Nurse practitioners

Playing a vital role in British Columbia’s health care system, nurse practitioners are health care providers with graduate level clinical education that autonomously diagnose and treat medical conditions, help patients prevent illness, manage care and provide access to specialized care when needed. 

About nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners deliver high-quality care across a range of settings, including underserved and rural areas. To work as a nurse practitioner in British Columbia (B.C.), you must be registered with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

Nurse practitioners provide medical services in the same way as physicians and are considered Medical Staff within Health Authorities. To work within a B.C. Health Authority, nurse practitioners are required to be privileged and credentialed by Medical Affairs departments as part of the hiring process. 

Nurse practitioners in B.C. have a background in nursing and complete advanced master’s level clinical education to provide high quality, evidence-based care. In B.C., nurse practitioners can do the following:

  • Act as a primary care provider, similar to a family physician 
  • Conduct medical and physical assessments  
  • Order and interpret tests such as medical imaging and bloodwork 
  • Diagnose and manage medical conditions  
  • Prescribe medications and write orders for other providers 
  • Complete disability, ICBC, WorkSafe BC and extended health benefit forms  
  • Perform minor procedures such as IUD insertion, suturing or biopsies  
  • Refer to medical specialists of any type  
  • Provide health education, counselling and preventative strategies for health 
  • Work with other team members such as nurses, physicians, pharmacists, mental health counsellors, to ensure you have the best care 
  • Work in a hospital and more specialized settings across a continuum of care 
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To become a nurse practitioner, you must meet the registration requirements set out by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) which include:

  • Completing an undergraduate degree in nursing and a recognized master’s level nurse practitioner program 
  • Meeting nurse practitioner registration exam requirements 
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  • Primary Care Networks (PCNs) where NPs work in a team-based care model in settings such as Primary Care Clinics, Community Health Centres, Indigenous Primary Care Clinics, Urgent and Primary Care Centers and more
  • Acute care including cardiology, neurology, geriatrics, emergency departments, orthopedics, internal medicine, and more 
  • Cancer care including radiation and medical oncology, pain and symptom management programs and more 
  • Specialized outpatient clinics such as cardiac clinics, chronic pain clinics, HIV clinics, and more 
  • Pediatrics including acute and community-based programs such as neonatal units, Intensive Care Units (ICUs), orthopedics, asthma clinics, emergency departments, pediatric oncology and more 
  • Long term care and rehabilitation centers  
  • Correctional health services  
  • Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) services

Explore nurse practitioner jobs in Primary Care Networks    

Explore all jobs in British Columbia’s health authorities. 

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Please visit the BCCNM website for information about eligibility and how to apply for full practising registration as a Nurse Practitioner in B.C. 

The BCCNM website will provide information for your specific pathway, whether you are a:  

  • B.C. Nurse Practitioner graduate 
  • New graduate of a Canadian Nurse Practitioner program 
  • Nurse Practitioner registered in Canada  
  • Nurse Practitioner educated and registered outside of Canada.  
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Comparison informationPrimary Care Network (PCN) Service ContractHealth Authority (HA) Employee
Term3-year term; minimum 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) for individual contract (group contract options also available that can include a lower FTE commitment).Regular full-time, part-time, casual employment.
Type of practiceLongitudinal Primary Care, non-longitudinal primary care by exception.Primary Care longitudinal or episodic, Specialized Care (outpatient ), Long Term Care or Acute Care.
24/25 WagesYear 1: $169,867
Year 2: $175,530
Year 3: $181,192		New Grad:
$145,739 ($74.74 hourly)
1 Year experience:
$153,026 (78.48 hourly)
2 or more years’ experience:
$160,313 ($82.21 hourly)
Benefits package (including pension)Not provided – NP must obtain themselves.Provided by employer (Benefits such as vacation leave, parental and other types of leave, extended medical/dental coverage and more)
Liability coverageMust be purchased by NP. NP’s can get discounted rates via NNPBC membership.Provided by employer. NPs may obtain additional liability coverage at their own cost.
OverheadContract comes with overhead allocation from the Ministry: $75,000 rural/urban, $85,000 metro.Employer is responsible for NPs’ overhead expenses. Amount provided varies by health authority.
Practice supports/
Mentorship		Provided by NNPBC Provincial Initiatives Program (PIP) Regional Leadership team.Provided by Health Authority NP Practice Leadership team.
Access to additional practice support fundingAvailable via PIP at NNPBC.Provided by employer. May also be available through PIP at NNPBC for some NPs.
Reporting requirementsMust meet the terms and conditions of the contract. NPs are responsible to submit monthly invoices for hours to their contract administrator and for submitting shift codes encounter reports and attachment reports.

