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Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination
Quick links to the sections on this page:
about the registration exam
application form
assistance
exam deadlines
exam process
exam statistics
FAQs
What is the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam? (CPNRE)
The CPNRE is a national exam that most provinces use for provincial registration. It is administrated by Assessment Stategies Inc. www.cpnre.ca. The exam is composed of two parts, Part A and Part B. Exam writers are given three and a half hours in the morning and three and a half hours in the afternoon to write the exam. The exam is made up of approximately 300 multiple choice questions. Some questions are case-based and others are independent. More information is mailed to exam writers once they have applied to write the exam.
Three times a year - in January, May, and September - hundreds of practical nursing graduates and other qualified candidates write the B.C. Registration Exam (Canadian Practical Nurses Registration Exam or CPNRE) at various locations across the province.
In the last two years, exam sites have included Burnaby, Chilliwack, Cranbrook, Creston, Hazelton, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Prince George, Vancouver, and Victoria. The exam locations vary each time, based on the number of candidates from each region.
All practical nurses must pass the CPNRE prior to being registered as an LPN. |
About the Registration Exam
The Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE) is written in January, May, and September.
There are eight to ten writing centres around the province. The number of sites and site location vary for each exam based on the number of applicants and their location.
The examination fee for first time writers is currently $440. This fee includes interim registration with the CLPNBC. If a second or third writing is necessary, the fee is $400 each. Note: Fees are subject to change without notice.
Review the registration menu for information on when Interim registration is granted. |
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Application Form
The examination application form is not currently available for downloading. Contact the examination coordinator for more information. Phone 778-373-3100 Ext 4201 or call toll free 1-877-373-2201. |
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Exam preparation assistance
If you need assistance in preparing for the CPNRE, a publication entitled The Canadian Practical Nurse Prep Guide is available from the bookstore where you completed your PN program, or the guide is available for purchase by contacting Assessment Strategies Incorporated in Ottawa at www.cpnre.ca.
The College also has a limited number of guide books available to loan. A deposit of $80 is required. |
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Exam Deadlines
The assessment application and supporting documentation must be received at least four weeks prior to the exam application deadline. This does not apply to students in a recognized BC practical nurse program.
Click on the following link to view or download information on these deadlines.
If a candidate has an identified disability that could adversely affect performance on the examination, a request for special accommodation can be made. This request and supporting documentation must be given to the CLPNBC in writing at least 90 days
prior to the examination date. All requests are submitted to Assessment Strategies Inc. (ASI) for review and determination. Contact the Examination Coordinator for more information on the required documentation necessary to submit for this request and the applicable deadlines. |
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| Associated documents - click to download |  2010 Exam Dates n Deadlines for applicants.doc (Approx 39K) |
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Exam Process
Review the exam process listed below for the category you are in.
B.C. Practical Nurse Students
If you are a student in a recognized B.C. PN program, you will receive an application package from your school. This package will contain an application for the CPNRE. Complete all the forms carefully and submit your application before the deadline. If information is incomplete or documents are missing, your application will not be processed.
Your school will send the College a list of students who will meet graduation requirements. So long as your name is on the list provided from your educational institution and your application package is completed correctly and received by the CLPNBC, you will be permitted to write the next CPNRE. First time writers are granted an interim registration which is valid from the date of your graduation until three months after the next exam date.
Not educated in a recognized B.C. Practical Nurse program
All individuals in this category must contact the College office for an application package to ensure that they are eligible to apply for practical nurse registration, and to receive the correct forms. Once you have been assessed as meeting the education requirements, you will receive an exam application form to write the CPNRE. Complete the form carefully and apply before the deadline. If information is incomplete or missing, your application will not be processed. First time writers are granted an interim registration which is valid from the date of your graduation until three months after the next exam date. |
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Frequently Asked Questions about the CPNRE
- May I purchase old examinations for study purposes?
