New national NP regulation model

A new national regulation model for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) is coming to Canada.

The Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) is overseeing the implementation of a new regulatory framework for NPs, which is supported by the Nurse Practitioner Regulation Framework Implementation Plan Project (NPR-FIPP). The national project, which includes work and input from CNO, will update Ontario’s framework for registering NPs by removing specialty certificates and creating one category of NP registration. 

The purpose of the NPR-FIPP is to plan for a new model for NP regulation across Canada, which involves moving toward

• graduate-level education programs aligned with revised NP entry-level competencies (ELCs)

• a single national NP entry-level exam across Canada

• one NP registration category based on NP ELCs

The goal is that NP entry-level education programs in Canada will prepare students for general NP practice across the life span of clients in all practice settings. Eventually, regulators no longer will be registering new NPs in specialties. Nurse practitioners currently practicing in specialty areas will continue to be regulated, and current NPs will not lose their registration as a result of this framework.

“We are looking to improve regulatory consistency, provide more flexibility for how NPs are deployed in the workplace and support additional labour flexibility,” says Carol Timmings, Chief Quality Officer at CNO.

Timmings added that the new NP model will maintain NPs’ high standard of having the knowledge, skill and judgment to practice safely.   

CNO had extensive consultations with practicing NPs and NP educators for the revised ELCs, including sharing a national survey with all NPs in Ontario. We will continue to share information and consult with NPs throughout the project. To learn more, visit CCRNR’s NPR-FIPP website.