Being registered provides you with a permit to practice and authorizes you to use the designation Psychiatric Nurse (PN) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). The PN or RPN designation means you are a recognized professional and legally authorized to practice. It assures other health professionals and colleagues of your competence and reinforces public trust in our profession. Maintaining registration requirements helps ensure a continuing high standard of care.
CRPNA provides confidential consultations to psychiatric nursing professionals and others who seek assistance about issues that affect the delivery of safe, competent, ethical psychiatric nursing care.
To be registered as an RPN or to maintain your RPN practice permit you must:
- Have 1,400 practice hours in the previous five years, or graduated from a psychiatric nursing program in the past 4 years
- Renew your practice permit annually by April 30
- Complete annual Continuing Competence Program (CCP) requirements
- Ensure your ongoing fitness to practice
Career Breaks, Parental Leave or Retirement
Whether you're taking a temporary break from psychiatric nursing, relocating to another province or retiring for good, CRPNA needs to be notified that you will not be renewing your practice permit.
Even though you may not be working, CRPNA needs you to renew or take a non practicing or retired registration status by the renewal deadline to remain in good standing and to avoid outstanding conditions, fees or having your permit suspended or cancelled. This is the only way for CRPNA and the public to know that you are not working without a practice permit.
Key Renewal Dates:
- Online Renewal Period: March 1st (exact opening day may vary) – April 30th each year
- Deadline for Renewal: April 30th
- Late Renewal Consequence: If renewal is not completed by April 30th, a $150.00 late fee applies. Failure to renew by May 31st will result in the suspension of your practice permit and notification to your employer.
Accessing Your Information:
- Practice Permits: View and download anytime from your "My RPN Page"
- Tax Receipts: Automatically emailed and available for viewing and printing on your personal registration page.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal Process:
To avoid disruptions, make sure to complete the renewal process by April 30th. Here’s what you need to know:
-
- Login Credentials: You need a username and password to sign in. If forgotten, use the “Forgot Username/Password” link on the login page.
- Status Changes:
- Not Practicing? Complete your renewal to change your status to Non-Practicing or Retired
- Returning to Practice? Contact the office for a Change of Status Request Form prior to completing your renewal to revert from Non-Practicing or Retired to Practicing.
- Update Information: Ensure your personal and employment information is current.
- Valid Email: A current, valid email address is required under the Health Professions Act (HPA).
- You must be able to access the email address you provide, even outside of work hours, to stay informed of important updates, notices, reminders and other important communications.
- CRPNA does not send SPAM or share your information with any other party.
- Professional Liability Insurance/Protection (PLI/PLP): The Health Professions Act and College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) Bylaws require that all Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) hold Professional Liability Insurance/Protection (PLI/PLP). The CRPNA Council has approved an amendment to Bylaw 7.4, making professional liability protection through the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) mandatory for all CRPNA registrants
- Practice Hours: Record your practice hours for the past twelve months. See below for how you can quickly calculate your hours.
- Continuing Competence Program (CCP): Complete your Practice Enhancement Plan before renewing.
- Payment Options: Visa Credit, Visa Debit, MasterCard Credit, and MasterCard Debit are accepted. Cash and cheques are no longer accepted. (Pre-Authorized Payment Plan (PAPP) participants: Payment will be applied automatically once you complete your renewal)
- Confirmation: A confirmation email will be sent upon completion. If not received, contact the CRPNA office.
- Tax Receipt: An electronic tax receipt will be emailed within 24 hours of renewal approval. If you misplace this email you can print a copy from the "My RPN Page".
ANNUAL RENEWAL INFORMATION
To be registered as an RPN or to maintain your RPN practice permit you must:
- Have 1,400 practice hours in the previous five years, or graduated from a psychiatric nursing program in the past 4 years
- Renew your practice permit annually by April 30
- Complete annual Continuing Competence Program (CCP) requirements
- Ensure your ongoing fitness to practice
Career Breaks, Parental Leave or Retirement
Whether you're taking a temporary break from psychiatric nursing, relocating to another province or retiring for good, CRPNA needs to be notified that you will not be renewing your practice permit.
