Registration & Renewal
Thank you for your interest in practicing as a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner in the Yukon. To do so, you must Register with the YRNA and obtain a current practice license. Below you will find information about current registration classes and fees, followed by drop-down boxes with instructions pertaining to all the necessary documents and forms you will need to provide, depending on your particular circumstances.
You may click this link at any point to begin your application with YRNA.
Any unanswered questions can be addressed by emailing us at: admin@yrna.ca
RNs or NPs Currently Registered Elsewhere in Canada
QUALIFICATION FOR REGISTRATION
The requirements for registration with YRNA are set out primarily in the Regulations under the Registered Nurses Profession Act. The three main requirements are (1) graduation from a school of nursing recognized by the YRNA; (2) passing the registration examination; and (3) confirmation of registration or eligibility for registration from another Canadian nursing regulator.
The registration examination recognized primarily in Canada is the NCLEX. To write the NCLEX a person must have been provisionally accepted as a registrant with a Canadian Provincial or Territorial Nursing regulator which then provides that person with and authorization to access the examination. The regulator is only able to grant the authorization if there is one or more recognized school of nursing in that Province or Territory. Since there are currently no schools of nursing within the Yukon Territory, there is no ability for YRNA to provide authorizations to write the NCLEX. It is for that reason that the Regulations also require that an applicant for registration with the YRNA must first provide proof of registration or eligibility for registration with at least one of the other Canadian Nursing Regulators which can provide NCLEX examination authorizations. Currently the Yukon Territory is the only jurisdiction without a school of nursing and therefore without access to the examination.
To meet the currency of practice requirements, an RN applicant must, within the immediate five years preceding an application, have:
Worked at least 1,125 hours; or
Graduated from a basic nursing program; or
Completed a post-basic nursing degree; or
Completed an approved nurse refresher program.
Applicants for Nurse Practitioner registration/licensure must, within the past three year period, have:
Practiced for 900 hours as a nurse practitioner in any jurisdiction; or
Successfully completed a nursing education program to qualify as a nurse practitioner.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please read and follow each step carefully.
Incomplete applications will not be processed until all required information is provided. This can significantly delay the process.
It is an offense to knowingly provide inaccurate or untrue information. Doing so will result in revocation of your license and reference to relevant authorities.
Review the Qualifications for Registration information above and the General Information to ensure you are eligible for registration.
Start your YRNA profile and begin applying for registration here. During the profile creation and application process you will be prompted to complete steps 3 through 8 below.
The online registration portal will prompt you to contact each of the regulatory bodies in which you are currently registered, or have been registered with in the past, to request that they send a verification of current registration and license status to us. The procedure will differ slightly in each jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions have their own forms which you may have to fill out or they may use to send information to us directly. Others will require that you fill out our YRNA Verification of Registration Request form and send it to them.
The online registration portal will also prompt you to arrange for your current or most recent employer to send us a reference. To do this you must use our Employer Reference Request Form. It is a fillable form which both you and your most recent employer will fill out. The form must be sent to us by the employer directly. Please note, that the person filling out the form must be an employer, manager or supervisor who has worked directly with or directly supervised you in your clinical practice. Administrative staff from an employment or placement agency do not qualify.
Download the form
Fill out your section
Send it to the employer to complete and forward directly to YRNA
The preferred method of transmission is email.
Finally, the portal will prompt you to provide us with two identity verification documents which MUST include:
A primary identification document which must be either your birth certificate or current/unexpired passport page containing your photograph and identity information; PLUS
A clear and legible secondary identity document which must contain a recent photograph if your primary document does not contain a photograph. The secondary document must be an official government issued identification document such as passport or driver’s license or can include a current nurse registration card from another Canadian nursing regulator.
Please contact our office in confidence if for any reason you do not have safe access to your primary identification documents so that we can discuss alternatives.
If any of your names have changed since birth, you must provide a clear copy of all official documents tracing each change.
Provide your proof of completion of Yukon University's YFN101 course, more information can be found through Yukon University's website or here. As an alternative, YRNA will also accept KDFN's in-person Indigenous People's Workshop.
