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Nurse Practitioner

This section applies to you if you are:

  • registered/licensed as a nurse practitioner (NP) in another Canadian province/territory, or 
  • a recent graduate of an approved NL or other Canadian nurse practitioner education program.

Categories of Practice

In Newfoundland and Labrador, nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed in one of three categories of practice:

  • Family/All-Ages
  • Adult
  • Pediatric

For information on the process to change your category of practice, see Fact Sheet NP Change of Category.

Overview of Licensure Process – Canadian Licensed NP

  1. Create an account & submit application for licensure eligibility assessment:  
  • Register on the College’s Member Portal (Alinity) and apply as a Registered Nurse.
  • Choose ‘Practicing’ option and select “I am a Registered Nurse licensed in a Canadian jurisdiction seeking licensure in NL for the first time”.
  • See Canadian Applicant page for requirements related to identification documents, Criminal record check, and English language proficiency.
  • Ensure you include your RN education and NP education, RN and NP licensure exam information, and specify RN or NP practice hours, in the corresponding sections of the application. 
  • Purchase the appropriate professional liability protection (PLP) coverage for Newfoundland & Labrador through the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS). RN PLP Fee ($78.20 includes HST), NP PLP fee ($183.43 includes HST). Applicants must enter their CRNNL# when purchasing CNPS. This number can be found in the CNPS-PLP section of the application. Note: CNPS coverage for another province/territory is not accepted. Coverage must be for NL.
  • Submit the application and pay the processing fee ($172.50 CAD includes HST).

2. Submit PDF application to add NP designation to licence: Complete the initial NP licensure form and submit to the College by email at registration@crnnl.ca. 

3. Submit Declaration Form: Confirm that you have reviewed the Tamper Resistant Prescription Pad Program (TRPPP) information posted on the Department of Health and Community Services, Government of NL website. You must send the declaration form to registration@crnnl.ca.

Application review: Once the College receives and approves all required information, the applicant will be provided with a decision within three (3) business days.

Overview of Licensure Process – New NP graduate

Eligibility Criteria

  • You hold a current practicing RN license with the College, or 
  • You are eligible for NP licensure in Newfoundland & Labrador.
  1. Submit application: Complete the initial NP licensure form and submit to the College by email at registration@crnnl.ca.
  2. Submit Declaration Form: Confirm that you have reviewed the Tamper Resistant Prescription Pad Program (TRPPP) information posted on the Department of Health and Community Services, Government of NL website. You must send the declaration form to registration@crnnl.ca.
  3. Submit CNPE:F/AA licensure exam eligibility application and pay the processing fee ($86.28 includes HST). Please refer to Nurse Practitioner Examinations page for more information on the exam application process.

    NEXT STEPS:
  4. Exam coordination: The College will submit your name and contact information to the NP licensure   exam vendor. The vendor will contact you by email, prior to the exam, and you will be required to complete the vendor exam application process and pay the exam fee directly to the vendor. Please refer to Nurse Practitioner Examination page for more information on the exam application process and exam fee(s).
  5. Interim Licensure: The College will inform you by email when your NP licensure exam eligibility application has been approved and advise you of the process to apply for interim nurse practitioner licensure, should you have NP employment in NL, and wish to practice while you wait to write the licensure exam.
  6. If applicable – Apply for Interim NP licence through the College’s member portal. An interim licence authorizes graduates of an NP education program to practice in an NP position and establish their role while waiting to write and receive the results of the applicable licensure exam.
  7. The College will inform you of your NP licensure exam results by email.
    • If you are successful on your first exam attempt, you will be provided with information on the next steps to be granted a practicing NP licence. 
    • If you are unsuccessful on your first exam attempt your interim licence will be revoked and you are not eligible for a further interim NP licence. You will retain your RN practicing licence and may practice in an RN role while waiting to attempt the exam a second time.  

Interim NP Practice

Interim NP Licence holders must adhere to College regulatory documents and relevant legislation that govern NP practice, including but not limited to the authority to prescribe medications or to complete client care processes (e.g., Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) Prescribing Methadone for Opioid Dependence; Nurse Practitioners (NPs) Prescribing Methadone for Analgesia; Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). 

Practice Conditions

Prior to the issuance of an Interim NP Licence, the applicant must validate to the College that: 

  • They have a collaborative arrangement with a licensed NP or physician who is also employed by or has privileges within the RHA or another agency that the Interim NP License holder will be employed;
  • the licensed NP or physician is available to provide an accessible resource (i.e., in person, by phone, or other telecommunication method (i.e., telehealth video connection)) where the Interim NP Licence holder identifies a client’s care is outside their competence; and
  • the employer confirms understanding of the NP collaborative arrangement.

The above information must be provided using the Interim NP licensure declaration form.

Title 

The applicant who has been issued an interim licence to practice as a nurse practitioner is required to use the title Interim Nurse Practitioner Licence (Interim NP Licence).

Unauthorized Practice: Practicing without a valid NP interim licence or NP practicing licence will result in an Unauthorized Practice Fee of $100 per shift (up to a maximum of three (3) times the regular licensure cost) and discipline (when the period of practice exceeds three (3) shifts).