The Continuing Education Portfolio program is now managed in two sections, both are described below.

Section A: Formal Activities 

Educational activities related to nursing/healthcare.

1. If your education includes two or more from the Formal list below, you may consider it Formal Education:
   1. ends with an exam or quiz
   2. includes assignment(s), presentation(s), learning package(s), or project(s)
   3. demonstration of competence/competency
   4. interactive group work
   5. results in a credential
   6. can be passed or failed
2. Completion of the Self-Reflection Module is eligible for 16 to 24 reportable CEP activity hours
3. Cultural Learning Opportunities:
   • Attendance at events that enhance knowledge about other cultures
   • Time spent learning from a culturally significant teacher or leader like an elder, knowledge keeper, or healer
   • Learning a language other than English or your first learned language
   • Learning related to Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous History, Indigenous Communities, and Indigenous approaches to health and healing systems.

Section B: Informal Activities 

Informal Activities include the following:

1. CPR, TLR, WHMIS, PART, GPA, WAVE recertification(s)
2. preceptorship (8 reportable hours per week of preceptorship)
3. nursing/healthcare committees
4. any other educational activity related to nursing/healthcare not meeting the criteria for formal activities in Section A

We have developed an easy to use CEP Placement diagram, see below.

Click on the image to view the full size PDF.

Click on the chart below to determine the amount of CEP hours required when holding a practicing license and how to categorize education from Formal or Informal Activities.

View the Adding CEP Hours to Your Member Profile document for instructions on how to add and update your annual CEP requirements to your Member Profile.

The number of hours required for continuing education is based upon how long you maintained a practicing license during the licensure year. An LPN returning to practicing status (ex. Non-Practicing to Practicing) or the initiation of a license midyear (ex. out of province applicant) will need to obtain CEP hours according to the prorated schedule below:

• 7-12 months licensed
  • 24 hours of continuing education
  • 8 hours must be accumulated in Section A 
• 3 – 7 months licensed
  • 12 hours of continuing education
  • 4 hours must be accumulated in Section A 
• Less than 3 months licensed
  • 6 hours of continuing education
  • 2 hours must be accumulated in Section A

The following information can be found in the Legislative Interpretation Continuing Education Portfolio (CEP) Program.

Claimable hours are typically based upon the length of time required to complete the education, except for courses completed at a formal educational institution such as the University of Saskatchewan or Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

• Completion of standard university or college course credits are assigned 15 hours per course credit. Example: 3 credits = 45 CEP hours.

• Saskatchewan Polytechnic courses generally have assigned hours to each course when a course credit is not assigned.
• The CLPNS recognizes that individuals may learn at different speeds and as such, LPNs are expected to claim the actual hours spent learning. LPNs should exercise their best judgment and claim a reasonable number of hours for their CEP.
  For example:
  • Pressure Ulcers Treatment Online Course: average completion time is 8 hours, but LPNs have stated it may take upward of 20 hours to complete. This would be an acceptable difference in claimed hours.
  • Saskatchewan Polytechnic IV Therapy Course: 15-course hours as per course outline. It would be unreasonable to claim 100 hours.

Earn CEP hours by undertaking learning that will aid your practice as an LPN.

For a list of some available CEP opportunities, please click here.

You can also access the Code of Ethics Learning Module from the Canadian Council of Practical Nurse Regulators.

For Culturally Safe Care CEP, you can find courses at the following links:

1. Indigenous Canada

2. Aboriginal Worldviews and Education

If LPNs obtain more than the annual CEP requirement, they may “carry-over” hours with a maximum of 8 hours into the next licensure year.  All “carry-over” hours will be applied to the section they were obtained in (Section A or B).

If audited for CEP hours, LPNs must submit CEP documentation as proof of completion for all CEP they submitted at renewal. The audit would also need to include documentation for any carry-over hours used and submitted from the previous year.

Audit Example:

A look at two years of submitting CEP at renewal season with the standard 24 hour CEP requirement:

• 32 hours submitted at renewal in 2023 (8 more than required) = 8 carry-over hours for 2024
• 48 hours submitted at renewal in 2024 including the 8 hours of carry-over from 2023 (24 more than required)
• This means documentation for the 40 CEP hours obtained in 2024 and documentation for the 8 CEP hours carried over from 2023 is needed for an audit.

CEP hours are obtained by LPNs from December 2nd to December 1st annually.

For Example:  

2023 CEP Hours – From December 2nd, 2022 to December 1st, 2023.
2024 CEP Hours – From December 2nd, 2023 to December 1st, 2024.

Because CEP hours are due at the time of licensure renewal, all LPNS must ensure they have the necessary hours in place by the time they renew.

LPNs should keep careful record of their CEP hours on their CLPNS Member Portal. Uploading your CEP information and proof of completion on an ongoing basis will ensure safe keeping and ease of renewal as the information will be housed indefinitely in the CLPNS database.  The CLPNS Annual Licensure Audit randomly selects members to provide details about the CEP hours they obtained in the previous licensure year (or more if claiming carry-over), so it is important to always know where to locate the required information.

Yes, you can obtain hours while holding a non-practicing certificate.  If you return to practicing in the same year, you will be eligible to use those hours towards your minimum requirement.

Self-reflection or reflective practice is the process of thoughtfully considering your thoughts, actions, and experiences. In our personal lives, we naturally reflect on our own experiences, which allows us to learn from and make sense of situations and identify areas for improvement. Applying self-reflection to nursing practice is no different; the goal is for LPNs to reflect on their experiences, identifying what was effective, what was not, and what actions they may consider in the future. Self-reflection is a valuable tool for personal and professional development.

Essentially, self-reflection requires LPNs to check in with themselves regularly. They may ask themselves questions like:

What did I do well?

Did I communicate clearly?

Did I handle that challenge appropriately?

Did I make the right decision for my client?

What would I do differently?

Self-reflection assists LPNs in identifying areas of strength and areas that need improvement, enabling them to refine their practice and improve the quality of care they provide to clients. Effective self-reflection promotes improvement in critical-thinking, decision-making, communication, relationship building and the development and enhancement of leadership capabilities.

Self-reflection isn’t about being hard on yourself; it’s about learning and growing in your practice. By consciously reflecting on your experiences, LPNs can determine what works well and what they can do better in the future. Over time and with practice, self-reflection will become something LPNs do unconsciously.

The CLPNS encourages LPNs to continually seek opportunities for professional development and growth throughout their careers and in the coming months will be incorporating more self-reflection into the current CEP program. Engaging in continuous learning involves more than obtaining new knowledge and skills; it is the process of reflection and application and adapting one’s practice along the way. The ongoing process of learning and self-reflection is essential for maintaining competence and to improve client outcomes.

If you have any questions or would like more information on self-reflection, view the tutorial or email practice@clpns.com.

References:

Tomlinson, P. S., Thomlinson, E., Peden McAlpine, C., & Kirschbaum, M. (2002). Clinical innovation for promoting family care in paediatric intensive care: demonstration, role modelling and reflective practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38(2), 161-170.

Lautebach, S.S., & Becher, P.H. (1996, January). Caring for self: Becoming a self-reflective nurse. Holistic Nursing Practice, 10(2), 57-68. PMID: 8550691