September 21, 2023: New and amended standards, limits, and conditions to create a new designation of certified practice for opioid use disorder (OUD) for RNs and RPNs have been approved by the BC College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM), effective November 1, 2023.
OUD certified practice RNs and RPNs will be able to diagnose OUD and prescribe controlled drugs for the treatment of OUD. Nurses who currently diagnose and treat OUD and want to maintain this ability must transition to this new class of certified practice by December 1, 2023. The BCCNM will be contacting all RNs and RPNs that have been treating OUD with instructions about how to transition to Certified Practice Opioid Use Disorder (CP-OUD) designation.
BCCSU will maintain responsibility for training RNs and RPNs under the new standards.
For more information about these amendments, please visit the BCCNM website and see the FAQs.
This page is intended for registered nurses (RNs) and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) who are completing the POATSP education and training pathway to apply for Certified Practice Opioid Use Disorder (CP-OUD) designation to diagnose and treat opioid use disorder.
For physicians or nurse practitioners, information about the education and training pathway is here.
Formal authorization from your regional health lead is required
For RNs and RPNs taking the education and training pathway to apply for CP-OUD to diagnose and treat OUD, a formal authorization from the RNs or RPNs’ regional health lead is required.
If you have not yet received authorization from your regional health lead and are interested in seeking it, contact the relevant health authority:
- First Nations Health Authority: [email protected]
- Fraser Health Authority: [email protected]
- Interior Health Authority: [email protected]
- Northern Health Authority: [email protected]
- Island Health Authority: [email protected]
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority: [email protected]
- Provincial Health Services Authority: [email protected]
The education and training pathway
There are three components to the education and training pathway for prescribing OAT medications (POATSP: Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses online course, workbook, preceptorship).
The POATSP: Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (POATSP: RNs and RPNs) online course consists of 30 modules based on the provincial guideline for opioid use disorder, A Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder, to provide education on the key elements of opioid use disorder care. Developed by the BCCSU and the University of British Columbia’s Division of Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD).
Accreditation information
The University of British Columbia Division of Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME) to provide study credits for continuing medical education for physicians.
CNA Accreditation (14.0 credit hours)
The POATSP: RNs and RPNs online course has been approved for 14 CNA credits by the CNA board of directors and the CNA Accreditation Program. CNA accreditation is valid until December 31, 2024.
The workbook contains case scenarios and questions to apply learnings from the POATSP: RNs and RPNs online course.
The preceptorship is in-person education with an experienced prescriber. During the preceptorship, the completed workbook will be reviewed. It is an opportunity to apply the learnings from the POATSP: RNs and RPNs online course and workbook in clinical practice.
There are currently two education and training pathways tailored according to the OAT medication(s) the RN or RPN is authorized to prescribe:
Further information about the education and training pathway, according to OAT medication(s):
Note: The minimum recommended time for preceptorships is above; however, there may be circumstances where additional learning time and preceptorship days are required. Preceptors and RNs/RPNs can collaboratively determine whether the duration of the preceptorship is sufficient or should be extended in order ensure each RN/RPN has the necessary time to develop their knowledge, skills, and key competencies. If adding more than one full preceptorship day, please email [email protected] to discuss.
The education and training pathway: Step-by-step guide
- Obtain formal authorization from your regional health lead
- Complete the required modules in the POATSP: RNs and RPNs online course
- Obtain a Certificate of Completion in the online platform
- Contact the BCCSU ([email protected]) to obtain:
- The Registered Nurse and Registered Psychiatric Nurse Prescribing Workbook
- Information to schedule a preceptorship
- Note that this is with an OAT preceptor approved by the BCCSU
- Schedule a preceptorship
- Complete the Registered Nurse and Registered Psychiatric Nurse Prescribing Workbook either on paper or electronically
- Reminder: The workbook will only be made available to RNs/RPNs who have formal authorization from their regional health lead to take the education and training pathway to prescribe OAT medications and have sent a POATSP: RNs and RPNs Certificate of Completion to the BCCSU
- Bring the completed workbook to the preceptorship
- Attend the in-person preceptorship
- Note that RNs and RPNs must have completed the POATSP: RNs and RPNs online course within 3 months of attending a preceptorship
- This is to ensure that RNs and RPNs have an adequate working memory of the extensive content covered in this course before applying this practice in person
- Note that RNs and RPNs must have completed the POATSP: RNs and RPNs online course within 3 months of attending a preceptorship
- Complete any additional learning at the discretion of the preceptor
- Sign the Safe Prescribing Agreement (found in the workbook) with the preceptor
- Complete the online Preceptorship Form (found in the workbook)
- The Preceptorship Form is an online form to report that the preceptorship has been completed
Once these steps above are completed, the preceptor will need to:
- Complete the Preceptor Review Evaluation (sent to the preceptor via email) and submit to the BCCSU
After the education and training pathway has been completed
- The BCCSU will issue a Proof of Completion letter, which is sent via email to both:
- The RN or RPN learner Opioid Use Disorder Certified learner and
- The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
- The RN/RPN learner will submit a CP OUD application form to [email protected]
- Upon receipt, the BCCNM will process the certified practice application
- Once certified practice has been granted, the BCCNM will also provide instructions to the CP-OUD RN or RPN on how to:
- Access PharmaNet with help from employer
- Apply to Medical Services Plan (MSP) to obtain an MSP number
- Order a Controlled Drugs and Substances prescription pad