Taking leave or retiring
If you won’t be renewing your practice permit, it’s important to let us know by switching to a non-practicing membership. This is the only way for us and the public to know you are not working without a permit.
If you decide to return to practice but did not complete the steps below, there will be a $100 re-instatement fee.
Non-practicing memberships have restrictions
Those with a non-practicing membership are not permitted to:
- Work as a nurse in Alberta. Though an employer may not require you to hold an active practice permit, please remember that CARNA, not the employer, determines what is nursing practice and whether registration is required. Please contact us if you would like your practice reviewed to ensure you don't work without a practice permit.
- Count practice hours and education hours while you maintain non-practicing membership.
- Use any the following titles and initials: nurse, registered nurse (RN), nurse practitioner (NP), certified graduate nurse (CGN), and graduate nurse practitioner (GNP).
- Access My Learning Space. Access will be reinstated upon returning to an active, practicing status.
How to apply
Retirement and other long-term leaves
- Sign in to MyCARNA and complete your current continuing competence record in MyCCP.
- Return to MyCARNA and go to Apply for Registration. You have three membership options to choose from:
- Associate or retired membership: You are no longer practising in Alberta and have completed your last registration year with CARNA in good standing. You will also need to declare whether you are in good standing with any other
professional regulators with which you are currently registered. This requires a membership fee of $42/year. Members may still:
- attend the CARNA AGM, make motions and debate, but may not vote
- serve on CARNA committees and boards as a non-voting member
- receive email communications
- Former member: You have completed your last registration year with CARNA in good standing. You will not receive any further communication from CARNA. Former member status is free, does not expire, and does not require renewal.
- Associate or retired membership: You are no longer practising in Alberta and have completed your last registration year with CARNA in good standing. You will also need to declare whether you are in good standing with any other
professional regulators with which you are currently registered. This requires a membership fee of $42/year. Members may still:
Maternity/parental and other short-term leaves
When do you intend to return to work?
- Before May 1 of this practice year: You should renew your permit and pay the annual renewal fee.
- Between May 1 and Sept. 30 of this practice year: You have two options:
- You can renew your permit and pay the annual renewal fee. This is the simplest way to renew and avoids the need to apply for a non-practicing membership and then apply to return to practice later in the year.
- You can switch to a non-practicing membership, then apply to return to practice at least one month before your desired return date. There is a reduced permit fee after May 1, however, when you return to practice there is an assessment fee. The full year practice permit costs more than taking a non-practicing membership then returning after May 1.
- After Sept. 30 of next practice year: You have two options:
- You can switch to a non-practicing membership, then apply to return to practice at least one month before your desired return date.
- You can renew your permit and pay the annual renewal fee. While you would need to setup an anticipated learning plan for the upcoming year, if you don’t work during the upcoming year, next renewal you do not need to complete the learning plan and would still meet CCP requirements.