The
Nurse Practitioner Regulation Framework project was launched by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) to make regulation of nurse practitioners more consistent across Canada. As a member of CCRNR, BCCNM has been participating in the project since 2019. BCCNM and other Canadian jurisdictions are in the process of implementing the new regulation framework.
What's changed
The NP Regulation Framework implementation has several deliverables:
- January 2024: Updated NP Entry Level Competencies
- NP Entry Level Competencies were revised to reflect all client ages and practice settings; they came into effect in January 2024.
- September 2026: New Canadian written exam
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- October 2026: General NP regulatory class
- Jurisdictions are updating requirements and bylaws to recognize a general NP class, removing streams of practice (i.e. adult, family, and pediatric).
Learn more about what this means for NPs in British Columbia.
Frequently asked questions
- I’m currently licensed in B.C. as an NP in a practice stream. Will I have to retrain?
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- No. There is no action required to transition you to the general NP class. No additional education, examinations or training are required.
- You can continue to practice with their current patients as you always have, and the professional expectations that guide NP practice will continue to apply.
- You will continue to assess and practice within your own level of competence and meet the Ethics and Practice Standards.The licensure of NPs will not be affected by these changes.
- What does this mean for NPs who practice with adult or pediatric populations?
- The transition to a general NP class will mean more choice for NPs whose education and practice experience focused on adults or children.
- NPs who practice with adults or children can continue to work with the specialized populations as they do today. You are not required to work with all patient populations.
- Adult or pediatric NPs have the option to seek out education or training to build competence to practice with other populations. They will be accountable for reflecting on their practice to ensure they have competence to provide safe, competent care for the setting and patient population. If gaps are identified, they are expected to seek out education and/or training to develop the competencies required.
- How are NPs being prepared for practice across client lifespan and all practice settings?
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- What can employers expect from NPs entering practice after the new regulatory model is implemented?
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- Newly graduated NPs will have the entry-level foundational knowledge, skills and judgement to start their career in providing NP care across all client ages and in all practice settings.
- Employers may choose to develop practice-setting training or residencies to assist NPs. Leveraging these training opportunities is a great option for NPs who desire or are employed in practice settings that may benefit from specialized knowledge and skills when they begin working as NPs.
- Why was the OSCE discontinued?
- B.C. was the only nursing jurisdiction in Canada that requires successful completion of an OSCE – in addition to passing a written regulatory exam – before an applicant is eligible for practising NP licensure. Removing the OSCE requirement reflects the evolution of NP practice in Canada and will substantially reduce the cost and time to become registered as an NP in British Columbia.
Read our announcement to learn more.