College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia

About the College

The College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia (CPNS) was established as a statutory body corporate (corporation) pursuant to Bill No. 123 of the 2^nd Session 62^nd General Assembly Nova Scotia 64 Elizabeth II, 2015 Government Bill, Paramedics Act, on April 1, 2017 and assumed responsibility for regulating the practice of paramedicine from Emergency Health Services Nova Scotia (EHSNS).

CPNS’ Mandate:

Our mandate is derived from legislation. Per Section 4 (1) of the Paramedics Act; 

• serve and protect the public interest in the practice of paramedicine; 
• preserve the integrity of the paramedic profession; and
• maintain public and member confidence in the ability of the profession to regulate the practice of paramedicine.

To fulfill our mandate, we:

• Are accountable to the public and government.
• Set the criteria, and the recognition process, for paramedic programming in Nova Scotia.
• Establish the essential competencies for each class of licence.
• Establish registration and licensing processes to ensure only qualified paramedics are permitted to practice.
• Establish, monitor, and enforce the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
• Promote competent practice through the development and maintenance of a continuing competence program.
• Investigate complaints and take disciplinary action related to incompetent, impaired, or unethical practice.

Use of Protected Titles & Practices:

Pursuant to Section 34 (1) of the Paramedics Act – “Except as provided in this Act and the regulations, no person, other than a paramedic, shall:

1. publicly or privately, for hire, gain or hope of reward, practise or offer to practise paramedicine;  
2. hold himself or herself out in any way to be entitled to practise paramedicine; or 
3. assume any title or description implying or designed to lead the public to believe that the person is entitled to practise paramedicine.” Therefore, any individual who seeks to be known as a Paramedic in the province of Nova Scotia, must be entered into the Register with the CPNS.

Licence Status Check – Click here to verify that a paramedic(s) hold registration and licensure with CPNS

CPNS Member – If you are a current member with CPNS, or wish to complete the transfer form from EHS to CPNS, please sign in to:

• Review your personal information and complete a name change
• Complete the licence renewal application or complete the transfer form to CPNS
• Apply for the COPR ACP exam
• Apply for an ACP or CCP class of licence

Details about the process for on-line registration are included in the March 2017 FAQ found under “Important Downloads”.

CPNS Applicant – If you have completed an application to apply to CPNS and would like to sign into your personal account, please sign in to:

• Review your personal information 
• Apply for the COPR exam (PCP or ACP)
• Complete your registration with CPNS once you are given eligibility 

New Graduate – Please note that you cannot apply for the COPR exam until you have completed your paramedicine program. If you are a new graduate, or soon to be new graduate, of a paramedic program and you are looking to take the COPR exam, apply here to start the application process.

There are a few documents that are required by new graduates when they begin the application process. Please take your time and be thorough to ensure you’ve completed everything. 

1. Submit proof of legal name (birth certificate) – can be emailed or mailed
2. Submit government issued photo ID (passport or drivers license) – can be emailed or mailed.
3. Mail your original criminal record check and vulnerable sector check. Checks are valid for 6 months from the date they were issued. If you wish to receive the original check back, please include a note with your check asking us to send it back to you.; and
4. Verification of Registration/Licensure form(s). Form(s) must be completed and sent directly to CPNS by all registering/licensing authorities, paramedicine and other, if you hold registration and/or licensure in another jurisdiction. Contact CPNS for the form.
5. Have your school email or mail CPNS a copy of one of the following:
   • Diploma; or
   • Transcript; or
   • A letter confirming your name, date of birth, program completed and name of institution, start and end date of program on their letterhead.

Once you complete the New Graduate Application and submit all required documents, you will be given eligibility via email and to apply for the following:

• COPR Entry-to-Practice Exam application. For information on the COPR Entry-to-Practice exam, please review the information below on this website and visit COPRs website: http://www.copr.ca/ 

Please note that you cannot apply to the Register until you have passed the Provincial Entry to Practice Exam. 

