Nurse Practitioner

This section applies to you if you are currently a student/graduate of an approved NL or other Canadian nurse practitioner education program and/or are currently registered/licenced as an NP in another Canadian jurisdiction (province/territory).

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 Registration Process

Note: If you are not a current or former registrant of the College you must submit an application through MyCRNNL for provisional registration.

2. Complete the following:

• A prescribing Controlled Drugs and Substance (CDSA) course approved by the College. Certificate must be submitted with your application.
• The Tamper Resistant Prescription Pad Program (TRPPP), Department of Health and Community Services, Government of NL.

For approved education courses and information regarding TRPPP, contact [email protected].

3. The College will notify you by email that your application for NP licensure has been approved and direct you to apply for licensure.

Sections 4-6 apply to new NP graduates only

4. New graduates of a Nurse Practitioner Education program are required to successfully complete an NP licensure exam based on their education, specific to the following categories of practice. Refer to Nurse Practitioner Examinations for more information on the exam application process.

5. If applicable – Apply for Interim NP licence – An interim licence authorizes graduates of an NP educational program to practice in an NP position and establish their role while waiting to write, receive the results of the applicable licensure exam and pending finalizing full NP licensure. 

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 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 RN will be employed;
• the licenced 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 CRNNL approved form.

Title 

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

6. Successfully pass an NP examination.
   
7. Apply for initial NP licensure through MyCRNNL.

Registrants who practice without a valid NP interim licence or NP practicing licence will be subject to an Unauthorized Practice Fee 100/shift worked with a maximum fee of three times the regular licensure cost) and subject to discipline where the period of practice exceeds 3 shifts from and including the 1st shift.

For further information please call 709-753-6040 or email [email protected].