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Nurses Association of New Brunswick

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Canadian NP Exam: Family/All Ages

Registration Requirements

The Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination: Family/All Ages (CNPE: F/AA) is approved by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR). 


The purpose of this exam is to determine whether the entry-level NP (herein candidate) has attained the competencies  necessary for safe and effective practice as a primary healthcare NP in New Brunswick. The approved exam vendor for this multiple-choice exam is Meazure Learning/Yardstick Assessment Strategies.

The CNPE: F/AA  is a four-hour exam completed through an online proctored platform held in October and May of each year. Candidates may take the exam at home or request a testing site in Moncton, Saint John, or Fredericton through Meazure Learning/Yardstick Assessment Strategies. The next session of the CNPE is October 9, 2024. Candidates must apply to write the CNPE, and meet all requirements before August 28, 2024 to be eligible for the October 9, 2024 session of the exam.

The exam Blueprint is available on the CCRNR website This document describes how the exam was developed, and provides guidance on how the Entry Level Competencies (ELCs) are expressed within the exam to ensure accurate assessment of a candidate’s readiness to practice safely, competently, and ethically. The technical specifications used to guide the exam development found within the blueprint may also serve as an aid for candidates preparing to take the exam. Candidates are also strongly encouraged to review the Candidate Examination Handbook for information related to the exam process. Additionally, an online CPNE: F/AA Prep Tool is offered by Meazure Learning/Yardstick Assessment Strategies.

  • Eligibility for the CNPE: F/AA

    To become a candidate for the CNPE: F/AA, the individual must have completed a primary healthcare NP program and submitted all application and fee requirements to NANB a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the exam administration date.

  • Application and fees

    For RNs currently registered with NANB, the application process begins upon receipt of the completed Verification of Nurse Practitioner Education Form to nanbregistration@nanb.nb.ca directly from the candidate’s university. Once this information is received, NANB will contact the candidate directly to provide an CNPE: F/AA application form. An administrative fee of $115 payable to NANB is required for processing the exam application. After receipt of the application form and payment, NANB will determine candidate eligibility and provide this information to Meazure Learning/Yardstick Assessment Strategies. Candidates planning to register with NANB as NPs frequently submit the official academic transcript at the time of application to prevent registration delays upon successful completion of the CNPE: F/AA.

    Information related to exam fees will be communicated directly to applicants from the exam vendor, and all fees are paid directly to them.

    NP graduates not registered in New Brunswick (NB) but applying to NANB to write the CNPE: F/AA must be eligible for RN registration in NB. This application process is detailed in the Registration section of the NANB website. The request to write the CNPE: F/AA must be stated on the application forms prior to returning them to NANB.

  • Application approval

    If an applicant has been deemed eligible by NANB to write the CNPE: F/AA, they may request temporary registration as a graduate NP (GNP) pending their exam results. Candidates requesting GNP registration must pay $105.23 to NANB for additional professional liability protection with the Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS).

  • Exam results

    All candidates are notified of their exam results approximately 6-8 weeks after the exam session. Results are communicated as a pass or fail score. These results are sent by email from NANB.

  • Successful candidates

    Successful candidates who have submitted an official academic transcript from the university are eligible for NP registration with NANB. Candidates who did not have temporary registrations as GNPs will need to pay the applicable fee $105.23 for additional professional liability protection with CNPS through their NANB My Profile account.

  • Unsuccessful candidates

    Unsuccessful candidates receive a Candidate Performance Profile. This identifies the individual candidate’s areas of strength and areas with potential for improvement, and can be used as a guide for future studying. Unsuccessful candidates are not permitted to practice as GNPs but may write the CNPE: F/AA a second time. The intent to write a second time must be communicated to NANB for the candidate’s eligibility to be shared with the exam vendor. Information related to exam fees will be communicated directly to the candidate from the exam vendor, and all fees are paid directly to them.