The Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Canada Examination (RPNC exam) is the approved registration exam and is the property of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC). The RPNRC is the national umbrella organization for Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) regulators in Canada.
Each Canadian provincial regulatory authority is responsible for ensuring that all entry-level Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) within its jurisdiction meet an acceptable level of competence before being licensed to practice as RPNs. This level of competence is measured partly by the RPNC exam. This process ensures that all RPNs practicing in those jurisdictions meet a common standard.
The RPNC exam is a mandatory multiple-choice, computer based, Linear-on-the-Fly Test (LOFT). The RPNC exam is designed to test the entry-level competence and safety to practice of new graduates and internationally educated psychiatric nursing applicants seeking registration as a RPNs in Canada. The RPNC exam is a four (4) hour, one (1) day exam.
To be eligible for registration as a RPN, all initial applicants must pass the registration exam approved by the Council.
To qualify to write the registration examination, applicants must have successfully completed one (1) of the following:
- approved psychiatric nursing education program in Alberta; *
- approved refresher/re-entry program;
- a psychiatric nursing program deemed substantially equivalent to that of a Canadian Psychiatric Nursing Program.
* MacEwan University Psychiatric Nursing students who are in the final term of the program may apply for eligibility to write the RPNC exam when they have started, or are about to start, the final practicum of the program.
- Alberta Applicants who do not have a Candidate Profile must set up their profile by clicking on the "Create a Candidate Profile" below.
- Provide candidate's personal information and contact details. Once the candidate profile is set up and activated, candidates will then be directed to the online "Application for Exam Eligibility".
- International Applicants who have a Candidate Profile and have not submitted an "Application for Eligibility to write the RPNC Exam" can click on "Submit New Application for Eligibility to Write RPNCE" and will be directed to the online application.
- Complete the online application by answering all mandatory application fields. Click "Submit".
- Pay the administration fee of $25.00.
- Once the submitted Application for Eligibility to Write the RPNCE has been approved, the candidate's information will be entered onto a candidate registry and forwarded to Meazure Learning.
- Once Meazure Learning receives confirmation from CRPNA, they will communicate directly with the candidate regarding scheduling, location, time frame and payment.
- Seven (7) weeks before the exam, Meazure Learning will send you an email with instructions to register and pay for the exam and select your preferred exam location in Manitoba, BC, Alberta or Saskatchewan from a pre-determined list. While efforts will be made to schedule exam writers in their preferred writing locations, venues are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. If your preferred location is not available, Meazure learning will work with you to determine an appropriate location.
IMPORTANT:Candidates will have seven (7) days to purchase their exam. If the exam is not purchased within the purchase window, the candidate will not be able to write the exam and will have to wait until the next exam writing. CRPNA recommends candidates add testingsupport@meazurelearning.com to their email contacts list to ensure they receive these important emails. Once your exam date and location has been confirmed it cannot be changed.
- The fee to write the RPNCE is $695 + tax per attempt. This fee is paid to Meazure Learning when Candidates register for the RPNCE.
- Meazure Learning will send a confirmation email with exam date, location, exam and venue rules and confirmation of testing accommodations (if applicable) directly to the candidate. Follow the instructions in the email closely.
- Candidates that have questions or concerns about the RPNCE registration process can communicate directly with Meazure Learning via email testingsupport@meazurelearning.comor contact the support line: 1.888.900.0005 option 1, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 19:00 pm EDT.
The following tools are available to help exam writers prepare for the RPNCE.
- RPNCE Blueprint: The RPNCE Blueprint provides a summary of the content covered in the exam and what kind of questions exam writers can expect.
- Study Guide : The RPNCE Study Guide assists exam writers by providing information about the RPNCE, test taking and study strategies, and a bibliography of study resources.
- Practice test: An online practice test is available for a fee. The test includes 100 questions similar to those asked on the RPNCE. For each question, rationales are provided for correct and incorrect answers. After the test is completed, exam writers will be sent an examination review report that includes a summary of performance.
Third-party prep materials: We are aware that some third-party prep materials are available. While it is the exam writer's choice to determine if they will find these materials useful, here is what exam writers need to know:
- CRPNA does not review third-party prep courses and cannot endorse them.
- No third party has access to RPNCE questions. Be wary of any resource claiming to have access.
Any applicant who plans to take the RPNCE has the right to request an exam accommodation — a modification of exam procedures or testing conditions. The modification helps an applicant who has a professionally diagnosed physical or mental condition/disorder/disability to take the exam. It is designed to meet the particular needs of the applicant.
When requesting a testing accommodation, submit the request in writing, along with the required supporting documentation, at least 12 weeks before the examination date to the CRPNA office by fax (780-436-4165), email or mail.
