The Non-Practising Class is an option for former members of the College and all current menbers in the General or Extended classes who wish to remain members of the College while not practising nursing in Ontario.

The major difference between the Non-Practising Class and other classes is that nurses in this class are not permitted to practise nursing in Ontario, whether paid or unpaid, and they cannot hold themselves out as qualified to practise nursing in Ontario. Members of the Non-Practising Class may practise nursing in another Canadian province or territory or another country.

In addition, members of this class:

• pay a reduced annual fee
• receive the College’s quarterly magazine, The Standard, to stay informed about developments in nursing regulation
• do not participate in the College’s Quality Assurance (QA) Program
• are not eligible to run for College Council, volunteer for statutory committees, or vote in College elections.

Registration Requirements: Non-Practising Class

Applicants for registration in the Non-Practising Class must:

• be, or have been, a member of the College’s General or Extended classes
• not be in default of payment of fees, penalties, or any other amount owing to the College on the date of being issued a certificate of registration in the Non-Practising Class.

Individuals are not eligible to join the Non-Practising Class if they have:

• never been registered with the College in any class
• only been registered with the College in the Temporary, Special Assignment, and/or Emergency Assignment classes.

If a current member of the General or Extended Class applies for registration in the Non-Practising Class, then all of that member’s certificates of registration, including any specialty certificates, are automatically revoked once they enter the Non-Practising Class.

It is not mandatory for College members to join the Non-Practising Class when they retire or leave the nursing profession. Members who are no longer practising nursing in Ontario can choose to either join the Non-Practising Class or resign from the College.

Maintaining membership in the Non-Practising Class

To maintain membership with the College, all members must fulfil certain obligations, such as self-reporting about suitability and fitness to practise nursing. There are some requirements, however, that are unique to members of the Non-Practising Class:

Use of protected titles

Members of the Non-Practising Class are restricted to the use of the following titles:

• “Registered Nurse, Non-Practising” or “RN Non-Practising” in the case of members registered as RNs or
• “Registered Practical Nurse, Non-Practising” or “RPN Non-Practising” in the case of members registered as RPNs.

Terms, conditions and limitations

All members registered in the Non-Practising Class:

• cannot practise nursing in Ontario, whether paid or unpaid
• cannot hold themselves out as persons qualified to practise in Ontario as a nurse, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, practical nurse, registered practical nurse, or in any specialty of nursing.

Returning to practice from the Non-Practising Class

Members of the Non-Practising Class may apply for the reinstatement of their previously held General and/or Extended Class certificate(s). All of the requirements for reinstatement are non-exemptible. 

When applying to return to the General or Extended Class, Non-Practising members must:

• not be considered ineligible for reinstatement based on past conduct
• pay all fees required under the by-laws
• provide evidence of practice as an RN, RPN or NP (as applicable) within three years prior to the date of meeting all other requirements for reinstatement
• depending on the length of time that has lapsed since last holding the certificate they wish to have reinstated:
  • successfully complete either the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination or RN(EC) Jurisprudence Examination (as applicable) within five years prior to the date of applying for reinstatement
  • demonstrate language proficiency in either English or French to be able to communicate and comprehend effectively, both orally and in writing, within two years (or such longer period of time approved by the Executive Director) prior to the date of applying for reinstatement.