The system has a built in payment processing facility through which you will be able to pay the application fee and the registration fee for the registration class applicable to you. You are able to pay online or request an invoice for payment at a later date. Please note that acceptance of fee payment by us does not mean that your registration has been accepted and a license to practice issued. You are only entitled to practice once all steps in the process have been completed and you get official authorization from us to begin practice.
Recent Graduates From a Canadian Nursing School Not Yet Registered in Canada
BACKGOUND INFORMATION
The requirements for registration with YRNA are set out primarily in the Regulations under the Registered Nurses Profession Act. The three main requirements are (1) graduation from a school of nursing recognized by the YRNA; (2) passing the registration examination; and (3) confirmation of registration or eligibility for registration from another Canadian nursing regulator.
The registration examination recognized primarily in Canada is the NCLEX. To write the NCLEX a person must have been provisionally accepted as a registrant with a Canadian Provincial or Territorial Nursing regulator which then provides that person with an authorization to access the examination. The regulator is only able to grant the authorization if there is one or more recognized school of nursing in that Province or Territory. Since there are currently no schools of nursing within the Yukon Territory, there is no ability for YRNA to provide authorizations to write the NCLEX. It is for that reason that the Regulations also require that an applicant for registration with the YRNA must first provide proof of registration or eligibility for registration with at least one of the other Canadian Nursing Regulators which can provide NCLEX examination authorizations. Currently the Yukon Territory is the only jurisdiction without a school of nursing and therefore without access to the examination.
If you have recently graduated from a recognized Canadian school of nursing and have written the NCLEX examination but do not yet know your results, you can apply for a temporary permit to practice in the Yukon. This will allow you to practice and then convert to a full registration on condition that you pass the NCLEX examination.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please read and follow each step carefully.
Incomplete applications and files will be returned to you without processing. This can significantly delay the process.
It is an offense to knowingly provide inaccurate or untrue information. Doing so will result in revocation of your license and reference to relevant authorities.
Review the Qualifications for Registration information above to ensure you are eligible for registration.
Start your YRNA profile and begin applying for registration here. During the Profile creation and application process you will be prompted to complete steps 3 through 7 below.
The online portal will prompt you to download and fill out the Request for Confirmation of Interim Status Form through which you will begin the process to confirm registration or eligibility for registration. Once filled out, send that form to the nursing regulator in the province/territory in which you graduated and/or in which you currently hold a "student" registration.
Confirmation of registration/eligibility for registration is provided by the nursing regulator in the province or territory in which you graduated.
The regulator will then review the application and provide necessary confirmation to YRNA.
The online portal will prompt you to upload two identity verification documents which MUST include:
A primary identification document which must be either your birth certificate or current/unexpired passport page containing your photograph and identity information; PLUS
A clear and legible secondary identity document which must contain a recent photograph if your primary document does not contain a photograph. The secondary document must be an official government issued identification document such as passport or driver’s license or can include a current nurse registration card from another Canadian nursing regulator.
Please contact our office in confidence if for any reason you do not have safe access to your primary identification documents so that we can discuss alternatives.
The system will ask you te provide all previous names, if any of your names have changed since birth. If that is the case, you must also upload documentation showing evidence of each change.
You will also need to provide proof of completion of Yukon University's YFN101 course. More information on this course can be found through Yukon University's website or here. As an alternative, YRNA will also accept KDFN's in-person Indigenous People's Workshop.
The system has a built in payment processing facility through which you will be able to pay the application fee and the registration fee for the registration class applicable to you. You are able to pay online or request an invoice for payment at a later date. Please note that acceptance of fee payment by us does not mean that your registration has been accepted and a license to practice issued. You are only entitled to practice once all steps in the process have been completed and you get official authorization from us to begin practice.
