Continuing competence is the ongoing development of knowledge, skills, and judgment needed to practise safely and ethically throughout your career.
The Continuing Competence Program (CCP) is a regulatory program designed to ensure quality and accountability.
Self-assessment helps you identify strengths and learning needs. The healthcare system is always changing. Nurses must continually expand their knowledge and skills to maintain competence in their roles.
Important: Every nurse in Nova Scotia must successfully complete CCP requirements each year—regardless of employment status.
Getting Started
All nurses must complete the following:
- Self-assess your competence to identify areas for growth
- Develop a professional growth plan to achieve learning goals for the year
- Reflect and evaluate how your growth plan has impacted your practice
- Participate in the audit process, if selected, to confirm your compliance with the program
CCP Program Support Tools
We are here to support you. These tools are designed to help you successfully complete CCP. Meeting program requirements may be challenging without reviewing and using all the tools provided.
- CCP Guide for Nurses (PDF)
- CCP Online Learning Module (video)
- CCP Professional Growth Plan Template (PDF)
- NSCN Self-Assessment Tools
- LPN (PDF)
- RN (PDF)
- NP (PDF)
- RN-AP (Authorized prescriber) (PDF)
CCP Module in NSCN Registrant Portal
In January 2025, the CCP module was launched in the NSCN registrant portal. This module allows you to develop your professional growth plan directly in the portal and submit it if selected for audit.
2025 CCP Audit
NSCN randomly selects nurses each year to complete the Continuing Competence Program (CCP) audit. The audit serves 2 purposes:
- Verify that you have met CCP requirements
- Assure the public that nurses are committed to continuous learning and professional growth in an evolving health system
Audit Selection and Deadlines
If you were randomly selected, you were notified on February 14, 2025, and must complete the audit process by April 22, 2025.
Audit Process Options
You may be selected for 1 of 2 audit processes:
1. Declaration of Compliance
- You will receive a 4-question survey confirming your compliance with CCP expectations.
- The survey will only be sent to those randomly selected as part of the audit.
2. Professional Growth Plan Submission
- You must submit your completed professional growth plan from 2024.
- Your activities must align with the licensing year’s audit. If they do not, your plan will not meet CCP requirements
Submit your professional growth plan
- Submit your 2024 professional growth plan by April 22, 2025, through the registrant portal.
- We will review your submission, and you will be notified by email once your plan has been reviewed.
- Response times vary, but you can expect a response no later than May 23, 2025.
- Resources, including the CCP Guide for Nurses (PDF) and sample plans, are available
- Do not submit your self-assessment with your professional growth plan. This is confidential.
Regardless of which process you are selected for, reviewing available resources will help you successfully complete the audit.
Professional Growth Plan Questions and Answers
A professional growth plan helps you reflect on your practice and assess your knowledge needs. It supports continuous learning. And helps you develop meaningful strategies to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Professional Growth Plans have been a requirement in CCP programs since 2002 for RNs/NPs and 2010 for LPNs.
You can develop your Professional Growth Plan (PGP) in the registrant portal.
- Log in to the registrant portal using your usual username and password.
- Select ‘My Learning’ in the left-hand menu.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions in the CCP Guide for Nurses.
No. You only need 1 professional growth plan, even if you hold 2 licences. You can choose different learning goals from each designation (e.g., LPN for Goal 1 and RN for Goal 2).
We will review your PGP using a scoring rubric to verify compliance with CCP requirements.
You will be notified of the outcome and whether you:
- Meet the verification criteria
- Need to provide additional information
- Need to resubmit your professional growth plan
Yes. Completing an approved BScN or MN program can be used to fulfill your PGP requirements.
Other nursing-specific education can also be included in your learning activities—if it relates to your standards of practice.
No. Do not send certificates unless requested. Keep them in your personal files for your records.