Provisional Register

The provisional register allows you to work as a graduate nurse (GN) or graduate nurse practitioner (GNP) while you work to meet the requirement of writing and passing a registration exam. 

Once an application is approved, you may be on this register. When practising, you must be under supervision per the Supervision Standards.

Provisional permits are issued for a maximum of six months at a time, for a total of twelve months within two years of completing your education program. The effective date starts the day your provisional permit is issued. An automated email will be sent one month before the initial six-month period ends, with the option to renew for an additional six months. If you submit an application without first passing the NCLEX-RN exam, your provisional permit will be issued on the effective permit date you select in your application.

Based on the permit issued, you are eligible only to use one of the following authorized titles:

• Graduate nurse (GN)
• Graduate nurse practitioner (GNP)

You may only call yourself a registered nurse (RN) or nurse practitioner (NP) in Alberta once you have met all the requirements for registration in Alberta and the CRNA has approved your RN or NP permit.

These application types are not eligible to be on the provisional register:

• Renewal and return to practice
• Non-practising
• Select substantial equivalence pathways
  • Already passed the registration exam
  • Using only verification of education to write the registration exam
  • Using only verification of registration to write the registration exam