Leaving or returning to practice

​​Understanding your options

View the registration status comparison table for an at-a-glance understanding of your registration options. If you have questions, contact BCCNM Registration Services at register@bccnm.ca​ or 604.742.6200 (1.866.880.7101 toll-free within Canada only).

PLEASE NOTE: Effective April 1, 2026, BCCNM will discontinue the non-practising class of registration for nurses and midwives. Read more >>

​Registration status comparison

	Practising	​Non-practising	Former registrant
2025-26 annual fee​	$​737.30​	$135.05​​	$0
Am I registrant of BCCNM?	Yes	Yes	No
Can I practise or volunteer as a nurse in B.C.?	Yes	No	No
Will I get communication from BCCNM?	Yes. You receive the registrant newsletter and any special bulletins.	Yes. You receive the registrant newsletter. Special bulletins as applicable​.	No
Can I still call myself a nurse?	Yes. You can use:  Licensed practical nurse Practical nurse LPN Nurse Learn more​	No. However, you can use the follow titles depending on your qualifications: non-practising practical nurse  Non-practising LPN Non-practising nurse Learn more​	No. You cannot use the title "licensed practical nurse," "nurse, "practical nurse," the abbreviation "LPN," or any of the options in the non-practising category.
Can I be a member of a BCCNM committee?	Yes, if you are in good standing with the college (subject to specific committee composition requirements).	Yes, if you are in good standing with the college (subject to specific committee composition requirements).	No​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

​​​Leaving practice

​Maintain your practising registration

• If you are going on a short-term leave (i.e. within the registration year, or a few months that straddles renewal cycles), you may wish to maintain your practising registration.

*Convert to non-pr​actising registration

Effective April 1, 2026, BCCNM will discontinue the non-practising class of registration for nurses and midwives. Read more >>

• You may be eligible for a pro-rated refund on your practising registration fees.
• You will continue to receive communication from the college
• Non-practising registrants can use non-practising nursing titles such as "non-practicing licensed practical nurse" or "non-practising LPN."
• See the registration status comparison above for more information
  

To convert to non-practising registration, sign in to your BCCNM account.

Cancel/lapse and become a former registrant

• You may be eligible for a pro-rated refund on your practising registration fees.
• As a former registrant you will no longer be a registrant of the college and cannot use a nursing title or call yourself a nurse. 
• See the registration st​​atus comparison above for more information.​​
  

To cancel your registration, sign in to your BCCNM account​.

*Effective April 1, 2026, BCCNM will discontinue the non-practising class of registration for nurses and midwives. Read more >>

If you are retiring, we thank you for your service and wish you all the best!​
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Returning to practice

If you are a former or non-practising BCCNM registrant, you must submit a reinstatement application to return to nursing practice. Please submit your reinstatement application at least eight weeks before your estimated return to work date.

1. Compl​ete your application and pay fee

You mu​​st sign in to your BCCNM account​ to apply for reinstatement. Select "Apply" to start your application.

• You may be asked to consent to a criminal record check (CRC) as an updated CRC is required for any leave from practice longer than 60 days. Please note: Criminal record check results take a minimum of two weeks to be processed and your application cannot be assessed until the results are received. Please ensure you submit your application at least a month before your return to work date to allow for delays.

• You will pay a reinstatement application fee​ when your application is submitted. Reinstatement fees are non-refundable, so ensure​ you are ready to proceed before you pay.

• The re​​gistration team will contact you if there are outstanding documents that BCCNM needs to proceed with your application.​

2. Prepare your documents

To avoid delays in proc​​essing your application, prepare the following documents before you start your application:

• Notarized name change document or marriage certificate: If you have changed your name since you last held p​ractising registration with us. You do not need to have your documents notarized if your name has not changed since you last held practising registration with us. Learn more about accepted forms of identification​.
  

• Verification of registration: Complete ver​​ification of registration forms f​​or all jurisdiction(s) you are/were registered since you last held practising registration with us. This form must be received directly from that jurisdiction.
  

• Employment verification: Complete employment ve​rification form(s) for each of your nursing employers within the last five years. This form must be received directly from the employer.

3. BCCNM review

BCCNM Registration Services will assess your application to determine whether you meet the requirements for reinstatement. The requirements for reinstatement include that you:

• Were in compliance with all Quality Assurance program requirements at the time you last held practising registration
• Meet the practice hours requirement
• Have maintained your knowledge, skills and abilities as an LPN, or have successfully completed an exam or upgrading of your knowledge, skills or abilities
• Have a satisfactory employment verification
• Are of good character, including passing the criminal record check​
• Are fit to practice, and
  
• Have paid any outstanding fines or fees
  

Note: If your registration was cancelled or suspended following an inquiry or discipline committee decision or you have a criminal charge since you last held practising registration you will be asked to provide additional information and evidence. Please contact the registration team for more information.

4. Registration Committee review/decision (if required)

Some applications are complex and require review and decision by the Registration Committee. Learn more about complex applications and Registration Committee review​.

5. Application approved/pay registration fees

If you meet the requirements for reinstatement, your application will be approved and you will be asked to pay your practising registration fee​.

6. Wait for confirmation of registration from BCCNM

Once you have paid your registration fees, we will send you an email confirming that you have been granted practising registration. Your updated status will also be listed on our nurse verification tool. You must not practise as a registered nurse until you receive confirmation of registration.

Haven't received a confirmation email?
Registration will not be granted until your payment has been received. Before calling to check on the status of your application, please:

• Double-check that you submitted your application and that your payment went through
• Check your junk mail and spam folders​​
  
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If you do not meet the practice hours requirement 

Practising LPNs are required to have practised a minimum of 1,125 hours in the preceding five years. ​If you do not mee​t the practice hours requirement, the pathway back to practising registration will take more time and requires additional evidence of your current competence to practice. ​Apply for reinstatement of your registration as instructed above. When assessing your application, we will determine if you need to complete additional registration requirements. They may include: ​

• Completing a competency assessment by the Inspire Global Assessments​​, and additional education or exams
  
• Completing one of BCCNM’s recognized​ practical nursing education programs
• Complete a supervised practice experience​ ​​

You may be eligible for funding from the Government of British Columbia to help offset the cost of these requirements. Visit www.nursingjobsbc.ca for details​. ​​​

Retaking the required exam for registration​

The ​Registration Committee or the Deputy Registrar of Registration may require you to take the current required exam for registration—the REX-PN—after considering the length of time since you passed the required exam for your initial registration and your practice experience.​