Professional Liability Requirement

It was established by the Government of Alberta that registrants must have an acceptable form of professional liability insurance or an equivalent under the Registered Nurse Profession Regulation.

Professional liability protection (PLP) provides financial compensation for members of the public who have been harmed because of negligence by a health professional.

As a result, the public is protected because an adequate source of compensation is available to them. The health-care professional is also protected because they benefit from legal representation when facing a claim for compensation. They do not have to personally bear the full cost of the legal proceedings and the compensation, should the court order that they be paid.

If you are a current practising registrant with the College, you were required to have signed up for CNPS PLP and Core Services. Accordingly, you remain eligible for PLP and Core Services up to the end of the current practice year (Sept. 30). You will need to renew with the CNPS before you complete your renewal application in College Connect. Remember that your PLP must be in place from the day you begin to practise. There can be no gap in protection.

If you are a new applicant and you do not have a "license number", please use the unique identifier in the top right-hand corner of your CRNA College Connect account during your CNPS application. Additionally, on the MyCNPS application, please state that your license status is "Active."

Nurses who are CNPS beneficiaries are generally eligible for the following in respect of matters arising from nursing practice:

• Up to $10 million in professional liability protection
• Up to $1 million in legal assistance for the defence of criminal prosecutions and investigations
• Up to $1 million in legal assistance for the defence of an alleged statutory breach, such as child protection, human rights, motor vehicle or privacy legislation
• Legal assistance for other matters related to nursing practice such as representation at a coroner’s inquest or public inquiry
• Other proceedings in which you may be called as a witness
• Unlimited access to professional legal or risk management advice, including pre-contractual review of agreements for the provision of nursing services and participation in medical assistance in dying
• Risk management services, including educational material and webinars on a wide range of subjects 

Requests for assistance must be presented in writing and are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking account, amongst other things, the resources made available to you from your employer or your union.

For more information visit the CNPS website.

The CNPS requirement under the College bylaws extends only to the CNPS PLP, made available as part of the CNPS Core Services, which do not include assistance with complaints made to the College. The CNPS does offer the Supplementary Protection program, an additional optional service which extends your eligibility to this type of assistance. You may inquire with them for more details.

No. The CNPS Supplementary Protection program is not required to renew. It is available as an additional optional service, which expands the circumstances in which you can request assistance from the CNPS. You can learn more about the Supplementary Protection program here on the CNPS website.

Yes. However, you must still also sign up for CNPS PLP and Core Services. The College bylaws specifically require CNPS professional liability protection as a condition of permit renewal. The CNPS offers one of the highest and broadest levels of professional liability protection available, as well as comprehensive education and risk management resources to assist you in reducing the risk of harm. CNPS PLP is a requirement of most nursing colleges in Canada.

Yes. You will sign up for CNPS PLP and Core Services based on your protected title. The protected titles are registered nurse, graduate nurse, nurse practitioner, graduate nurse practitioner and certified graduate nurse.

You are not eligible to practise without professional liability protection. If you have not completed your CNPS renewal, the College Connect application will not allow you to complete your renewal.

No. Once you have registered for CNPS Professional Liability Protection, click on the "Next Step" button on the Professional Liability Protection page within your CRNA College Connect application. This launches a confirmation check.

A few items to double check are: 

• Did you register on MyCNPS using the correct CRNA number? If you made a typo during your CNPS application, please contact CNPS for assistance.
• Did you register on MyCNPS for the correct service(s) or service timeframe? Professional Liability Protection needs to commence on or before the commencement date of your CRNA permit. CNPS Professional Liability Protection is a requirement of CRNA licensure, whereas the CNPS Supplementary Protection program is optional and does not satisfy the CRNA requirement for licensure.
• Did you register on MyCNPS for Alberta Professional Liability Protection? If you used an alternate province licence number, then you will not have registered for Alberta services.

You do not need CNPS PLP if you do not hold an active practice permit. If you do not renew by Sept. 30, you will not be able to practise on Oct. 1. To regain your RN or NP status, you will need to apply to return to practice and pay for your CNPS PLP.

No. Individuals in the non-practising register are not required to satisfy the PLP requirement until they apply to return to practice.

As permit cycles vary between provinces, you must register for CNPS PLP for each designation and jurisdiction you hold registration with. If you have a question about this process, call the CNPS at 1-800-267-3390 or use the Contact Us form on their website.

You will need to sign up for CNPS PLP and Core Services for each designation and jurisdiction you hold registration with. If you have a question about this process, call the CNPS at 1-800-267-3390 or use the Contact Us form on their website.

Even if your employer has personal coverage for employees, you are still required to sign up for CNPS PLP and Core Services.

The CNPS has been the professional liability protection provider of choice for registrants of the CRNA since 1988. The CNPS is a not-for-profit society providing legal advice, risk management services, legal assistance and professional liability protection related to nursing practice to over 150,000 Canadian nurses across all Canadian provinces and territories. As a legal support system created by nurses, for nurses, the CNPS is known to provide one of the broadest scopes of professional liability protection. The CNPS offers legal and risk management advice to support your practice and promote safe patient care, along with a variety of continuing education opportunities.

All receipts from MyCNPS are automatically emailed upon successful payment. If you are seeking another copy, you can access past receipts on the MyCNPS portal.

The CNPS is pleased to issue a written confirmation that you are eligible for its PLP when this is requested by your employer or another third party where or for whom you are providing professional nursing services. Please complete this form on their website.