BCCNM's Licensing Department reviews and assesses every application for licensure, including reinstatement, to determine if an applicant meets BCCNM's licensing requirements. Some applications may require further review by the License Committee if complexities are identified that may affect an applicant's ability to demonstrate they meet the competence, capacity to practice, and good character requirements. Your application may be considered to have complexities related to BCCNM's requirements if you:
- Are a former licensee or non-practising licensee who has been, or is currently being, investigated by BCCNM
- Have been, or are currently, in a health regulator's inquiry or discipline process in another jurisdiction
- Have been charged or convicted of a criminal offence
- May have submitted inaccurate information on your application to BCCNM
- Have a health condition that impairs, or may impair, your ability to practise, or
- Have engaged in unlicensed practice;
Or if you fall into one of these categories:
- are an applicant for a nursing designation with limited (or no) recent practice experience, or
- are an applicant for the midwifery designation with limited (or no) recent clinical experience
Please note: applications considered to have complexities are not limited to the situations listed above.
Application process
If you believe there may be complexity to your application, please follow the standard application process and pay the applicable fees. Upon submission and after an initial review of your application, you will be contacted to ensure we have all the required standard documentation to support your application.
Following collection of the required standard documentation, if your application requires review by the License Committee, your application will be assigned to a member of the
Licensing Cases team. At this stage, you may also be asked to provide additional information such as practice and education history, a competency assessment, reflective statements, references, medical expert opinions, and court records.
BCCNM manages a high volume of applications. All applications are processed in the order they are received and as quickly as possible.
Timelines
Depending on the requirement(s) being considered and the complexities associated with your application, it may take several months or longer before a determination is made regarding your eligibility for practising licensure.
Factors that may impact processing times include:
- The volume of applications BCCNM is managing
- The level of complexity and number of issues identified in your application
- The seriousness or level of risk raised by of the issue(s)
- The length of time it may take to obtain any required documentation/information
License Committee
The License Committee is comprised of registrants and public representatives, appointed by BCCNM's board, and holds the highest authority at BCCNM for making registration decisions. The committee's authority is set out in the
Health Professions and Occupations Act and
BCCNM's bylaws.
- Do applicants appear before the License Committee?
Applicants do not appear before the committee but can address the committee in writing.
- How does the License Committee reach a decision?
The committee will consider all information submitted. The committee's decisions are guided by the
Health Professions and Occupations Act, BCCNM's bylaws, and BCCNM's policies.
- When will my application be reviewed?
The License Committee meets in panels approximately once a month. When specific applications are reviewed by the committee depends on a number of factors, including when assessments are complete, the required composition of the panel members, and the volume of applications requiring License Committee review.
- How will I be notified of the License Committee's decision?
If your application is before the License Committee for consideration, you will be notified of the committee's decision by email within 30 days of the meeting.
License Committee process
After reviewing your application and all other information submitted, the License Committee may decide to:
- Grant practising licensure
Should the License Committee determine you have satisfactorily met the licensing requirements, you will be eligible for practising licensure.
- Grant practising or provisional licensure with limits and/or conditions
Limits or conditions may include passing the required exam, practising with only a specific employer, obtaining a satisfactory employee evaluation, completing a regulatory practice consultation, or undergoing a period of medical monitoring.
- Require additional steps be taken before being considered eligible for licensure
Additional steps may include completing coursework or a regulatory practice consultation, or passing the recognized exam.
- Require additional information before making a decision
Additional information may include medical information, references, or personal reflections.
- Refuse practising licensure
Should the License Committee determine you have not demonstrated you satisfactorily meet the registration requirements, you will not be eligible for practising licensure.
License Committee decisions
Committee decisions are posted on the BCCNM website when directed by the License Committee.
Jan. 23, 2020: Name withheld
In November 2019, BCCNP determined an RN Applicant required limits and conditions on practice, pursuant to Section 20(2.1) of the Health Professions Act. The RN Applicant was reviewed for good character and fitness concerns, as a result of providing false information to the college, misappropriating medications while in practice, and obtaining a diagnosis of substance use disorder by a medical expert. Any limits and conditions applied to practice by the Registration Committee under section 20(2.1) of the Act are made to protect the public.
Review the decision