Career-long Learning Program (CLP)

Welcome to the RPNAS Career-long Learning Program (CLP)

RPNs and GPNs are safe, competent, and ethical care providers who are dedicated to lifelong learning and career-span competence.

Each year from January 1 to December 31 RPNs engage in a process of continually reflecting on their practice, developing learning goals, engaging in learning activities to address their goals, applying, and reflecting on their learning. This is a cyclical and iterative process which may change throughout the year as new opportunities and challenges arise for the RPN. GPNs also engage in the CLP starting when they obtain their initial temporary license with the RPNAS. RPNs and GPNs are required to document their engagement in one reflective cycle of the Career-long Learning Program (CLP) each registration year.

The RPNAS will transition from the current Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program to the Career-long Learning Program (CLP) in two phases:

  • For the 2022 registration year (January 1 – December 31, 2022), members will be required to:
    1. 1. Self-assess their practice using the current standards of psychiatric nursing practice
    2. 2. Create learning goal(s) based on their self-assessment
    3. 3. Complete learning activities that relate to the chosen learning goal(s)
    4. 4. Reflect on what was learned
    5. 5. Complete sections on the Reflective Practice Review Form corresponding to the above.
  • The full Career-long Learning Program will come into effect on January 1, 2023.

Members are required to complete the reflective review annually and declare their compliance with the CLP process when applying for registration renewal. Members will no longer enter their continuing education into the RPNAS database. They must document and retain their reflective review for 5 years in case they are selected as part of the verification process. Members are required to produce their documentation if selected for verification.

CLP Reflective Cycle

Summary of Career-long Learning Requirements

Members complete an annual reflective review that involves:

  1. 1. Self-assessment of their practice using the current standards of psychiatric nursing practice
  2. 2. Create learning goal(s) based on the self-assessment
  3. 3. Complete learning activities that relate to the chosen learning goal(s)
  4. 4. Reflect on what was learned
  5. 5. Implement the learning in their practice
  6. 6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the learning on their practice
  7. 7. Complete the Reflective Practice Review Form.

Administrative responsibilities:

  • Retaining documentation for 5 years in case they are selected for annual verification.
  • At registration renewal, members declare their compliance with the CLP.

NOTE: In 2022 members are required to complete steps 1-4 and 7 of the CLP. In 2023 and beyond, members will be required to complete all 7 steps.