CONVERTING YOUR TEMPORARY PERMIT INTO A FULL LICENSE
You will need to complete the registration process or demonstrate that you are eligible for full RN or NP registration in the jurisdiction where you completed your education before your Yukon Temporary Permit can be upgraded to Practicing status. This can be done by completing a new Verification of Registration once you have completed your NCLEX and obtained licensure in your originating jurisdiction. For more information, please contact the office by e-mail at admin@yrna.ca.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Yukon offers many mentorship opportunities for nurses and nurse practitioners. Living and nursing in the Yukon can offer great opportunities to build on skills and training offered in nursing education programs and develop a greater understanding of the possibilities of the RN or NP role. The territory usually has a variety of openings for various nursing positions.
For nursing positions with the Yukon Government please visit https://yukon.ca.
For nursing positions with the Yukon Hospital Corporation, please visit https://yukonhospitals.ca/yukon-hospital-corporation/careers/career-opportunities.
Many nursing positions are also posted at https://yuwin.ca
EDUCATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Department of Health and Social Services, Yukon Government offers a nursing bursary fund to individuals interested in nursing education. More information on this funding opportunity is at http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/nursingbursary.php
Internationally Educated RN/NP Not Yet Registered in Canada
YRNA works in collaboration with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and the Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS) to assess and register/license internationally educated nurses wishing to practice in the Yukon.
To begin your process, please visit the NCAS website at https://www.ncasbc.ca/Pages/default.aspx.
Choose the option “I am seeking a license in British Columbia.”
Very Important: Send us an email at YRNA at admin@yrna.ca to notify us that you intend to seek licensure with YRNA.
We will confirm your application with NCAS and British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives.
Once you have gone through the assessment processes BCCNM will send us a report assessing your eligibility for registration.
Please note: YRNA is not responsible for any incurred fees during this process.
Special Practice Permits
BACKGROUND
Special Practice Permits are intended to provide Yukon registration to eligible Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioners participating in short term, special projects that fall outside conventional Yukon Health system requirements. Such permits will be issues only for anticipated projects with a specified location, purpose, and duration up to a maximum term of 21 consecutive days. (NOTE: YRNA registration in emergency/disaster situations would be through another mechanism).
CRITERIA AND ELIGIBLITY
To qualify for a Special Practice Permit, an applicant must meet all criteria for practising registration. The decision to issue a Special Practice Permit will be made on a case by case basis by the Registrar, who may consult with the Registration Committee.
PERMIT DURATION AND CONDITIONS
Each Special Practice Permit will be limited to a specified location, purpose, and duration up to a maximum term of 21 consecutive days.
Conditions limiting practice under each permit will be specified by the Registrar and based on the purpose, location, and duration of the special project in question.
SPECIAL PRACTICE PERMIT FEES
The Special Practice Permit fee for the current year is found on the Registration Application Form. All new applicants must also pay the new applicant processing fee, as indicated on the application form.
A special Practice Permit holder may upgrade to Practising licensure provided all registration requirements are met and the balance of the full registration fee is paid. The request to upgrade should be made PRIOR TO the expiry date of the Special Practice Permit.
HOW TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL PRACTICE PERMIT
Start your YRNA profile and begin applying for registration here. The online portal will prompt applicants for a Special Practice Permit to submit the following information which MUST be provided:
Two copies of ID, one of which must be picture ID.
Documentation outlining any/all name changes.
Payment of New Applicant Processing Fee and Special Practice Permit Fee. The system has a built in payment processing facility through which you will be able to pay your fees. You are able to pay online or request an invoice for payment at a later date. Please note that acceptance of fee payment by us does not mean that your registration has been accepted and a license to practice issued. You are only entitled to practice once all steps in the process have been completed and you get official authorization from us to begin practice.
Proof of completion of Yukon University's YFN101 course. More information about the course can be found through Yukon University's website or here.
Applicants must arrange to have the following documentation sent directly to YRNA. Once again, the online portal will prompt you along the way.
Verification of Registrations sent from every jurisdiction in which the applicant has held registration.
An Employer Reference form your current or most recent nursing employer. Please note, that the person filling out the form must be an employer, manager or supervisor who has worked directly with or directly supervised you in your clinical practice. Administrative staff from an employment or placement agency do not qualify.
Confirmation from the Yukon employer describing the purpose, location, and dates of the project for which a Special Practice Permit is being requested.
