Nurse Practitioner

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

• 3152: Registered Nurses

2006 NOC-S

• D112: Registered Nurses

2011 NOC

• 3124: Allied primary health practitioners

2016 NOC

• 3124: Allied primary health practitioners

2021 NOC

• 31302: Nurse practitioners

2023 OaSIS

• 31302.00: Nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners diagnose, treat, and manage various physical and mental illnesses. They use their in-depth nursing and clinical knowledge to make decisions about their client’s health care. They can also perform specialized procedures within their legislated scope of practice.

Duties and responsibilities vary from province to province. In Alberta, nurse practitioners may:

• Complete advanced, thorough, and focused health assessments
• Consult and work with physicians and others
• Diagnose health problems and illness
• Counsel and support clients regarding health problems
• Engage in programs to promote community health
• Manage and carry out client care on an ongoing basis
• Manage complex chronic illness
• Monitor client’s responses to therapeutic interventions
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests
• Perform procedures (invasive or non-invasive) as appropriate
• Prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions (including authorizing cannabis where medically appropriate)
• Research and critically evaluate evidence for the best care available
• Read, compile, and integrate research into their work
• Refer clients to other health-care providers as needed

Nurse practitioners are registered in one of four streams of practice. These include Adult, Child (with or without a neonatal specialty), Family / All Ages, and Neonatal.

Nurse practitioners work in a range of health-care settings, sometimes in remote areas. They may work regular clinic hours and be on call for emergencies. They might work shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Nurse practitioners are often exposed to infectious diseases and chemicals. They may need to handle items weighing up to 20 kilograms. Their work can be mentally, emotionally, and physically demanding.

Nurse practitioners work in many different health-care settings. These may include hospitals, community-based health centres, and clinics. Many work in small or remote areas that do not have local doctors.

Nurse practitioner is not an entry-level position.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 3124: Allied primary health practitioners occupational group, 94.6% of people work in:

• Health Care and Social Services

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

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Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

• Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation
• Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 3124: Allied primary health practitioners occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2021 to 2025. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 16 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Union of Nurse Practitioners (AUNP) website: www.aunp.ca

Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) website: www.cna-aiic.ca

College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) website: www.nurses.ab.ca

Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta (NPAA) website: albertanps.com

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.