Alberta RNs and NPs now need to obtain Professional Liability Protection

UPDATED STORY: Professional Liability Protection is no longer automatically included in Alberta regulatory college (CRNA) registration

RNs and NPs are required under the Health Professions Act to maintain Professional Liability Protection on top of any employer liability coverage.  

United Nurses of Alberta members need to be aware that Professional Liability Protection (PLP) is no longer automatic when Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners renew their registration this year.
 
This means that in order to renew their registration RNs and NPs must register for Canadian Nurses Protective Society PLP through the CNPS or the new Alberta Association of Nurses (AAN).
 
This can be done in two ways:
 
1)    Through the AAN
2)    Directly from the CNPS
 
This is a result of the restructuring of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) into the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) and the AAN.

This change does not impact Registered Psychiatric Nurses who are members of UNA, as they are employed by employers with sufficient insurance plans recognized by the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta.
 
Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act, RNs and NPs are required to maintain their registration through membership in CRNA.
 
RNs and NPs are also required under the act to maintain Professional Liability Protection on top of any employer liability coverage.
 
For many years, PLP was included in CARNA registration costs and was provided by CNPS. This is no longer the case.
 
CRNA now requires RNs and NPs to obtain PLP through CNPS in order to renew their registration by September 1, 2022.
 
The annual cost of PLP is $88. Nurses who join the AAN can take advantage of the CPNS group rate of $68. The annual fee for AAN membership, which is voluntary, is $50.
 
Information about the CNPS registration process change is available on the CNPS website at https://cnps.ca/crna-registrants/. The CPNS registration system opens on August 2, 2022.
 
All current CRNA registrants (for the 2021-2022 permit year) have paid CNPS fees to September 30, 2022. CNPS Core Services (which includes professional liability protection) registration corresponds to the CRNA permit year (October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023).
 
The annual CRNA fee and the CNPS PLP fee are tax deductible as they are required by legislation. AAN fees are not tax deductible.
 
One other impact of this significant change is that membership in the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is no longer automatic with registration through CRNA. RNs and NPs who wish to continue their membership in the CNA must join directly through the CNA website.
 
CNA general membership fees are $96.96 per year. Other membership categories and fees are listed on the organization’s website.
 
The CRNA continues to be the regulatory college for RNs and NPs. AAN, officially launched on May 9 and still in the process of developing bylaws, is the professional association and advocacy entity for RNs, NPs, RPNs and Licensed Practical Nurses in Alberta.
 
UNA will share additional information as it becomes available.

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