Alis – Career, learning and employment information for Albertans

Share

This website uses cookies to give you a better online experience. By using this website or closing this message, you are agreeing to our cookie policy. More information
Alberta
ALIS
Alberta Supports Contact Centre

Toll Free 1-877-644-9992

Guest Account Sign In Sign Up
Add this page to a custom guide
Nurse Practitioner: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Are you keen to take nursing to a new level? Can you lead a team? Are you responsible, understanding, and organized? Then you may want to think about a career as a nurse practitioner.
Create a New Guide
Give your guide a nickname
Only you can see this nickname.
or cancel
Please complete the recaptcha and try again.
Choose a guide...

There was an error. Please try again.

This page is already listed in your guide. Please choose a different page to add.

Create New Guide What is an alis guide?
OCC info
Occupations in Alberta

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with additional experience, education, and training in advanced clinical practice. They conduct comprehensive health assessments, diagnose health conditions, and treat and manage acute and chronic illness within a holistic model of care. NPs order and interpret screening and diagnostic tests, perform procedures, and prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions.

Nurse practitioners may serve as primary care providers. They work independently across the spectrum of health services, such as acute care, primary care, community health, continuing care, and specialty areas of health and emergency care.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Advanced Practice Nurse, NP, Nurse, Primary Health Care Practitioner

NOC Codes

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
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2024

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.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

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.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
S
Social
This occupation
You
I
Investigative
R
Realistic
This occupation
You

To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Nurse practitioners
2023 OaSIS: 31302.00

Click or tap a personality type for its description.

  • 1
    Social

    Social jobs are about helping and working with people. People in these jobs enjoy teaching, caring for others, or giving advice. They often work in schools, hospitals, or community centres. These jobs involve talking, listening, and supporting others. Examples include teachers, nurses, and counsellors.

  • 2
    Investigative

    Investigative jobs are about thinking deeply and solving problems. People in these jobs enjoy learning, asking questions, and doing research. They often study science, nature, or how things work. These jobs need a lot of thinking and often involve working with ideas instead of people. Examples include scientists, lab technicians, and researchers.

  • 3
    Realistic

    Realistic jobs focus on working with your hands, tools, machines, or animals. People in these jobs often fix, build, or take care of things. They like clear tasks and working in a physical way. These jobs usually don’t need much paperwork or teamwork. Examples include mechanics, farmers, and builders.

Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.

Your Work Personalities

To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Nurse practitioners
2023 OaSIS: 31302.00

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Inductive Reasoning
Verbal Ability
Information Ordering
Categorization Flexibility
Deductive Reasoning
Fluency of Ideas
Problem Identification
Written Comprehension
Written Expression

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Memorizing
Perceptual Speed
Pattern Organization Speed
Numerical Ability
Mathematical Reasoning
Multitasking
Pattern Identification
Spatial Orientation
Spatial Visualization
Selective Attention

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Stamina
Static Strength
Trunk Strength
Explosive Strength
Body Flexibility
Dynamic Strength
Gross Body Coordination
Gross Body Equilibrium
Multi-Limb Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
Rate Control
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Control of Settings
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Multi-Signal Response
Reaction Time
Speed of Limb Movement

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Hearing Sensitivity
Speech Clarity
Peripheral Vision
Auditory Attention
Depth Perception
Far Vision
Glare Tolerance
Near Vision
Night Vision
Speech Recognition
Sound Localization
Colour Perception

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Nurse practitioners need:

  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
  • Patience, understanding, and a caring attitude
  • Flexibility and enthusiasm
  • Initiative to evaluate and improve outcomes
  • Speaking and writing skills
  • Organizational skills
  • The ability to make good decisions quickly under stress
  • The ability to lead and work with others on a team
  • Good health

They should enjoy:

  • Working with and consulting others
  • Solving problems
  • Providing care
  • Directing the work of others

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Allied primary health practitioners

2016 NOC: 3124

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 84 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 30, 2021 and Oct 08, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Advise patients on health care
Judgement
Dependability
Effective interpersonal skills
Flexibility
Accurate
Team player
Initiative
Reliability
Interpersonal awareness
Tasks: Advise patients on health care 65
Construction Specialization: Judgement 62
Construction Specialization: Dependability 61
Construction Specialization: Effective interpersonal skills 61
Construction Specialization: Flexibility 61
Construction Specialization: Accurate 61
Construction Specialization: Team player 60
Construction Specialization: Initiative 60
Construction Specialization: Reliability 58
Construction Specialization: Interpersonal awareness 57
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Minimum Education 6 years post-secondary

Nurse practitioners start their careers as registered nurses. They must:

  • Complete 4,500 hours of work in clinical registered nursing before applying for a nurse practitioner education program
  • Graduate from a master’s degree in nursing or a post-master’s certificate or diploma from an approved nurse practitioner program
  • Pass the nurse practitioner registration exam for their chosen stream of practice
  • Successfully complete the CRNA Jurisprudence courses
Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Athabasca University
Bow Valley College
University of Calgary
University of Lethbridge

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Certification Provincially regulated

Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.

The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have advanced training in health assessment, health promotion, and illness prevention. They diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic physical and mental illnesses.

Legislation

Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf], Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation [pdf], and Registered Nurses Profession Regulation [pdf], registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) on the nurse practitioner register is mandatory. Only registrants may provide restricted activities specified in the Regulations. This includes those who:

  • Meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public
  • Teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession
  • Supervise registered members
  • Are students who provide services to the public
  • Call themselves nurse practitioners or NPs

For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Nurse Practitioner.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2024

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.

Allied primary health practitioners
2016 NOC: 3124

94.6% of people in this occupational group work in:

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 examples, see Note.

Look for Work

Think Industries and Sectors When Planning Your Career

Jobs and occupations are changing every day. It can be hard to know what the future of work looks like—but not impossible. Look at industries and sectors for possible inspiration, insights, and opportunities.
3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Nurse practitioners
2021 NOC: 31302
Warm
Job Market
< 1500
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

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 examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

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

  • 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
©
iStock.com/filadendron
OCCinfo

Employment Outlook

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

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

Allied primary health practitioners
2016 NOC: 3124
1.8%
Annual Growth
(Below average)
16
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

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 examples, see Note.

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

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Salaries for nurse practitioners vary depending on the employer. Some are non-unionized and therefore negotiate their own salaries. Some have their own practice, where they are paid directly by the client.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Nurse practitioners

2021 NOC: 31302
Average Wage
$58.51
Per Hour
Average Salary
$105,895.00
Per Year
Average Hours
34.8
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 31302 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $42.53 $52.41 $49.83 $52.41
Overall $54.32 $60.67 $58.51 $60.67
Top $56.50 $63.70 $61.52 $63.70

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Health Care & Social Assistance
ALL INDUSTRIES $105,895
Health Care & Social Assistance $105,895

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
85%
85%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
48%
48%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
35%
35%
Vacancy Rate
19%
Related High School Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Health, Recreation and Human Services
    • Community Care Services
    • Health Care Services
    • Human and Social Services
  • Mathematics
  • Science
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Health Care and Medical Sciences
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2024

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.

Updated Mar 31, 2024. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

Expand All
Was this page useful?
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