Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEPP) Guide
The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Nurses1 is the regulatory body responsible for the licensure of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) pursuant to the Nurses Act, 2024. The mandate of the College is to protect the public by ensuring nurses possess the qualifications and competencies to practice nursing.
The Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEPP) was developed in January 2022 by the College of Nurses of Ontario and adapted by the College to include revisions that reflect the needs of the NL nursing context.
The purpose of this document is to provide information and assistance to Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs), re-entry LPNs, RNs, and NPs, employers/organizations, and preceptors on the SPEPP.
NOTE: The SPEPP for Internationally Educated Nurses – Nurse Practitioners (IEN-NPs) and RPNs is not available at this time. Contact the College if you are an IEN-NP or RPN seeking licensure.
Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEPP)
The SPEPP is a regulatory program that is employment focused and available to eligible candidates in NL. As part of the program, eligible candidates may be granted a Temporary License with Conditions2 for the purpose of obtaining currency of practice hours (450 hours for LPNs and RNs or 900 hours for NPs), which is a requirement to be eligible for initial licensure with the College. A Temporary License with Conditions granted under this program does not permit a candidate to practice as a nurse outside of the agreed terms of the SPEPP. By participating in the program, candidates gain currency of practice hours in a mutually agreed upon area of practice, and concurrently enhance their nursing knowledge, skill, and judgement.
The SPEPP includes a minimum of 135 hours of practice under the direct supervision3 of an experienced preceptor for LPNs and RNs (12 shifts using a 11.25-hour rotating schedule or 18 shifts using a 7.5-hour schedule) or a minimum of 300 hours for NPs (27 shifts using a 11.25 hour rotating schedule or 30 shifts using a 7.5 hour day schedule).
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- Herein referred to as the “College”. ↩︎
- Temporary License with Conditions is a license to practice, issued for a defined period until all requirements for initial licensure or re-licensure have been met. ↩︎
- Direct Supervision refers to having the preceptor physically present or immediately available while a nursing activity is being performed. It involves direct inspection and corrective action when needed. It is the active process of directing, assigning, delegating, guiding, and monitoring the candidate’s performance. ↩︎