Please note:  Each program is reviewed and recognized as an individual entity. If your education institution has multiple programs or campuses undergoing review at the same time, you can discuss the option of submitting a combined report with Education Program Review staff​​. 

1. Complete and submit self-evaluation report

Timelin​e​​​s

• Approx​imately one year before program recognition end date, Education Program Review staff contacts education programs to provide the self-evaluation report template.

• Approxim​​ately six months before program recognition end date, programs submit their report to BCCNM. 
  

Your education program needs to provide evidence that it is meeting the education standards and ​indicators for the midwifery or nursing designation it offers. This evidence is delivered in the form of a se​l​​f-evaluation report. The self-evaluation report must be completed on a BCCNM template and be formatted in line with the designation-specific guidelines​.​​

Education program​​ review guidelines

• Licensed practical nurse (LPN)
• Registered nurse (RN) and nurse practitioner (NP)
• Registered midwife (RM): please email epr@bccnm.ca
• Registered psychiatric nurse (RPN): please email epr@bccnm.ca​

2. BCCNM assessment of the self-evaluation report

After your program completes and submits your self-evaluation report, Education Program Review staff review the information provided. If additional information is required, staff will contact the program. Additional information may include supplementary evidence or a revised self-evaluation report. ​

3. Site visit (if required)

A site visit may be required as part of the review. Education Program Review staff will contact you to discuss the need for a site visit.

Site visits:​​

• Can be on site or virtual.
• Are completed over 1–2 days, at a time mutually agreed upon between BCCNM and your program.
• May take place at any location where your education program is offering the program that is under review. ​
  

4. Recognition decision​​

The Education Program Review Committee reviews the evidence collected and meets to decide upon and provide a recommendation to the BCCNM board. The maximum recognition length a program can receive depends on the designation your pro​​gram is offering:

Maximum recognition lengths by designation​ ​
Practical nursing (LPN)	Up to 5 years
Psychiatric nursing (RPN)	Up to 5 years
Midwifery (RM)	Up to 7 years
Baccalaureate nursing (RN)	Up to 7 years
Nurse practitioner (NP)	Up to 7 years

Once the board provides a recognition decision, BCCNM sends your education program an official recognition letter and report for the program, with information on the findings of the review, including information such as the recognition length, any terms or conditions of recognition, and any feedback on the evidence that the program submitted.​​

Making changes to a recognized program

An education program proposing substantial changes to a BCCNM-recogn​​ized program must notify BCCNM in writing​. Board approval is required before implementing the substantial change.

1. Determine if your change is considered substantial

A substantial change includes a change to one of the following:

• How the curriculum addresses the competencies and the BCCNM standards of practice, including changes in the nature and extent of learning opportunities in the curriculum.

• Learning resources and infrastructure to support student achievement of the competencies and the BCCNM standards of practice, including laboratory, simulation of faculty resources, and program learning experiences with clients.

• Expectations about overall student academic performance, including evaluation of student practice and policies about safe student performance.

• Campus location including moving the campus within or outside of the current municipality.

• Development of a partnership to offer the program collaboratively with another education program.

• A change (increase or decrease) in the number of students beyond 10 per cent of what BCCNM has currently recognized for a program.

• Changes to admission requirements or program completion requirements.

• Any other significant change that will or may impact the ability of the students to achieve the requirements to proceed in the registration process with BCCNM following graduation from the program. ​
  

2. Complete a Substantial Change Consultation Form

If your program is undertaking a significant change or you're not sure the change counts as substantial, please complete a Substantial Change Consultation Form and send it to epr@bccnm.ca.

Education Program Review staff will review your consultation form and determine next steps. If this change is not considered a substantial change, BCCNM will send written confirmation that this is not a substantial change and that no further information is required.​

3. Complete a Notice of Intent (NOI) for substantial change

 If the proposed change is substantial, Education Program Review staff will provide a template for a Notice of Intent (NOI) for substantial change.  Depending on the type of change you are proposing, you'll be asked to provide information such as:

• The details of the proposed change and proposed date of implementation.
• An overview of the resources impacted and how the program will support the change (e.g., new staff hires, space, equipment).
• The plan for evaluation and expected outcomes.​
  

4. BCCNM review and updated reporting requirements​​

Education Program Review staff will review the NOI and determine if additional evidence or further review is required before the next scheduled review of your program. Education Program Review staff will contact the education program with the decision regarding the substantial change and any reporting requirements.​

5. Implementation

After your institution has received confirmation from BCCNM, the program change can be implemented.​
​

New education programs

An education program proposing to offer a new education program must obtain BCCNM board recognition of the program prior to admitting students. Please note: Program recognition for a new program takes a minimum of one year​​.

1. Government approvals

Before your education program can apply for recognition of a new program, you mus​t complete all external approval processes.  These include but are not limited to designation from the Private Training Institutes Branch of BC and the Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB).  ​

2. Review relevant documents

We strongly recommend reviewing the following key documents for the relevant profession. You will be expected to demonstrate how your institution's new program will meet these requirements.  If after reviewing these documents you still have questions, please email epr@bccnm.ca to request a consultation.​​

Licensed practic​al nurse (LPN)

• Guidelines
• Standards and indicators
• Practical nursing program provincial curriculum (PNPPC) 
• Requisite skills and abilities
• Entry-level competencies
• Standards of practice: practice standards, professional standards, and scope of practice

 
Nurse practitioner (NP)

• Guidelines
• Standards and indicators
• Requisite skills and abilities
• Entry-level competencies (Note: new entry-level competencies for NPs take effect on Jan. 1, 2024)
• Standards of practice: practice standards, professional standards, and scope of practice

 
Registered midwife (RM)

• Guidelines (please contact epr@bccnm.ca)
• Standards and indicators
  
• Entry-level competencies
• Scope and model of practice and standards & guidelines

 
Registered nurse (RN)

• Guidelines
• Standards and indicators
• Requisite skills and abilities
• Entry-level competencies
• Standards of practice: practice standards, professional standards, and scope of practice

 
Registered psychiatric nurse (RPN)

• Guidelines (please contact epr@bccnm.ca)
• Standards and indicators
• Requisite skills and abilities
• Entry-level competencies
• Standards of practice: practice standards, professional standards, and scope of practice
  

3. Complete a Notice of Intent (NOI) 

Once you have reviewed and are familiar with the relevant documents, you may be ready to complete and submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a new education program. To request an NOI template, please email epr@bccnm.ca.

 Once complete, Education Program Review staff will review the NOI.​​​

4. Complete a Self-Evaluation Report

In most cases, once the NOI is reviewed, programs are instructed to submit a self-evaluation report.​​

List or recognized education programs

• ​Nurses

• Midwives​​​​​

EPR Updates for educators

BCCNM Education Program Review periodically sends updates to educators that include college news and initiatives that may impact education programs. If your education institution is not receiving these regular updates please em​ail epr@bccnm.ca​. ​