Applicants must ensure that all required documentation is submitted to YRNA well ahead of the anticipated project. In general, all applications take a minimum of four to six weeks to receive and process all requirements.
Temporary Transitional Registration*
*This registration class is available only upon the direct request of the Yukon Government in the event of a state of emergency
BACKGROUND
YRNA has the ability to expedite temporary registrations for eligible RNs/NPs in response to emergencies if or when officially declared by the Yukon Government and or authorized public health officials. Some of the usual processes for registration and licensure may be suspended until the state of emergency is lifted.
DURATION OF EMERGENCY REGISTRATIONS
YRNA will enable temporary transitional registration to expedite the registration of eligible RNs/NPs for a period of up to 21 days (extendable in extra-ordinary situations such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic). Should continued registration be required beyond this time limit the usual requirements for licensure, including payment of processing and registration fees, shall apply. The request to upgrade to full registration should be made PRIOR TO the expiration of temporary transitional registration.
ELIGIBILITY CATEGORIES
Registrants from the Yukon or other territorial or provincial jurisdictions eligible to apply for temporary transitional registration include:
Non-practising and retired RNs and NPs with 1,125 hours of practice within the preceding five years.
Former Yukon registered RNs and NPs in good standing who meet the above hourly requirement.
RNs and NPs with registration in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction.
RNs and NPs serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Graduate Nurses waiting to write the NCLEX, or awaiting NCLEX results
Graduate NPs waiting to write the CNPE, or awaiting CNPE results.
RNs and NPs applying for temporary emergency licensure must hold professional liability protection through the Canadian Nurses Protective Society.
AUTHORITY TO PRACTICE
Where the CEO has determined that an emergent situation exists, the Registrar shall grant temporary transitional registration to applicants who meet the following conditions:
Provision of a declaration confirming the applicant's qualifications and suitability for registration
Evidence the applicant holds an unencumbered registration in another Canadian Jurisdiction
Provision of proof of identity satisfactory to the Registrar (birth certificate, passport, or other government approved document)
Authorization for the appropriate regulatory body to release information to the Registrar which verifies registration status or eligibility for registration
Authorization for any relevant employers to confirm hours of practice
Confirmation from Yukon Government/YHC that the applicant is being hired directly as a result of the emergency.
DUTY TO REPORT
RNS and NPs applying for temporary transitional registration must disclose to YRNA any conditions or restrictions placed on their nursing registration, including, but not limited to:
A finding of guilt in any jurisdiction related to any offence.
A charge in an jurisdiction relating to any offense.
A finding of professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity, or any similar finding, in relation to the practice of nursing or other healthcare profession in any jurisdiction.
Any current investigation, inquiry, or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity, or any similar investigation or proceeding, in relation to the practice of nursing or other healthcare profession in any jurisdiction
Any other information that is requested by the CEO or Registrar under the authority of the Yukon's Registered Nurses Profession Act or YRNA Bylaws.
Registration Classes
RN / NP (PRACTISING)
An RN or NP (Practising) member is entitled to full membership rights with YRNA as well as professional liability protection services from the Canadian Nurses Protection Society (CNPS).
RN / NP (PRACTISING) ½ Year
This class of membership applies to those seeking RN or NP (Practising) licensure for half of the YRNA registration year (April 1 to Sept. 30, or Oct. 1 to Mar. 31). All benefits of RN or NP (Practising) membership as described above are included.
NON-PRACTISING
An applicant who is not engaged in the active practice of nursing in the Yukon may obtain Non-Practising membership. Non-Practising registration may be upgraded to RN or NP (Practising) licensure at any time, providing all other requirements for that class of membership have been met. This class of membership is useful for nurses who have left the Yukon nursing workforce temporarily but expect to return within the registration year.
SPECIAL PRACTICE
This is a short-term, temporary permit to cover special nursing practice that falls outside the normal Yukon health care system. Additional paperwork is required
For this special registration. Contact the YRNA office for more information on this category of registration.
STUDENTS
This class of registration is for students in Registered Nursing or Nurse Practitioner programs who are participating in education or work placement in the Yukon. Special terms, limits, and conditions apply depending on education stream and site placement.