Education | CLPNNL

Becoming a LPN in NL

The Practical Nursing Program is offered through the Centre for Nursing Studies. The Centre for Nursing Studies (CNS), operated by Eastern Health, was established in 1996. The CNS, located St. John’s, offers a variety of nursing education programs both on-site and by distance delivery.

The mission of the Practical Nursing (PN) Program is to prepare caring and professional practical nurses to practice in a wellness-oriented, client-focused and consumer-sensitive health-care system.

The program is delivered over 5 semesters and leads to a diploma as a PN graduate.

The program may be offered at sites outside St. John's subject to approval by the Board of the CLPNNL based on human resource need.

At the present time, the CNS Practical Nursing Program is brokered at the College of the North Atlantic's Carbonear, Clarenville, Burin, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, St. Anthony, Bay St. George and Happy Valley-Goose Bay campuses. When a human resource need is identified, the CNS Practical Nursing Program may also be offered at the College of the North Atlanitc's Burin, Gander, Bay St. George, and St. Anthony campuses.

All students in the Practical Nursing Program must demonstrate their capacity to meet the entry-level practical nurse competencies.

The Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada: Requisite Skills and Abilities document provides potential practical nursing students with information on the requisite skills and abilities of a Licensed Practical Nurse.

For additional information regarding course offerings and the application process please contact the address below:

Centre for Nursing Studies
Practical Nursing Program
Southcott Hall
100 Forest Road
St. John's, NL A1A 1E5

Tel: 709-777-8174
Fax: 709-777-8176

Email: catherine.rice@mun.ca

National Licensing Exam

NATIONAL EXAM

Graduates of Practical Nursing Programs in Canada must write a registration examination before being licensed to practice. The LPN examination is the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE). In consultation with the exam provider, Meazure Learning, the CLPNNL offers 6 CPNRE writing windows annually.

CPNRE results are reported as “Pass” or “Fail.” Candidates have a maximum of 4 opportunities to pass the registration examination in the 36-month period immediately following their eligibility to write and will not be permitted a further opportunity to write the exam without re-completing a full practical nursing program. There must be a 45 day break between scheduled writings.

Examination results are released to candidates from the CLPNNL office. Candidates who are unsuccessful in their first writing of the CPNRE must stop working immediately as they are no longer licensed to practice as a LPN.

CPNRE Blueprint 2022-2026

CPNRE Website - Yardstick Assessment Strategies

CPNRE Application

CPNRE Testing Accommodation Form 1

CPNRE Testing Accommodation Form 2

CPNRE 2023 Testing Windows:

January 3, 2023 - January 31, 2023
March 1, 2023 - March 31, 2023
May 1, 2023 - May 31, 2023
July 1, 2023 - July 31, 2023
September 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023
November 1, 2023 - November 30, 2023

For additional information on the CPNRE, visit www.cpnre.ca

Continuing Education for LPNs

Practical Nursing Re-entry Program

The Practical Nurse Re-Entry Program is an individualized program of instruction designed to meet the needs of practical nurses in the province who have not practiced nursing in the last five years. Successful completion of this program allows nurses to re-apply for licensure with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador (CLPNNL). The following link will give you additional information about the Practical Nursing Re-entry Program which is offered through the Centre for Nursing Studies Programs.

The Centre for Nursing Studies (CNS) also offers a variety of continuing nursing education programs and competency modules.

https://cns.easternhealth.ca/programs/continuing-nursing-studies/

PN Program Approval

The Licensed Practical Nurses Act (2005) gives the CLPNNL the statutory responsibility to:

1) Set education standards for Licensed Practical Nurses; and

2) Evaluate and approve education programs in the province to determine that programs are in compliance with the standards.

The CLPNNL Board approved The Policies, Processes and Standards for Approval of Practical Nurse Education Programs in June 2017.

The approval process ensures that practical nurse programs are preparing graduates for safe, professional practice as outlined in the Entry-to-Practice Competencies.

The Centre for Nursing Studies (CNS), as the parent institution, is mandated to offer the PN Program provincially.

In addition, the Program is offered in various regions of the province through an agreement between the Centre for Nursing Studies and the College of the North Atlantic (CNA).

In 2019, the Centre for Nursing Studies, as well as the satellite sites at the College of the North Atlantic (Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Clarenville, Carbonear and Happy Valley-Goose Bay), received a five-year approval rating, indicating that the Program was being delivered in accordance with the standards and criteria, and that graduates met the entry-to-practice competencies.

Five years is the maximum rating possible as outlined in The Policies, Processes and Standards for Approval of Practical Nurse Education Programs, June 2017.

Professional Resources

The following list provides a sample of professional resources and learning opportunities for LPNs.