The Nurse Practitioner Regulation Framework Implementation Plan Project​ (NPR-FIPP) is a multi-year, multi-faceted initiative commissioned by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators​ (CCRNR) to improve the consistency of regulation of nurse practitioners across Canada. 

The NPR-FIPP will implement six basic elements of a Model for Nurse Practitioner Regulation in Canada​:​

Entry-level education

Formal graduate level programs in nursing that prepare registered nurses to meet nurse practitioner Entry Level Competencies across the life span in diverse practice settings.

Entry-level exam

One national entry-level examination for all NP applicants across the country

Standards of practice

Common nurse practitioner standards of practice

Continuing competency

Common principles for continuing competence/Quality Assurance

Registration and renewal

One nurse practitioner registration category based on Entry Level Competencies

Re-entry to practice

Common principles

Project news and announcements 

​​News archive: 2020-23

2023

• NPR-FIPP Project Summary​​​
  Dec. 5, 2023​​​
• CCRNR Project News #9: ​A question and answer update on the NP Regulation Framework Implementation Plan Project​​​
  May 1, 2023​​​

2022

• CCRNR Project News #8: ​NP entry-level competencies moved forward for jurisdictional approval​​
  November 10, 2022​​​
• CCRNR Project News #7: ​Get ready to comment on NP Entry Level Competencies​
  June 13, 2022​​​
• CCRNR Project News #6: ​Entry Level Competencies consultations​
  May 3, 2022​​​
• ​CCRNR Project News #5: Spotlight on Entry Level Competencies
  March 2022
• CCRNR Project News #4: Creating foundations for implementation
  February 2022​​​

2021

• ​CCRNR Project News #3: Upcoming project activities​
  January 2021

2020

• CCRNR Project News #2: NPR-FIPP plans for the fall
  October 2020
• CCRNR Project News #1: What is NPR-FIPP? 
  June 2020​

Frequently asked questions

How will NP regulation be different in the future? 

• There will be one NP registration category based on NP entry level competencies
• There will be one national entry-level exam for all NP applicants across Canada
• There will be greater consistency in how NPs are regulated across jurisdictions
• ​NP specialty practice will not be regulated by nursing regulatory colleges​

I'm currently registered as an NP in a specialized category. Will I have to retrain/re-register?

No. The registration or licensure status of nurses who are already licensed or registered as nurse practitioners will not be affected. Mechanisms to transition existing NPs to the new regulatory model have not yet been identified.

Will the OSCE still be required for entrance to practice in B.C.?

At some point, the OSCE requirement will be removed to enable regulatory consistency across Canada. Currently, the new national exam is in the early stages of development and the OSCE remains a requirement for applicants to hold nurse practitioner registration in British Columbia. If you are nearing the end of your NP program or are planning to apply for registration in B.C. from another province, we recommend you move forward with the assumption that you will be required to write the OSCE. When a timeline for removing the OSCE requirement has been finalized, we will will share it with you. ​ Visit CCRNR's website for updates on the development of the new NP exam.
​