No, they are not available. All exam books are returned to Assessment Strategies Incorporated (ASI) following the examination. They are held for one year and are then destroyed for security reasons. A study guide called The Canadian PN Exam Prep Guide, as well as a Predictor Test, can be purchased from your PN school's bookstore or from ASI. Go to www.cpnre.ca for more details.
- May I use my PDA or calculator at the examination?
No. Nothing is permitted at your table except HB pencils, erasers, your exam identification card, and picture I.D. You will be allowed to write or calculate on the edges of your exam booklet. The only questions that are scored are those on the response sheet, not in the booklet.
- What is interim registration?
Interim registration is granted to graduates of approved practical nurse programs in B.C. who are deemed eligible to write the registration examination and have paid the appropriate fees. This registration is temporary and will be effective from the date of graduation until three months following the first available examination sitting.
- When do I get my interim registration?
For new B.C. PN graduates:
Your interim registration will be printed at the time you send in your examination fee. It will show the effective date as your graduation date and will expire three months after the date of the first available exam sitting. It will be issued when we receive confirmation from your school of nursing that you have achieved graduation status.
For all others:
Your interim registration is granted when we receive your completed first time exam application and fee. It is valid until three(3) months after the exam.
- Can I get special accommodation to write the CPNRE?
If a candidate has an identified disability that could adversely affect performance on the examination, a request for special accommodation can be made. This request and supporting documentation must be given to the CLPNBC in writing at least 90 days
prior to the examination date. All requests are submitted to Assessment Strategies Inc. (ASI) for review and determination. Contact the Examination Coordinator for more information on the required documentation necessary to submit for this request and the applicable deadlines.
- Can I write the exam in another province?
Yes. contact the examination coordinator at the College for more information:
phone 778-373-3100 ext 4201
- Can I get a refund if I change my mind about writing the CPNRE?
The CLPNBC no longer issues refunds for examinations.
- Exam fees will apply to subsequent exams up to and including three consecutive examinations opportunities. A candidate MUST notify the College in writing, prior to the examination in order for fees to be held over.
- What happens if I don't show up for the exam and don't write and notify the College?
You will be deemed to have taken and failed the examination. You will be required to pay the exam fee for the next examination.
- What happens to the interim license if I withdraw or don't show up for the exam?
If you withdraw or do not write the exam, your interim registration is cancelled immediately and must be returned within 10 business days. You must inform employer(s) and return your interim registration to our office. Interim registrations are issued ONCE only, therefore you will not be able to work as an LPN until you successfully meet the conditions for registration.
- What percentage do I have to get to receive a passing score?
ASI does not provide a percentage score on this exam. You will receive a "pass" or "fail" only.
- When do I get the result of the exam?
Examination results will be mailed to candidates approximately four to six weeks following the examination. Results will not be given by telephone. The results are indicated as a pass or fail only. A candidate who obtains a failing score may request that the failed examination be re-scored. There is a fee for this service. For further information on re-scoring, please contact the CLPNBC.
- What happens when I pass the exam?
If you pass, your exam results will be sent with a registration form to apply for full registration. Return the completed form and applicable payment to the CLPNBC to apply for full registration. You have one year from the notification of your exam results to apply. If this deadline is passed, you will be required to re-apply and be assessed before registration is granted.
- And if I fail?
If you fail, your interim registration is void and you can no longer work as a practical nurse. No further interim registration will be issued.
You can write the CPNRE up to three times in total. If you fail, you can apply to write it again by completing another exam application form and paying $400. all three attempts must be made within a two year period. If you fail three times, you will be required to complete the entire practical nurse generic program before attempting the exam again.
- How many times can I write the exam?
A candidate who is unsuccessful in passing the CPNRE may write a total of three times only. The first rewrite must be taken within one year of the initial writing. If three attempts are made, all three writings must be made within a two-year period following the initial writing.
- Can I have my exam re-scored?
Yes. You have 45 days from the date that the exam report was mailed to complete a Request for Exam Re-Score form. The charge for a re-score is $50 plus GST, for a total of $52.50. Payment can be made by bank draft, money order, Visa or Mastercard.
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