Any company which employs people to collect accounts from debtors in Nova Scotia on behalf of third parties.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

(902) 424-5552

With this Licence, there are two different ways to submit your application form: 

A. You can send in a hard copy. You can get a form by: 
       1. downloading a form from our website; 
       2. visiting any Access Nova Scotia Centre; or 
       3. calling or writing the office listed above. 

B. You can fill it out on-line. To do this, you must be able to pay as follows: 
       1. by Visa, MasterCard or American Express Credit Card; or 
       2. with an already established positive balance account with the Nova Scotia Business Registry. 
       We cannot accept any form of Debit cards at this time. 

If you wish to apply on-line, click here. Before you begin, make sure you have at hand the information listed below! 

Information you will need to fill out your application form:

Details are required if the applicant or any partner, officer or director has
	had a business licence had a licence refused, suspended or revoked been involved in a personal or corporate bankruptcy unpaid judgments outstanding been convicted of a offence under the law and not been pardoned
Name and address of the financial institution housing the applicant's trust account Name, address and date of birth for the applicant, partners and officers Three year employment history for the applicant, partners and officers Address and manager's name for all branches

You can get a Licensing Guide from any Access Nova Scotia Centre or from the Business Licensing Section listed above.

To make application for a Collection Agency License, the candidate must first successfully pass the collection agency exam. The pass mark is 75%. On successful completion of the examination process, the following items, including the application, must be submitted by the applicant for a Collection Agency License.

1. A recent financial statement or opening balance statement audited by a chartered accountant.
2. A surety bond, in the amount of $20,000. Sample surety bond forms are available from Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations office 424-5552.
3. The license fee of $398.35. (Plus an additional fee of $142 per branch). Cheques should be made payable to the Minister of Finance.
4. Confirmation from a financial institution in Nova Scotia that a trust account has been opened in the name of the collection agency.
5. Two copies of each form or agreement that the collection agency proposes to use when entering into agreements with its clients, which must include the fees to be charged.
6. Two copies of each notice or form letter that the collection agency proposes to use in making demands for the collection of debt.
7. Collector application for the individual who wrote the agency exam.

When applying for a Non-Resident Collection Licence, you must submit the collector application for the individual who wrote the agency exam, and a copy of that persons collector's license in his/her province of residence, plus all of the other items above, as well as the following two items:

1. Information regarding the arrangements made for access to account records and financial information in Nova Scotia.
2. Copy of the Agency License issued to the applicant in the province of residence.

NOTE: All companies, whether sole proprietorships, partnerships or limited companies must register their business with the Registry Of Joint Stock Companies. That registration must be obtained before a Collection Agency License may be issued. Further information is available from the the office at 424-7770.

If all requirements are met and the application is approved, the Licence will be mailed to the applicant.

The licence is normally processed within 3 to 4 weeks, once all items which must accompany the application have been received, and all requirements are met. (Please allow several extra days for mail delivery.)

This licence expires annually, on April 30th at midnight. It can be renewed; the Department will send out a renewal notice before it expires.

Agency: $398.35
Branch: $142.00
Examination Fee: $ 42.50

If you send in an application form, payment is by cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance. No credit or debit cards are accepted at this time. 

If you apply on-line, payment is (a) by Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card, or (b) with an already established positive balance account with the Nova Scotia Business Registry. No debit cards are accepted at this time.

1. The business must be registered with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies .
2. The owner or manager of the Agency must have 2 years of experience in all facets of collection.

Agencies are not required to have a place of business in Nova Scotia nor is it necessary for individual collectors to be a resident of this province; collection activity can occur from outside this province.  However, the agency must provide access to its account information and trust account records within the province.

Solicitors who are acting in the ordinary course of their business as a solicitor are exempt.

Who is regulated under the Collection Agencies Act,?

1. Collection agencies:  that is, any firm whose business is dealing with the debtor of another business (or person) by arranging for the payment of the debts which that debtor owes to that business (or person) -- or any firm which sells forms or letters that are a collection scheme;
2. Collectors: that is, any people employed by (or appointed by) a collection agency to (a) solicit business for the agency; or, (b) collect debts for the agency; or, (c) trace debtors.

What is regulated under the Collection Agencies Act,?

1. The activities of collectors in their dealings with debtors -  A code of conduct is contained in the Act.
2. All forms and form letters used by Collection Agencies for the purpose of collecting debts.
3. The method by which monies received by Collection Agencies are maintained.
4. The level of expertise of managers / owners of Collection Agencies.

Collection Agencies Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 77