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Nurse practitioner applicants

What is a nurse practitioner?

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have undertaken graduate education and training in advanced clinical practice.

NPs conduct comprehensive health assessment, diagnose health/illness conditions, treat and manage acute and chronic illness within a holistic model of care. NPs order and interpret screening and diagnostic tests, perform procedures and prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions.

Download the scope of practice standards for nurse practitioners

Before you apply

RNs from Alberta or other Canadian jurisdictions

You will need to hold current RN registration in Alberta or another Canadian jurisdiction, and will need to have reported at least 4,500 hours of practice satisfactory to the registrar. Contact nursepractitioners@nurses.ab.ca to find out if you have enough RN hours.

You must then complete an approved NP program in Alberta, or an NP program elsewhere in Canada that is recognized in one of the Canadian jurisdictions. You will then need to pass the NP registration exam for your stream of practice.

NPs from other jurisdictions in Canada

You will need to hold active NP status in the jurisdiction where you are currently registered and have 1,000 NP practice hours in the last four years, of which 500 must be NP clinical hours. 

As part of the registration requirements, all CARNA members must meet the currency of practice requirement of 1,125 hours in the last five membership years. The NP practice hours above will count towards this requirement.

Internationally educated applicants

You must first be registered as an RN in Alberta, and have 4,500 hours of practice satisfactory to the registrar. Contact nursepractitioners@nurses.ab.ca to find out if you have enough RN hours. Once you have become an RN in Alberta, you can apply to the registration committee to you have NP and experience education evaluated.

How to apply

Initial nurse practitioner applicants

If you have met the requirements and are ready to apply for initial NP registration, here are your next steps.

Canadian nurse practitioner applicants

If you are or were registered in Canada outside of Alberta as an NP, here is what's required to practise in this province.

Graduate nurse practitioner permit

While waiting to complete eligibility requirements, nurse practitioner graduates may submit an application for a GNP permit so that they may engage in nurse practitioner practice.

Courtesy permits

Become a nurse
Internationally educated applicants
Alberta registered nurse assessment program
Internationally educated nurses FAQ
New graduate applicants
Graduate nurse permit
Canadian RN applicants
Courtesy permits
Nurse practitioner applicants
Initial nurse practitioner applicants
Canadian nurse practitioner applicants
Graduate nurse practitioner permit
Courtesy permits
Registration requirements
Approved nursing education programs
English language proficiency
Exam requirement
NCLEX-RN exam
Common questions about the NCLEX-RN
Nurse practitioner exams
Canadian Nurse Practitioner Exam (CNPE)
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam
Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam
Custom testing arrangements
Continuing competence
Describing learning needs
Documenting a learning plan
Exemptions
Program monitoring
Currency of practice
Fitness to practice (FTP)
Jurisprudence 2020 course
Reporting criminal history
Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse and Misconduct course
Provisional permit holders FAQ
Contact Us

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Tel: (780) 451-0043
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Email: carna@nurses.ab.ca


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