Out of Province (New Graduates)

This page describes the process for applicants who have graduated from a Canadian practical nursing program within the past four years. To apply to the CLPNA as an Out of Province New Graduate, you must not have passed a registration exam (CPNRE or REx-PN).

If this does not describe you, please take our applicant quiz.

Provisional Registration

Out of Province New Graduates apply for Provisional registration with the CLPNA.

What Is Provisional Registration?

Provisional registration provides certain applicants with a short-term Provisional practice permit. This will allow you to work as a nurse under supervision while waiting to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam (CPNRE).

Members with a Provisional practice permit are recognized as a Licensed Practical Nurse and may carry out the activities that they are competent to perform.

Upon approval of your Provisional application, you will receive a final invoice. This invoice covers the cost of a Provisional practice permit and writing the CPNRE. This invoice must be paid in full before a practice permit will be issued. For a list of current fees please see: Fee Schedule

You can look up the expiry date for your Provisional permit on your MyCLPNA account. You may extend your Provisional registration up to a maximum of one year from the date it was initially issued. After one year, or if a Provisional registrant chooses not to extend their permit, their will not be renewed.

Upon successful completion of the CPNRE, an LPN holding a Provisional practice permit is automatically put on the general register.

Policy: Provisional Registration

Review Application Requirements Before You Apply

As an Out of Province New Graduate, you will need to prepare the following before you can submit a completed application to the CLPNA. See our Declarations and Registration Requirements Policy for more information.

How to Apply

  1. Create your account on MyCLPNA. To submit an application, you must have an account with MyCLPNA.
  2. Once logged in, select APPLY under Provisional to begin the Out of Province New Graduate application.
  3. Submit the application and pay the $100 application fee.
  4. If your paid application has any missing requirements, the CLPNA will contact you within five business days. If you have not yet completed the Jurisprudence Module, you will receive information on how to access the module.
  5. You will receive a decision letter and final invoice for your permit fee and cost of CPNRE within ten business days of all application requirements being met. You will need to meet all application requirements before you receive a decision letter.
  6. You will receive information on how to register for the CPNRE within ten business days of your invoice being paid. You will be placed in the next available testing window and be able to register for a specific testing day. For more information, see CPNRE.

Applicants and registrants can expect these standards when interacting with the Registration Department at the CLPNA.

  • Phone calls will be returned within one business day.
  • Emails will be returned within two business days.
  • Applications received with payment will be reviewed within five business days.
  • Completed applications will be processed with a decision letter within ten business days.
  • Invoices for approved applications will be available when the decision letter is issued.
  • A practice permit will be issued immediately upon receipt of the final invoice payment.

The Registration Service Standards policy outlines registration service standards at the CLPNA.