Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada (RPNC) Examination

To qualify for registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse all initial applicants must pass the registration exam approved by the board.  The approved registration exam is the RPNC.

The RPNC examination is a multiple-choice, paper and pencil exam that has been designed to test the entry level competence and safety to practice of the applicant who is seeking registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in Alberta.

The examination is offered three (3) times per year, January, May and October .

RPNC Examination for May 19, 2021 - Important Information

 Please be aware of the following:

 

If public health orders change and the exam cannot be written, the exam can be cancelled up to the day before the exam (May 18, 2021) and CRPNA assumes no responsibility for any costs that an individual writer might encounter due to the cancellation. 

  • Exam fees that are paid, will be applied to the next writing of the exam (next scheduled writing is October 20th, 2021, however, CRPNA reserves the right to hold an exam writing at any time if an exam is cancelled for unforeseen reasons). 
  • All provincial public health orders must be followed and that includes appropriate declarations related to COVID-19.  This information along with exam requirements (i.e entrance to the exam room, time, place and other requirements as necessary) will be provided closer to the exam date.

 CRPNA encourages all writers to look at the provincial public health orders and requirements.  If you are out of country this would also include any federal health orders and travel requirements. 

 

ELIGIBILITY TO WRITE THE RPNC EXAMINATION


To qualify to write the registration examination, applicants must have successfully completed an:
  • approved psychiatric nursing education program in Alberta* or
  • approved psychiatric nursing education program in British Columbia, Saskatchewan or Manitoba or
  • approved refresher/re-entry program or
  • a psychiatric nursing program deemed substantially equivalent to that of a Canadian Psychiatric Nursing Program**

All exam applicants must also meet all of the requirements for initial registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse identified in the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulation.

* Students who are in the final term of the MacEwan Psychiatric Nurse program in Alberta are eligible to apply for the exam when they have started, or are about to start, the final practicum of the program.

**This program approval cannot be older than two years from the date of the original assessment of foreign educational credentials.

RPNRC TOOLS TO PREPARE FOR THE RPNC EXAMINATION


TESTING ACCOMODATIONS


Reasonable testing accommodations will be provided to any candidate who has an identified disability or special need.  If you require a testing accommodation, you must submit a request in writing, along with the required supporting documentation, at least 12 weeks before the examination date.

Testing Accommodation - Candidate Application

Testing Accommodation - Documentation of Disability

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EXAM APPLICATION PROCESS

This is the exam application process and general instructions for completing the online application.


Please submit 2 pieces of CLEAR and VISIBLE identification documents:
             - Copy of birth certificate
             - One other piece of government issued picture identification showing legal name and signature (i.e.: drivers licence or passport are acceptable)
             - proof of name change if it is different from that on the birth certificate
 
Please note: All documents written in a language other than English are required to be translated by a professional translator showing their signature and seal and must be submitted with a copy of the original document.
         
Four ways to submit documents: 
 
1. Uploaded with application (to be able to upload a document it must be saved in an acceptable file format: JPG, PDF, PNG)
2. Emailed: crpna@crpna.ab.ca
3. Mailed / drop off:  CRPNA #201, 9711 45 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta  T6E 5V8
4. Faxed 780 436 4165

Alberta Graduates Please Note:  The Dean/Director will submit a notice to CRPNA indicating those individuals that are scheduled to complete the program.

An email will be sent confirming the application has been approved and will indicate the scheduled date of writing and location.

 

Alberta Graduates

Please select one of the following to proceed with your exam application:

  • I do not have a CRPNA username and password   Select
  • I have a CRPNA username and password and need to submit a new exam application   Select
  • I wish to view/edit my submitted exam applications   Select

Internationally Educated Psychiatric Nurses

Please select one of the following to proceed with your exam application:

  • I have a CRPNA username and password and need to submit a new exam application   Select
  • I wish to view/edit my submitted exam application   Select