Even though you may not be working, CRPNA needs you to renew or take a non practicing or retired registration status by the renewal deadline to remain in good standing and to avoid outstanding conditions, fees or having your permit suspended or cancelled. This is the only way for CRPNA and the public to know that you are not working without a practice permit.
Key Renewal Dates:
- Online Renewal Period: March 1st (exact opening day may vary) – April 30th each year
- Deadline for Renewal: April 30th
- Late Renewal Consequence: If renewal is not completed by April 30th, a $150.00 late fee applies. Failure to renew by May 31st will result in the suspension of your practice permit and notification to your employer.
Accessing Your Information:
- Practice Permits: View and download anytime from your "My RPN Page"
- Tax Receipts: Automatically emailed and available for viewing and printing on your personal registration page.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal Process:
To avoid disruptions, make sure to complete the renewal process by April 30th. Here’s what you need to know:
-
- Login Credentials: You need a username and password to sign in. If forgotten, use the “Forgot Username/Password” link on the login page.
- Status Changes:
- Not Practicing? Complete your renewal to change your status to Non-Practicing or Retired
- Returning to Practice? Contact the office for a Change of Status Request Form prior to completing your renewal to revert from Non-Practicing or Retired to Practicing.
- Update Information: Ensure your personal and employment information is current.
- Valid Email: A current, valid email address is required under the Health Professions Act (HPA).
- You must be able to access the email address you provide, even outside of work hours, to stay informed of important updates, notices, reminders and other important communications.
- CRPNA does not send SPAM or share your information with any other party.
- Professional Liability Insurance/Protection (PLI/PLP): The Health Professions Act and College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta (CRPNA) Bylaws require that all Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) hold Professional Liability Insurance/Protection (PLI/PLP). The CRPNA Council has approved an amendment to Bylaw 7.4, making professional liability protection through the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) mandatory for all CRPNA registrants
- Practice Hours: Record your practice hours for the past twelve months. See below for how you can quickly calculate your hours.
- Continuing Competence Program (CCP): Complete your Practice Enhancement Plan before renewing.
- Payment Options: Visa Credit, Visa Debit, MasterCard Credit, and MasterCard Debit are accepted. Cash and cheques are no longer accepted. (Pre-Authorized Payment Plan (PAPP) participants: Payment will be applied automatically once you complete your renewal)
- Confirmation: A confirmation email will be sent upon completion. If not received, contact the CRPNA office.
- Tax Receipt: An electronic tax receipt will be emailed within 24 hours of renewal approval. If you misplace this email you can print a copy from the "My RPN Page".
Full time: calculate based on number of shifts x number of hours of the shift x 12 months (example: 20 shifts per month x 8 hrs x 12 = 1920 hrs).
Part time & Casual: calculate based on shift length and number of shifts in your part time position per month x 12 months OR number of casual shifts in a month x 12 months.
Do not include sick/vacation or leaves of any time. Hours are required to maintain the mandatory clinical competency hour requirement as legislated.
Registration Renewal for 2026/2027
Renewal deadline is April 30, 2026.
A $150.00 fee will be added to late renewals.
If Registration Renewal is not completed by May 31, 2026,
Practice Permits will be SUSPENDED and employer(s) will be notified.
A $300.00 suspension fee will be applied to reinstate a
Practice Permit that has been suspended.
DOCUMENT REQUESTS
To request the following documents download the Document Request Form:
- Verification of Registration
- Verification of Self-reported Hours
- 20 Year Service Confirmation Letter
- Copy of Transcripts (Alberta Hospital Edmonton School & Alberta Hospital Ponoka School)
- Duplicate Tax Receipts (Prior to 2017)
- Copy of Registration File
Please send the completed Document Request form, along with any additional form(s) you would like CRPNA to complete (if applicable), to CRPNA via email (crpna@crpna.ab.ca), fax (780-436-4165), or standard mail. Document requests will be processed within 2 to 3 business days.
2026-2027 Registration Renewal Open
March 25, 2026Notice of Change to Professional Liability Protection Requirement
February 19, 2026
