31302 – Nurse practitioners
Lead statement
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge and nursing experience, and a specialty of practice. They provide a range of health services to patients and deliver preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners work in conjunction with physicians and collaboratively with other nursing colleagues and health-care providers, or they may work independently. Nurse practitioners may specialize in primary healthcare or acute care.
Main duties
- Examine patients and take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
- Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
- Inoculate and vaccinate patients
- Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team such as family physicians, therapists and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
- Perform a patient advocacy role
- Prescribe and administer medications
- May co-ordinate or manage primary patient care.
Employment requirements
- Nurse practitioners usually require a master's degree in nursing; or completion of a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education; and several years of practice as a registered nurse.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required for nurse practitioners in all provinces and territories.
Example job titles
pediatric nurse practitioner · advanced nurse practitioner · advanced practice nurse · adult care nurse practitioner · primary health care nurse practitioner (PHCNP) · anesthesia nurse practitioner · nurse practitioner · acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) · cardiovascular nurse practitioner · geriatric nurse practitioner · extended class registered nurse
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $42.00 | $61.54 | $75.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $49.50 | $54.00 | $62.40 |
| Nova Scotia | $41.41 | $55.88 | $67.63 |
| New Brunswick | $50.00 | $59.00 | $66.00 |
| Quebec | $40.00 | $57.69 | $66.26 |
| Ontario | $40.00 | $62.00 | $75.00 |
| Manitoba | $50.00 | $55.00 | $63.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $43.04 | $56.14 | $67.79 |
| Alberta | $38.88 | $53.25 | $67.85 |
| British Columbia | $42.49 | $59.53 | $74.59 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.