Canada is a federated democracy whose constitution gives power to each provincial/territorial government to regulate health professions. Although each province/territory sets standards for nursing competence, much consistency has been achieved through voluntary inter-jurisdictional co-operation among regulatory bodies and professional associations.

Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) seeking to be licensed for practice in Canada commonly have to undertake a Validation process to determine that their combination of formal education and work experience have given them Substantially Equivalent Competence to a nurse educated in Canada. This case study will examine how Validation is carried out in two Canadian jurisdictions – British Columbia and Nova Scotia -- examining the similarities and differences faced by IENs undergoing Validation in the two provinces. The case will highlight how considerable consistency in Validation can be obtained without state intervention, by drawing on inter-jurisdictional, intra-professional co-operation and shared understandings.