Qualifying for exam accommodation
To qualify for an exam accommodation, a request must:
Be based on a professionally recognized diagnosis of a disability, impairment, condition, or disorder (or any other grounds listed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or the Alberta Human Rights Code).
Show how the condition/disability/disorder will interfere with the ability to take the exam, and how the accommodation will addresses it.
Be based on a current condition/disability/disorder (within 2 years) the applicant no longer lives with.
Ensure the integrity of the exam remains intact.
Accommodation Cost
There is no fee for requesting an accommodation; however, applicants are responsible for any costs associated with collecting the supporting documentation (e.g., assessment/reporting fees charged by health professionals to complete the form or submit an assessment of the diagnosis, etc.).
Will an accommodation request affect an application for registration?
Fitness to practice nursing is a requirement for registration and includes the capacity to practice nursing safely if a physical or mental condition/disorder/disability could affect the ability to practice nursing safely. On a request for accommodation, candidates will be notified and will have an opportunity to submit information for consideration before a decision is made regarding eligibility for registration.
Complete these forms and submit all supporting documents as soon as possible to avoid delays.
CRPNA will notify candidates of the exam result by email approximately four (4) weeks after the exam date. Results will be communicated as a pass or fail. Candidates that are unsuccessful, will also receive a performance summary.
Requesting a Re-score: Candidates who would like to request a re-score of the results must do so within TWELVE (12) WEEKS from the examination date. The charge for re-scoring is 10% of the examination fees. It typically takes three (3) weeks after the request has been approved to receive the results. To request a re-score, candidates must submit a written request to crpna@crpna.ab.ca.
Successful Candidates holding a provisional permit will be automatically converted to a full practicing permit.
EXAM DATES
The examination is offered three (3) times per year, January, May and October.
APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY TO WRITE THE RPNC EXAM
CREATE A CANDIDATE PROFILE
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SUBMIT NEW APPLICATION FOR ELIGIBILITY TO WRITE RPNC EXAM
I HAVE a CRPNA username and password and need to submit an exam application.
VIEW APPLICATION STATUS
I wish to view/edit my submitted exam application.
FAQ
GENERAL INFORMATION
The object is to test Entry-Level Competencies - knowledge, skills, judgement. For more information about the content, see the Examination Content Blueprint.
Yes, a candidate may work if they hold a Provisional Permit.
Yes, if you hold a Provisional Permit.
Candidates have three (3) attempts to write the RPNC Exam. The RPNC Exam is offered three (3) times per year in January, May and October.
The RPNC Exam is a computer-based exam.
APPLYING FOR EXAMINATION
Yes, candidates will apply to the regulatory college in their jurisdiction for eligibility to write the RPNC Exam. Once eligibility to write has been determined by the regulatory college, the information will be forwarded to the exam company.
Yes, students in the final term of a psychiatric nursing education program are eligible to apply for the exam when they have started, or are about to start, the final practicum of the program.
Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted for that writing.
Reasonable testing accommodations will be provided to any candidate who has an identified or special need. A candidate that requires a testing accommodation must submit a request in writing, along with the required supporting documentation completed by a qualified health professional (e.g. a physician or psychologist) to certify that a testing accommodation is required.
Candidates must apply for a testing accommodation at least twelve (12) weeks prior to the exam date.
TESTING LOCATION
Yes. Testing centers for the RPNC Exam are available across the western provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. There may be opportunities to write the RPNC Exam in other provinces not listed.
Meazure Learning will make efforts to schedule exam writers in their preferred writing location, venues are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. If your preferred location is not available, Meazure Learning will work with you to determine an alternative location.
No. Once your exam date and location has been confirmed it cannot be changed.
PREPARING FOR THE RPNC EXAM
Yes. The Registered Psychiatric Nurse Regulators of Canada (RPNRC) has released the following tools to help candidates prepare:
Important: Please use extreme caution in purchasing any third-party prep guide or practice test that promises to prepare you for the RPNCE, other than the official RPNRC tools linked above.
WITHDRAWAL
Candidates that need to withdraw from the exam are required to contact CRPNA as soon as possible. Written requests for withdrawal will be accepted and reviewed up to 15 business days prior to writing the RPNC Exam. Candidates that withdraw less than 15 business days before the exam date will forfeit the exam fee.
DAY OF EXAM
Candidates will receive a exam appointment confirmation email from Meazure Learning outlining the details of the exam appointment. Be sure to read it carefully as it contains your username that is required to login to write the RPNC Exam.
Candidates are expected to arrive 30 minutes prior to their exam appointment time. Late arrivals will be accepted up to 30 minutes after the exam appointment time. No additional time will be provided to late arrivals.
