Internationally Educated NP Licensure Process Explained

This document is for nurses who seek to licence as a nurse practitioner (NP) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) and who:

  • graduated from a NP program outside Canada, and
  • do not hold NP registration/licensure in another Canadian jurisdiction.

The purpose of this document is to provide applicants information about the internationally educated nurse practitioner (IENP) licensure process in NL.

The following factors are relevant to the licence process for Internationally Educated Nurse Practitioners (IENPs) in NL (each is described further below):

  • you are currently licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in NL,
  • your NP program you graduated from (course content, length of program, etc.),
  • your currency of NP practice, and
  • your NP licensure exam status that is comparable to Canadian exams.

RN license is required for NP application

You must first be licensed as an RN in NL. Therefore, before beginning the NP licensure process, please license as an RN.

Language proficiency requirements are met through the process of RN registration. No additional language requirements are needed for IENP registration.

If you are currently registered as an RN in NL and have completed an NP education program, you are eligible to apply for NP licensure and can complete the NP application. Please note that while the RN licensure process names some designated countries as meeting the education requirements, no designated countries list exist for IENP licensure.

NP program comparability

The College will evaluate the NP educational program you attended by assessing its comparability with Canadian NP programs and its accreditation/approval by a recognized body. There are two steps to this process, and both are the responsibility of the applicant. First, you should request an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of your NP degree. The ECA verifies that you attended the NP program and confirms the name and length of the program as well as the program’s comparable academic level in Canada. More information about the ECA request process is provided below.

For the second step, you will contact the NP program from which you graduated to request that institution complete the ‘NP Program Criteria Checklist’ about your NP educational program. The form includes questions about program level and field, course content, credit hours, practicum length, admission requirements, accreditation/approval status, and eligibility for licensure. It also asks your program to provide information about when you started and completed the program as well as your final grade point average (GPA). Requested information about course content specifically focuses on these practice areas: applied pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy and therapeutics, advanced health assessment, advanced clinical decision-making, and ethics and professional practice. The form must be emailed directly by the educational institution to the College.

Upon receiving these documents, the College will determine the comparability of your NP program and if you require 1) no additional theoretical courses, 2) some theoretical courses, or 3) a full NP program.

NP Currency of Practice – work experience in past 36 months

NP applicants who do not meet legislative currency requirements must complete an NP re-entry program. The currency requirements pertain to the 36 months prior to applying for NP licensure. If you graduated more than 36 months before applying to the College, and you have not practiced as an NP at least 900 hours in the last 36 months you are required to complete an NP re-entry program. If you graduated less than 36 months before applying, or you have practiced as an NP for at least 900 hours in the last 36 months you are not required to complete a re-entry program (however, you may still require coursework or clinical practicum depending on the College’s evaluation of your NP program).

NP Licensure Exam

All licensed NPs in NL are required to pass an NP licensure exam. This is the final step of the licensure process. Once all other criteria are met, you will receive permission from the College to register for the exam. Approved NP exams are listed on the College’s website. If you have already written and passed an approved NP exam, you will not need to retake it.

While you are awaiting your exam result, you can apply for a temporary NP licence. Details of the how to apply for the temporary NP license are found on the College’s website.

What to do and what to expect during the NP application process

Initial NP application:

The process to apply for NP licensure can only begin once you have licensed as an RN in NL. Once RN licensure is complete, you can submit the application through the College’s member portal.

Along with completing the application, it is your responsibility to request the education credential assessment (ECA) for your NP program from one of these organizations:

(Note: Please be sure to request that your ECA be sent to the College. Associated costs are paid directly to the selected provider and are not part of CRNNL fees.)

It is your responsibility as the applicant to contact your NP educational program directly to request program staff complete the ‘NP Program Criteria Checklist’ form. The form must be emailed to the College directly from the program’s institutional email address.

Assessment of education, credentials, and professional experience

College staff will evaluate your application, ECA(s), and the NP program criteria checklist form(s) provided by the university. With these documents, staff will evaluate the comparability of your education, credentials, and professional experience with Canadian standards. Factors evaluated are type and duration of graduate program (course content, type of exit exam, admission requirements, program accreditation/approval status), when the program was completed, the credential the program led to, whether NP license was obtained and how long it was held, type and duration of professional experience as an NP and recentness of practice, and whether you have passed an approved NP licensure exam.

Virtually all IENP applicants are required to complete a mandatory Controlled Drugs and Substance (CDSA) course and Tamper Resistant Prescription Pad Program (TRPPP) material review and declaration.

If you meet currency of practice requirement, one of the following outcomes will result: 1) only the mandatory courses (CDSA and TRPPP) are required; 2) some combination of theoretical courses, mandatory CDSA and TRPPP, clinical practicum, and NP licensure exam are required, or 3) an entire NP program is required.

If you do not meet currency of practice requirement, one of the following outcomes will result: 1) NP re-entry program; or 2) an entire NP program is required.

The following figures show steps to NP registration for international NP graduates:

steps to NP registration for international NP graduates
Steps to NP registration for international NP graduates

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