The health authority Medical Affairs department is the contract administrator in most cases, but there is no formal “reporting” structure.		Must meet employer’s terms and conditions. NPs are responsible for submitting encounter and attachment reports.

NPs report to operational leaders and medical staff leadership/NP leadership depending on health authority.
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There’s never been a better time to join B.C.’s public health system

British Columbia has welcomed many people from diverse backgrounds in our communities, coming for all types of health care positions. 

Come to B.C. to experience welcoming communities, supportive work environments, competitive compensation, and nature, right at your doorstep.

Descriptive video transcript

Video title: BC Health Careers – Practicing as a nurse practitioner in British Columbia

[Describer] The Vancouver Sunset Beach area showing the skyrises and water with ships in the distance. Then, Marita appears on-screen. 

[Marita] One day my husband came home and said, what about British Columbia? And my first reaction was, that’s so far away. [Laughs]  

[Text] Marita, Nurse Practitioner MSN, FNP. 

[Marita] But, you know, here we are. 

[Describer] Marita cycling past the camera on a shared path, with a view of the Vancouver city buildings across the water. 

[Narrator] British Columbia has attracted many types of internationally trained healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners. Marita moved from Boston to Vancouver. 

[Text] 4,055 km to BC. 

[Describer] Clips of Marita talking on-screen, enjoying the fresh air, cycling during her commute. 

[Marita] I was working a lot, and it was just really chaotic, and I was feeling like I needed something that felt more balanced. I feel like that was a big draw to British Columbia, just feeling like there was more focus on work and life, both being equally important to somebody’s wellness. 

[Text] Publicly-funded evidence-based system. 

[Describer] Marita locking her bike, walking into work, meeting with another woman at the front desk, and continuing into the building together. 

[Narrator] Supported by a publicly funded, evidence-based system, nurse practitioners in British Columbia have one of the widest scopes in Canada. They’re an important part of our system and work across a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, specialized clinics, and primary care. 

[Describer] Clips alternate of Marita talking on-screen while sitting down, then talking with the same colleague in an office setting. 

[Marita] So I think the thing that first attracted me to BC, there were lots of opportunities to be in an area that a nurse practitioner can prescribe, can assess, can diagnose without needing to have a cosign or whatever it might be. That was really what I was used to from my previous practice, and it was something that was very important to me to see that it would be a pretty seamless transition career-wise was also something that really solidified things. 

[Describer] Marita preparing her clinic office for a patient, then presenting a demonstration to another person. 

[Narrator] Nurse practitioners also have more autonomy to pursue their own professional interests. Marita saw a leadership opportunity. 

[Text] I’ve been able to grow quite quickly. 

[Describer] Marita talking on-screen, and clips of her in her working environment. 

[Marita] I’ve been able to grow quite quickly. There’s a lot of opportunity to be involved in leadership, to be involved in research and different things than just seeing patients. I still remember there was a presentation about what we call advanced practice time. To see a presentation about how we could use paid work time to be able to address systematic challenges really blew me away. 

[Describer] A clip of Marita walking into a nice Japanese restaurant, greeting a friend as she walks in. Then visiting with her friend over a meal. 

[Narrator] For Marita and many others, the decision to move and the reception within British Columbia has been positive. 

[Marita] I think it’s so easy to just fly through life, you know, whether it’s professionally or with your kids. To be able to be surrounded by people that are showing me the value and kind of reminding me to stop and slow down and look around is really helpful for me. 

[Describer] Connect with a Health Recruitment Specialist. 

B.C. news for nurse practitioners

British Columbia is taking action to attract doctors, nurses from U.S.

The Province is taking new steps to attract more doctors and nurses from the U.S. by fast-tracking credential recognition and launching a co-ordinated, targeted recruitment campaign.

Learn more about B.C. taking action to attract doctors and nurses from the U.S.

Connecting patients to doctors and nurse practitioners

People in B.C. with a personal health number can now join the Health Connect Registry to help you and your family find a primary care provider in your community. Once you are signed up, the registry can help match you with a family doctor or nurse practitioner near you, as providers become available.

Learn more about connecting patients to doctors and nurse practitioners

Helping people get emergency care faster

When people go to the emergency department they need prompt access to care. We’re working to help people get the emergency care they need faster. We’re taking steps to add the role of physician assistants to the healthcare team in B.C. It is an important next step in the actions we’re taking to retain, recruit and train health-care workers so people in B.C. can get the health care they need.

Learn more about helping people get emergency care faster

Register with Health Match BC today

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