nova scotia temporary work permit

You cannot register as a nurse anywhere in Canada without a current IELTS or CELBAN passing score. That is one of the criteria for registration in every province except Québec, where it's the French language exam you must pass. As Silverdragon102 says, you cannot get a work permit -temporary or otherwise - without first being registered with the regulatory body in the province where you wish to work. In Nova Scotia, that's the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (CRNNS). You cannot put the cart before the horse and obtain a work permit without first obtaining registration. The other thing you need to know is that temporary work permits are not plentiful for any profession. There is no shortage of nurses in Canada at present so there is no need for temporary permits for foreign nurses.