia for any reason, you have two options.

1: Maintain Your License as Direct or Indirect Patient Care

NSCNR does not have a “non-practicing” or part-time licensure option. You can continue to hold a license even if you are not actively practicing or using title, but you must still meet all NSCNR requirements for the specific license type, including:

  • Professional Liability (Malpractice) Insurance
  • Maintaining current Emergency First Aid credentials
  • Continuing Competence Program requirements including continued education and Practice Reviews
  • Currency of Practice Hours
  • Renewing your license by the annual deadline

Maintaining your license allows you to return to practice in Nova Scotia at any time throughout the year. However, you must continue to pay the licensing fee and all other costs associated with licensure.

Option 2: Surrender Your License

Surrendering means you will no longer be licensed with NSCNR. You will not be able to work as an Chiropractor or Naturopath or use the protected titles of either profession, nor any abbreviation, in Nova Scotia until you re-license.

Annual license fees are not refundable if a registrant surrenders during the current licensing year.

To surrender your license, please send an e-mail to registrar@nscnr.ca clearly stating:

  • Your name and license number
  • That you wish to surrender your license
  • The date you wish your surrender to take effect
  • In formation regarding file custodianship requirements (please refer to the NSCRN Standard of Practice – Patient Record Management)

When determining whether to renew or surrender your license, consider:

  • the benefits and costs of maintaining professional liability insurance
  • the cost of re-licensure, including the application and JE Exam fees, permit fees, and the cost of resubmitting supporting documents such as a vulnerable sector check and First Aid Certification.
  • the duration of the period you intend to be on leave
  • the cost of licensing fees