Candidates who do not arrive at their exam appointment on time, or candidates who arrive more than 30 minutes late for their appointment time will not be eligible to write the exam and will forfeit their exam fees.
Yes, an on-screen calculator will be available for use throughout the exam.
Candidates have four (4) hours to write the exam.
No scheduled breaks are planned; however, unscheduled breaks can be taken as required at the discretion of the invigilator. Any unscheduled breaks taken during the exam will be included in the four-hour exam time; no extra time will be provided.
LOFT (LINEAR-ON-THE-FLY TEST)
LOFT allows the delivery of a fixed-length examination by selecting items from a pre-approved pool. Each candidate is presented with a different set of items. Items are selected so that the final forms match blueprint specifications, and are equivalent in terms of content and difficulty. The pass mark is also pre-equated to ensure that the same standard is maintained regardless of the items selected.
The main purpose of LOFT is to enhance security of large testing and produce candidate results more quickly. In terms of examination security, items can become compromised by being dispersed candidate-to-candidate. LOFT addresses this by giving every candidate a test that is equivalent in terms of content and difficulty, but the actual set and order of the items are allowed to vary. Very few, if any, candidates will see the same form. Because examination forms are pre-equated, candidate results can also be obtained sooner.
Items will continue to be developed and approved by Canadian subject matter experts nominated by participating regulatory authorities. However, rather than subject matter experts approving forms of the RPNC Exam, they will approve a large pool of items. Prior to being administered, all items will be pre-tested in order to determine statistical properties. Test forms will be built automatically by algorithms based on blueprint parameters.
The impact on candidates will be minimal. Once candidates have gone through all the questions of the LOFT examination form, a question review screen will be shown and allow the candidates to return to any or all questions that they wish to review, confirm or modify their answers and answer unanswered questions. LOFT allows candidates to review all questions and change their answers throughout the examination session.
EXAM RESULTS
Exam results are released within four (4) weeks of the exam to the candidates jurisdiction. CRPNA will notify candidates of their exam results by email. Results will be as pass or fail. Candidates that are unsuccessful, will also receive a performance summary.
A Provisional Permit is valid for six (6) months. After the first unsuccessful attempt of the examination, the candidate will be contacted to discuss options.
Borderline exams are automatically re-scored by hand. A candidate who would like to request a re-score of their exam must do so within twelve (12) weeks after the exam day.
The charge for re-scoring is 10% of the examination fee and typically takes three (3) weeks after the request has been approved. To request a re-score, candidates must submit a written request to crpna@crpna.ab.ca.
SCORING
A multiple-choice question is constructed so that only someone who has mastered the subject matter will select the correct answer; to that person, only one option will appear to be the correct answer. To someone who lacks a firm grasp of the subject matter, all options may look plausible.
The exam is the end result of many test development activities that take place throughout a two-year period. Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN), RPN educators, RPN administrators and RPN regulators from across Canada create and evaluate the exam questions with assistance from Meazure Learning test consultants, who ensure that the RPNC Exam meets the Blueprint guidelines and specifications.
Each question on the exam is supported by two references. Most of these references have been published within the past five years. The purpose of the references is two-fold:
(1) to indicate that the correct answer within each question has authoritative support from at least two experts in the field and
(2) to provide a source for further reading and review.
Every attempt has been made to use references that are up-to-date, accessible and accepted within the psychiatric nursing community.
Each exam question has the same value: one mark. A candidates score on the exam is calculated as the number of questions that they answered correctly. In this process, each question is worth one, and only one, mark.
The answer to this question is “no”. There are no critical questions that a candidate must answer correctly to receive a passing score on the RPNC Exam. Each exam question has the same value: one mark.
The pass mark is set in reference to the content and the difficulty of the test questions. The pass mark is NOT set using a norm-referenced approach such as “bell curving”. The pass mark is set by a panel of content experts from across Canada. These content experts work closely with entry-level Registered Psychiatric Nurses, and include educators, experienced practitioners and administrators. The pass mark is set at a level that represents the performance expected of a competent entry-level psychiatric nurse. The panel of content experts reviews each exam question and produces ratings based on a common understanding of a competent entry-level psychiatric nurse.
In addition to these ratings, a variety of relevant data (for example, information on the preparation of new graduates, data on results from previously administered exam) are carefully considered to ensure that the pass mark that candidates must achieve on the exam is valid and fair. Based on this information, an appropriate pass mark is set. Also, to ensure fairness, the different versions of the exam are equated so that all candidates have to meet the same standard regardless of the version of the exam. For each form of the RPNC Exam, the pass mark is the same across writing centres and across the four western provinces.
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