A Supervised Practice Experience (SPE) is an option available to some individuals as an alternative to meeting their currency requirements for practising licensure. With an approved SPE proposal, applicants are eligible for a provisional license for a period of six months to complete 400 hours of supervised practice under the guidance and supervision of a BCCNM approved preceptor.
Roles and responsibilities
Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of the SPE applicant, employer, and preceptor.
Choosing a preceptor
The proposed preceptor must:
Have worked at least one year in the area of practice the applicant will be completing their SPE.
Be competent, willing, and available for every shift worked by the applicant completing the SPE (or an alternate, approved by BCCNM, in extenuating circumstances)
It is the responsibility of the preceptor to determine if the applicant meets BCCNM's Standards of Practice by the end of the SPE. The preceptor acts as a resource, role model, mentor, coach, supervisor, and evaluator. It’s important that the preceptor is supportive and encouraging and can provide feedback in a tactful and straight forward manner.
Participating in an SPE can potentially increase the workload and stress of a preceptor, especially in the initial stages of the experience. It may be necessary to lighten the workload of the preceptor in the first few weeks.
Practice issues or concerns
If practice issues or concerns are identified during the SPE, managers should:
Contact BCCNM Licensing Monitoring Consultant at
registrationmonitoring@bccnm.ca to provide a summary of the concerns identified and discuss next steps as required.
If the preceptor or area manager determines the provisional licensee does not have the competence to practise safely, they may remove the nurse from practice and immediately contact the BCCNM Licensing Monitoring Consultant.
SPE Completion and Evaluation
Upon implementation of the learning plan, the preceptor, manager or supervisor, will complete an evalulation of the provisinal licensee's practice using
Form 90: SPE Evaluation Form and submit the form to BCCNM along with a copy of the completed SPE learning plan.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the benefit of participating in an SPE from the employer perspective?
An SPE may be an opportunity to assess the individual as a potential employee and to decrease costs associated with orientation time if the individual is hired.
- Do applicants completing an SPE have professional liability protection?
As a provisional licensee, applicants completing an SPE are covered by Professional Liability Protection, the same as practising nurses. However, you should discuss the SPE with a member of the Risk Management team, Professional Practice Office, or Human Resources team. As a provisional licensee, applicants completing an SPE do not have WorkSafe coverage through BCCNM.
SPE evaulation form