Temporary emergency registration enables eligible individuals to register quickly on a short-term basis to assist with emergency health care response in B.C. BCCNM is currently granting temporary emergency registration to assist with COVID-19 pandemic efforts.
Practising registrants in B.C. do not need temporary emergency registration.
Who can apply
- Eligible
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- Current non-practising registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) who are in good standing and meet the practice hours requirement
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Former B.C. RPN registrants who are in good standing and meet the practice hours requirement
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RPNs with current practising registration in good standing in Canada
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RPNs in the Canadian armed forces.
Practice hours: Even during emergencies, BCCNM needs to maintain requirements to ensure that registered individuals are able to practice safely and competently in the current and rapidly changing health care environment. Learn more about the practice hours requirements.
- Not eligible
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Internationally educated applicants who have not yet submitted an application and/or not met the requirements for practising registration in B.C.
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Applicants whose record with the college includes evidence of not meeting the good character, fitness or competence to practice requirements
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Applicants who have not yet passed the exam requirement for the nursing role they are applying for (but may be eligible for provisional registration, if the exam is the only requirement outstanding).
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Applicants who have outstanding Inquiry Committee matters.
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Applicants who have been denied registration.
- Nursing students
How to apply
- 1. Confirm that you are eligible to apply
- Read the “who can apply” information above to ensure you are eligible to apply for temporary emergency registration. Please do not apply unless you meet all the criteria. This will enable us to process applications for eligible individuals more efficiently.
- 2. Download and complete the application form
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Important: Download and save the application form before completing all sections.
- 3. Email the completed form to register@bccnm.ca
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Once you have completed all sections of the application form, please email your application to BCCNM Registration at register@bccnm.ca.
Once you have submitted your application, a member of the Registration team may follow up with you for more information while assessing your application.
- 4. Wait for a confirmation email and next steps
- If your application for temporary emergency registration is granted, you will receive a confirmation email that confirms the details of your temporary registration, as well as the next steps to take regarding deployment. You must not work as a nurse until you have received this email. Don't forget to check your junkmail folder!
Type of work allowed
Temporary emergency registration (TER) is available for the sole purpose of enabling eligible individuals to assist during a declared emergency. Temporary emergency registrants can assist in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by:
- Providing care that is directly related to the pandemic; or
- Temporarily covering positions vacated by nurses who have been redeployed to deal with the emergency.
When will temporary emergency registration end?
Temporary emergency registration is granted for periods of 180 days and will be automatically extended as long as the BCCNM registrar’s emergency declaration is in effect. When BCCNM announces that TER is repealed, the registration of individuals holding TER will expire 15 days following the announcement. Current TERs will be communicated with directly to inform them of their updated registration expiry date.
FAQ
- Why do I have to meet the practice hours requirement in order to apply for temporary registration?
- Even during emergencies, we need to maintain requirements to ensure that registered individuals are able to practice safely and competently in the current and rapidly changing health care environment. Learn more about the
practice hour requirements.
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Fast-tracking employed student applications
B.C. nursing students who are not currently registered with BCCNM may apply to become an employed student registrant by following the instructions on our website. All applicants will need to pay the application, registration, and CNPS fees to obtain ESPN registration.
BCCNM will refund the application fee and a pro-rated registration fee for the duration of the pandemic. Refunds will be processed once the COVID-19 pandemic is declared ended.
Reinstating former ESPNs
Individuals who have held ESPN registration in the past can reinstate their ESPN registration. They do this by logging into their BCCNM account and applying for ESPN registration. BCCNM will refund the application fee and a pro-rated registration fee to those who obtain ESPN registration during the pandemic.
Important information: Emergency registration and application details
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In both scenarios above, registration will be valid until Feb. 28, 2021.
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Applicants must be currently enrolled in a BCCNM recognized nursing program and have an employer in order to qualify for ESPN registration.
- Applicants must to provide two notarized current and valid identification documents (one with photo).
Questions?
Please contact BCCNM Registration Services at register@bccnm.ca. Please note that we are experiencing a high volume of emails and phone calls. Your email will be responded to in priority order; please do not follow up by phone. Thank you for your assistance.