Non-practising registration class ending April 1, 2026

Dec 2, 2025

Update: January 30, 2026

Since we announced our intent to discontinue the non-practising class for all nurses and midwives in December, we received feedback about the unintended impact this change would have on non-practising midwives whose employment may require them to maintain this registration. After meeting with midwifery leaders to better understand this concern, we have adjusted our approach and timelines. We will be maintaining the non-practising midwife class for current non-practising midwives only until 2029. Non-practising registration for nursing designations will end as planned on April 1, 2026. This announcement has been adjusted to reflect this decision.

Effective April 1, 2026, BCCNM will discontinue the non-practising class of registration for nurses. As of that date, current non-practicing registrants will become “former licensees."

We have contacted current non-practising registrants about this change and have provided them with information about their options.

Updating our guidance on use of title

Former nursing registrants can refer to themselves as a “former nurse" or “retired nurse," provided the description is accurate and isn't used to imply authorization to practice.

We appreciate that registrants may hold non-practising registration for a variety of reasons, including maintaining a connection to their profession. We encourage current non-practising registrants to explore membership and engagement in their professional association: Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC or Midwives Association of BC.

Maintaining connection to your profession

We encourage former registrants to subscribe to the BCCNM newsletter by emailing newsletter@bccnm.ca.

Frequently asked questions

Why is non-practising registration continuing for midwives but not nurses?

Unlike nursing, currency requirements for midwives don’t currently recognize practice in non-clinical areas like education, research, or administration.
This is a regulatory gap we’re trying to close. Work is underway but will take time.
We have heard from non-practising midwives that registration with the college is a requirement for their non-clinical employment. To avoid unintended impact on these registrants, we are maintaining non-practising midwife registration until those regulatory changes can take effect.

A lot of nurses use non-practising registration when they go on mat leave because it’s easier and faster to reinstate. Why are you taking that away?

This is a common misconception. The process to reinstate your registration is the same, whether you hold non-practising registration, or you let your registration lapse while you are on leave.

Some nurses on long term disability need to maintain registration with the college to get their benefits. What about them?

We have not identified any long-term disability providers that have registration as a requirement for benefits.
If you are a non-practising registrant on LTD who has been told by your provider that registration is required, we want to hear from you. Please contact Registration Services.

I’m a practising midwife. Will I still have the option of converting to non-practising?

No. Effective April 1, 2026, non-practising midwife registration will become a closed class. Only current non-practising midwives will be eligible to maintain this class of registration.