Continuing competence is the ongoing development of knowledge, skills, and judgment. It supports your ability to practise safely and ethically throughout your career.
The Continuing Competence Program (CCP) is a regulatory program designed to ensure quality and accountability. Every nurse in Nova Scotia must successfully complete CCP requirements each year—regardless of employment status.
Find out how to fulfill your CCP requirements.
How CCP Protects the Public
CCP helps protect the public by ensuring all nurses participate in reflective learning activities to maintain and enhance their professional competence each year.
It provides the public with assurance that nurses continue to meet professional practice standards, as required by the Nursing Act.
Meeting the CCP Requirement
You must complete CCP for both initial licensing and annual renewal. When renewing, you must:
- Confirm your understanding of CCP accountabilities on your renewal form
- Complete CCP audit requirements if selected to participate. This may include either:
- Completing the 4-question declaration of compliance survey, or
- Submitting your professional growth plan.
Support tools are available to help you meet CCP requirements.
General Program Questions and Answers
These situations are assessed on an individual basis. Email us at ccp@nscn.ca to discuss.
The Nursing Act (2019) requires NSCN to have a competence program and mandates that all nurses in Nova Scotia participate.
Continuing competence programs are considered best practice and are widely used across regulated health professions in Canada. They are not unique to nursing.
As a self-regulated professional, you are responsible for maintaining your competence throughout your career. This ensures you are prepared to provide safe and competent nursing services. A competence program is one way to regulate and track this ongoing professional development.
If you do not participate in CCP, you may qualify for a 1-time, time-limited licence for up to 3 months to complete the requirements. This licence cannot be renewed or extended.
If you do not complete CCP before the licence expires, you will not be authorized to practise nursing and cannot work as a nurse in Nova Scotia.
You will still need to participate in our CCP. However, you do not need to repeat what you have already completed.
Email ccp@nscn.ca to discuss your options. You may be able to use all or parts of your existing work.
If you need to complete additional work, you must indicate this on your renewal or application form.
You must reflect on your past nursing practice and identify your future learning needs. Once your licence is reinstated, you will begin CCP participation.
Your CCP documents must be completed by the next registration renewal date.
Yes. Support is available. Contact ccp@nscn.ca for guidance on developing your professional growth plan.
Who Must Participate in CCP
If you hold a nursing licence, you can return to practice at any time. We need to know that you have maintained current knowledge to be eligible.
You can stay engaged by:
- Reading nursing journals
- Completing online learning courses
- Participating in continuing education opportunities
Yes. When you receive your initial nursing licence, you will begin CCP participation. Your CCP documents must be completed by the next registration renewal date.
New licence holders are exempt from the audit in the year they receive their licence.
For questions about your specific situation, contact ccp@nscn.ca.
Yes. All nurses holding a licence to practise must participate in CCP—regardless of employment status or the number of hours worked each year.
These situations are assessed on an individual basis. Email us at ccp@nscn.ca to discuss.