Overview
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge and nursing experience, and a specialty of practice. They provide a range of health services to patients and deliver preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners work in conjunction with physicians and collaboratively with other nursing colleagues and health-care providers, or they may work independently. They are employed in community health centres, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centres. Nurse practitioners may specialize in primary healthcare or acute care.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
Inoculate and vaccinate patients
Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team such as family physicians, therapists and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
Perform a patient advocacy role
Prescribe and administer medications
May coordinate or manage primary patient care.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$72,996
$118,879
$139,047
Job openings
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Strong job outlook
British Columbia
125expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Nurse practitioners usually require a master's degree in nursing; or completion of a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education; and several years of practice as a registered nurse.
Registration with a regulatory body is required for nurse practitioners in all provinces and territories.
Additional information
There is little to no mobility between nurse practitioner specializations without further training.
Certification requirements
Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Nurse practitioners in B.C.
- BCCNM Registration - Nurse Practitioner
Optional: The following certification are optional to practice as Nurse practitioners in B.C.
- Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification - Nurse Practitioners
BCCNM Registration - Nurse Practitioner
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To practice as a nurse practitioner in B.C., you must register with the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Eligibility is achieved by completing a nursing practitioner program at a qualified institution, and sitting and passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification - Nurse Practitioners
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To work as a nurse practitioner in B.C., you may choose to become certified with the Canadian Nurses Association. Eligibility is achieved by being a registered nurse, psychiatric nurse, or nurse practitioner, work experience, and/or specialty education.
Work Experience
Work experience required
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
Explore programs related to this career offered at post-secondary institutions in B.C.