Nursing in Alberta
Information and tools to support your nursing career in Alberta, from application to ongoing practise.
Information and tools to support your nursing career in Alberta, from application to ongoing practise.
Understand the expectations for safe, competent and ethical nursing practise in Alberta. Includes standards, code of ethics and regulatory guidelines that apply to all registrants.
The CRNA offers different application pathways that are tailored to your scenario. Learn more about the common types of applicants.
College Connect is your personal account for permit applications, document submission and status tracking.
Access your application 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from any device.
Our highly trained Customer Service Experts are ready to help - with call wait times averaging less than three minutes.
The CRNA is committed to constant improvements to our systems to ensure applicants get the support they need.
Read about common questions on a variety of application topics.
Read about what the provisional register is and what it means to be on it.
Read about special authorizations for RNs that allows them to prescribe and order diagnostic tests.
Here is a small selection of common frequently asked questions, but you can read more by going to our FAQ support page below.
The first step in applying it to create an account on College Connect, our online portal for registrants and applicants. College Connect allows you to work on your application anywhere, any time, from any device.
If you have questions, request a consultation with our registrant navigator service prior to beginning your application.
Yes. You do not need to live in Alberta to apply to the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
Registered nurses can maintain permits from multiple jurisdictions so another ongoing application should not affect your application to the CRNA. If you are currently awaiting authorization to test for the NCLEX-RN from another regulatory body, contact the CRNA before proceeding with your Alberta application.
No. Your practice hours can be from any jurisdiction to meet the currency of practice hours requirement. The hours do not need to be from an equivalent jurisdiction.
You can request a consultation with a registrant navigator if you are an internationally educated nurse and don't know what pathway is best for you. The navigator will be able to guide you through the process.
Education credential assessments and NCSBN candidate reports providing proof of passing the NCLEX-RN can be submitted directly by the applicant.
All other required documents must come directly from the issuing authority.
RNs are autonomous health-care professionals who practise collaboratively with other health-care professionals (such as physicians and NPs) where they:
RNs can engage in self-employed practice and are held to all the CRNA’s standards, guidelines and Code of Ethics.
There are specific supervisions standards for graduate nurses (GNs) as registrants on the Provisional Register. For more information, refer to Standard 5 of the Supervision Standards (2022).
NPs begin as RNs and then advance through specialized education and clinical training, enabling them to practise autonomously:
NPs have a broad, autonomous and independent scope of practice, and are essential members of the interdisciplinary team and within independent practice.
Applicants will not be able to use the NCLEX-RN to meet the currency of practice requirement and will be assessed based on the current criteria, even if they gained their initial permit by using the NCLEX-RN to meet this requirement.
The College of Registered Nurses of Alberta’s (CRNA) Continuing Competence Program (CCP) supports public safety in accordance with the Health Professions Act. The CCP requires registrants to maintain competence and enhance the provision of nursing professional services. The CCP consists of a self-directed learning plan, required education, quality assurance review and competence assessment. Further details about the CCP can be found in the Continuing Competence Program Framework (2024).
Yes. If you were a practising graduate nurse (RN or NP), provided nursing services during the practice year and will be renewing as a graduate nurse (GN), you are required to complete the CCP requirements. All registrants, including those on the graduate nurse register, must meet this requirement as part of their renewal application.
