Applicants

 
The College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) is the professional regulatory body for registered psychiatric nurses in Alberta; it currently regulates over 1,300 registered psychiatric nurses in Alberta. 

To be eligible to practice as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) in Alberta, you must meet registration requirements to obtain a practice permit/license from the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA).

Requirements for registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) in Alberta are established in the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Profession Regulation, which falls under the Health Professions Act. They include:

• graduated within the last four years from an approved psychiatric nursing education program
• have been employed in the practice of psychiatric nursing or its equivalent for at least 1400 hours in the past 5 years
• successfully completed an approved psychiatric nursing refresher education program within the past three years
• passing the Canadian Registered Psychiatric Nurse Examination
• competent to practice psychiatric nursing
• English language proficiency requirements
• evidence of good character

There are 4 applicant streams:

• New Graduates of an approved Psychiatric Nurse program in Alberta
• RPNs returning to practice that were previously licensed in Alberta
• RPNs currently licensed to practice in another Province in Canada
• International Applicants currently licensed outside Canada (applicants that graduated from a psychiatric nursing program outside Canada must undergo an assessment of their international education credentials prior to applying for registration/licensure)

Related Resources

 
Becoming a Registered Psychiatric Nurse
           
Requisite Skills & Abilities Needed To Become A Registered Psychiatric Nurse in Alberta

  - Click here to view the release
  - Click here to view the document

International Credential Assessment

Registration Examination

Application for Licensure - Registration