Becoming A Registered Psychiatric Nurse 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 RPN in Alberta are established in the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Profession Regulation, which falls under the Health Professions Act (HPA). They include:

  • Graduated from an approved psychiatric nursing education program within the last four (4) years
  • Passed the Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada (RPNC) Examination
  • Have been employed in the practice of psychiatric nursing or its equivalent for at least 1400 hours in the past five (5) years
  • Successfully completed an approved psychiatric nursing refresher education program within the past three (3) years
  • Competent to practice psychiatric nursing
  • Evidence of good character
  • Sufficiently proficient in the English language to be able to provide professional services in English - click on document link below to determine English Language proficiency.  Applicants may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
  • Currently registered in good standing in another jurisdiction and have substantially equivalent registration requirements

To apply select one of the following:


New Psychiatric Nurse Graduates  
 

Internationally Educated Psychiatric Nurses
 

Canadian RPN

Information about an application will ONLY be discussed with the applicant. 

English Language Requirements

  • If English is NOT the first language learned at home in childhood and it is NOT the first language that is primarily used for reading, writing, listening and speaking then the English Language competence must be demonstrated by completing one of the two approved English Language tests.
  • Achieve at least the minimum scores in all components of the test
  • Ensure test results are less than six months old when applying.  If results are more than six months old, the test will have to be re-taken and submitted before you can proceed.
  • Send a copy of the test results when applying.  Arrange for the original test to be send directly from the test centre to CRPNA.
        English Language Test Requirements


Registration Exam Requirement


To find information about exam requirements, how to apply, withdraw from the exam, exam schedule - click here .

RPNRC announces new tools to assist candidates writing the national registration exam

Click here for the News Release 

Click here for the Study Guide

Psychiatric Nursing Education Programs

For those thinking of entering a psychiatric nursing program read more about where you can obtain your education.