Once you have completed your program, submitted the required documents, and passed the COPR Entry-to-Practice Exam, you can complete the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) application, if you wish to be a registered paramedic with CPNS. We will notify you via email of your eligibility and you can complete the application online through your personal account here. 

Labour Mobility – If you are a registered paramedic in another Canadian province and are looking for employment in Nova Scotia, you MUST FIRST Register and License as a paramedic in Nova Scotia, before applying for employment. Apply here to start the application process.

There are a few documents that are required for Labour Mobility Applicants when they begin the application process. Please take your time and be thorough to ensure you’ve completed everything. 

1. Submit proof of legal name (birth certificate) – can be emailed or mailed
2. Submit government issued photo ID (passport or drivers license) – can be emailed or mailed.
3. Mail your original criminal record check and vulnerable sector check. Checks are valid for 6 months from the date they were issued. If you wish to receive the original check back, please include a note with your check asking us to send it back to you.; and
4. Verification of Registration/Licensure form(s). Form(s) must be completed and sent directly to CPNS by all registering/licensing authorities, paramedicine and other, if you have held or currently held registration and/or licensure in another jurisdiction. Contact CPNS for the form.
5. Ontario applicants must show proof of base hospital certification. Labour mobility applicants from Ontario who do not have base hospital certification will be required to apply as a new graduate and pass the entry-to-practice exam within 1 year of graduation.

Once you have completed your application and submitted the required documents, you can complete the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) application or the Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) application, if you wish to be a registered paramedic with CPNS. CPNS will notify you via email of your eligibility and you can complete the application online through your personal account here. 

International Educated –  If you are an internationally educated paramedic and are looking to apply for registration and employment as a paramedic in Nova Scotia, please contact CPNS for more information and the application package. 

COPR Exam Information

For information regarding the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR), COPR Entry to Practice Exam can be found on their website at: http://www.copr.ca/  (COPR National Examination Handbook). 

Request for Special Accommodation

Please refer to the COPR handbook (Page 6), for information regarding Request for Special Accommodation.

When appropriate, alternative accessible arrangements may be available to candidates who have special needs.

To request an accommodation for a physical, cognitive or other special need, you must complete a written request for accommodation to your Provincial Regulator when you register for exams. Requests may be forwarded to the COPR/OCRP Examination Committee for consideration. Special accommodation includes any medication you want to bring into the exam. We must receive documentation (such as educational assessment, doctor’s letter, etc.) with your application. Requests for accommodation of special needs are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Note: Requests for accommodation received fewer than 30 days before the examination will not be considered, except in unusual circumstances, such as a recent injury.

If you are a registered PCP or current applicant with CPNS, please sign into the cpns.in1touch.org online portal with your username and password to complete the exam form.

Exam Fees: The fee for each attempt is $650.00 plus tax. This information can be found on COPRs website http://www.copr.ca/

Registration Deadlines: CPNS must send all complete exam applications to COPR 7 weeks prior to the exam date. 

• August 23, 2017 exam application and documents must be submitted to CPNS by June 30, 2017
• November 22, 2017 exam application and documents must be submitted to CPNS by September 29, 2017
• February 28, 2018 exam application and documents must be submitted to CPNS by January 5, 2018
• May 23, 2018 exam application and documents must be submitted to CPNS by March 30, 2018
• August 15, 2018 exam application and documents must be submitted to CPNS by June 22, 2018
• November 14, 2018 exam application and documents must be submitted to CPNS by September 21, 2018

PAYMENT OPTIONS

PLEASE NOTE: Payments made by credit card are not processed by CPNS, they are processed by a third party provided identified as OlaTech. Therefore, please note that the name OlaTech will appear on your credit card statement, not CPNS.

You may pay by credit card after completing the form. You have the option to pay by certified cheque or money order. Personal cheques will not be accepted. If you are paying by certified cheque or money order, you may submit your payment by mail to:

College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia
380 Bedford Highway, Suite 314
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3M 2L4

After you have completed the form, and payment has been received, you will receive an email confirmation that you will be licensed by the College of Paramedics. You will also be provided with a receipt. You should save your receipt as your fees are income tax deductible.