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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.
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Occupations in Alberta

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with graduate education and training in advanced clinical practice. They conduct comprehensive health assessment, 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 can act as primary care providers within their stream of practice. They work independently across the spectrum of health services, such as acute care, primary care, community health, long-term care, specialty areas of health and emergency care.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse, Primary Healthcare 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 Dec 15, 2016

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

  • complete advanced, thorough and focused health assessments
  • diagnose health problems
  • support and counsel patients regarding health problems
  • manage and carry out patient care on an ongoing basis
  • manage complex chronic illness
  • order and interpret diagnostic tests
  • research and critically evaluate evidence for the best care available
  • read, compile and integrate research into their work
  • refer patients to other health care providers as needed
  • prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions
  • consult and work with physicians and others
  • engage in programs to promote community health.

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

Working Conditions
Updated Dec 15, 2016
  • 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.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Registered Nurses

2006 NOC: 3152

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
SOCIAL

Interest combinations are unique to each of the occupations in this National Occupational Classification (NOC) group. Please consult the 2003 NOC Career Handbook for further information.

METHODICAL

Interest combinations are unique to each of the occupations in this National Occupational Classification (NOC) group. Please consult the 2003 NOC Career Handbook for further information.

DIRECTIVE

Interest combinations are unique to each of the occupations in this National Occupational Classification (NOC) group. Please consult the 2003 NOC Career Handbook for further information.

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Traits & Skills
Updated Dec 15, 2016

Nurse practitioners need to have:

  • problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
  • excellent speaking and writing skills
  • organizational skills
  • the ability to make good decisions quickly under stress
  • patience, understanding and a caring attitude
  • flexibility and enthusiasm
  • the ability to lead and work with others on a team
  • good health
  • initiative to evaluate and improve outcomes.

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 57 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 30, 2021 and Apr 17, 2024.

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
Tasks: Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
Tasks: Formulate and implement treatment plans and monitor patients' progress
Construction Specialization: Accurate
Construction Specialization: Flexibility
Construction Specialization: Judgement
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Licensure as a Nurse Practitioner by the province/territory of work
Construction Specialization: Dependability
Construction Specialization: Effective interpersonal skills
Construction Specialization: Team player
Tasks: Advise patients on health care 43
Tasks: Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health 39
Tasks: Formulate and implement treatment plans and monitor patients' progress 36
Construction Specialization: Accurate 35
Construction Specialization: Flexibility 35
Construction Specialization: Judgement 35
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Licensure as a Nurse Practitioner by the province/territory of work 34
Construction Specialization: Dependability 34
Construction Specialization: Effective interpersonal skills 34
Construction Specialization: Team player 34
Educational Requirements
Updated Dec 15, 2016
  • 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. The program must be approved by the Nursing Education Program Approval Board (NEPAB). After registered nurses have a master’s degree in advanced nursing practice, they must pass the nurse practitioner registration exam for their chosen stream of practice.

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
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
University of Calgary
University of Lethbridge

To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.

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 Dec 15, 2016
  • 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 and treat health problems, order and interpret tests, and prescribe drugs.

Legislation

Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf] and Registered Nurses Profession Regulation [pdf], only members of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) on the nurse practitioner register may call themselves or practise as Nurse Practitioners or NPs. Only members of the College can provide restricted activities specified in the Regulation, and only if they have the competencies to do so.

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

Employment & Advancement
Updated Dec 15, 2016

Nurse practitioners work in many different health care facilities. 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:

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 an above-average annual growth of 2.9% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 20 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: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

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 Dec 15, 2016

Nurse practitioners are exempt from nursing unions and therefore negotiate their own salaries.

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.

Allied primary health practitioners

2016 NOC: 3124
Average Wage
$54.46
Per Hour
Average Salary
$97,452.00
Per Year
Average Hours
34.6
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 3124 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 $41.49 $50.43 $46.84 $48.27
Overall $46.35 $55.62 $54.46 $55.37
Top $49.28 $62.91 $60.62 $62.91

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
Public Administration
ALL INDUSTRIES $97,452
Health Care & Social Assistance $97,773
Public Administration $92,626

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
80%
80%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
28%
28%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
0%
0%
Vacancy Rate
N/A
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 Dec 15, 2016

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

College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) 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 19, 2018. 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.

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