Notice
NEW Code of Professional Conduct in effect June 1, 2025 Read

Registered Psychiatric Nurse

Notice: Through recent amendments to the Registered Nurses Act and Registered Nurses Regulations the College can now licence Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN) to practice in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). This new category of licensure comes into effect on January 2, 2025. 

Licensure Endorsement

The applicant must hold current RPN licensure in another Canadian province or territory to apply with the College.  

The applicant would not qualify if:

  • they are not currently licensed, or held previous licensure, as an RPN in another Canadian province or territory
  • they are an internationally educated psychiatric nurse seeking RPN licensure in Canada for the first time
  • is not in good standing *
  • *Good standing means the applicant is not under review/investigation or is subject to any outstanding complaints with a nursing regulator and there are no conditions or restrictions on any nursing license or registration held.

Application Process

The Canadian RPN must:

  1. Complete the licensure eligibility assessment application and pay the application fee ($172.50).
  2. Submit two (2) of the following government issued identification documents:
    • Birth certificate
    • Passport
    • Driver’s License
    • Permanent resident card
    • Citizenship card
    • Immigration card
  3. Submit marriage certificate and/or legal change of name document (if applicable)
  4. Submit a current Criminal Record Check (<6 months old).
    • Applicants are encouraged to avail of the following online CRC service provider – CSI Screening and select the Canadian Criminal Record Check (econsent). CSI will provide your results electronically to the College within 24-48 hours.
    • If an applicant obtains a CRC through local police or the RCMP the original hard copy of the CRC will need to be submitted to the College via mail or drop off.
  5. Meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) through education, registration status, language proficiency testing, or experience.
    • Applicants must review the College’s ELP Factsheet to determine if they need to submit a test of ELP or if they meet one of the other methods of demonstrating ELP.
  6. Identify all jurisdictions where the applicant is currently registered and licensed.
    • Applicants will need to provide a verification of registration document from all jurisdictions where they are currently registration/licensure. Contact the licensing body to make your request. The document must be sent directly to the College by mail or email. 
  7. (a) Provide employment information for current nursing employer(s). If not currently employed in nursing, provide employment information for most recent nursing employer.
    (b) Applicants will be required to declare if they have ever been suspended or terminated from any nursing employment. If yes, the applicant will need to provide a brief explanation. The College will notify applicants when additional information is required.
  8. Applicant must declare the number of hours they practiced as an RPN during the previous five (5) years.
    • If you have practiced a minimum of 1125 hours in the last 5 years OR 450 hours in the last 2 years, you meet the currency of practice requirement.
    • If you have some practice hours in the last 5 years you meet currency of practice requirement for the current licensure year but will be required to meet 1125 hours in the last 5 years or 450 hours in the last 2 years to renew a licence for the next licensure year.

Once all the required information has been received and approved by the College, the applicant will be provided with a decision within 3 business days.

For those applicants deemed eligible for registration the College will notify them by email and direct them to the next steps to apply for licensure. The annual licensure fee is $402.47 plus Professional Liability Protection fee ($78.20) paid directly to the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS).

Canadian Applicants who practise without a valid 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.