1. How do I register as an NP? Do I have to write an exam?
NP registration is available to RNs who successfully complete an approved educational program, pass a registration exam and meet the requirements for evidence of safe practice. The NP Registration Guide has been updated and is available online for further information.
2. What is the “evidence of safe practice” requirement?
Evidence of safe practice is a mandatory registration requirement. It is defined as two years of nursing experience within the last five years. One of those two years must have been in an advanced practice role, in which the applicant was required to use advanced knowledge and decision-making skills in assessment, diagnosis and health care management.
3. Can I obtain more than one specialty certificate? Do I need more than one?
You only need to meet the requirements of one specialty certificate to become registered as an NP. However, some NPs want to register in more than one specialty because they feel it is important for their practice. As well, employers may require specific specialties. If it is relevant to your practice, you may choose to apply for more than one specialty certificate, but you must meet the registration requirements for that specialty including graduation from an approved program, passing the exam for that specialty, demonstrating evidence of safe practice and maintaining quality assurance requirements. If you have not graduated from an approved program for that specialty, the Registration Committee may consider additional education and experience as being equivalent to an approved program. Contact the College for more information.
4. What programs have the College’s Council approved for NP registration?
An up-to-date list of approved NP programs according to specialty is posted in our Registration section.
5. I did not graduate from a Council-approved education program. What information does the Registration Committee need to assess my education and experience to determine education equivalency?
To initiate the assessment process, you must complete an application package. The Registration Committee’s assessment focuses on the applicant’s demonstration of the Canadian NP core competencies. The College assesses each application individually. As a result, the College may require additional information about programs and practice. This information may include, but not be limited to, nursing course outlines, a job description, curriculum vitae and/or a list of medical directives that the nurse has used. The College uses this information to complete a comprehensive assessment of each applicant. For more information about your application or the application process, contact our Customer Service Centre.
6. Why doesn’t the College distinguish between a master’s NP and a post-baccalaureate NP?
The College of Nurses of Ontario and other Canadian regulatory bodies assess competencies, not credentials. The Canadian NP core competencies, which are common to the practice of each specialty certificate, are embodied in all of the CNO-approved programs.
7. Why must Ontario nurses write a U.S. exam?
Currently, there are no Canadian Nurse Practitioner exams for Adult and Paediatric entry-to-practice assessment. The ANCC exams have been used in other Canadian jurisdictions for the past few years and have been assessed to ensure they reflect the Canadian NP core competencies (that is, the same competencies taught in our approved NP education programs). The exams are psychometrically adjusted during the scoring process to ensure that Canadian nurses are not at a disadvantage by writing a U.S. exam. Questions that do not apply to nursing practice in Canada are removed from the exam during the scoring process. In addition, the College of Nurses of Ontario and other Canadian regulators are required to facilitate interprovincial mobility. Taking a national approach to NP exams helps to meet this obligation.
8. If questions are removed in the scoring process, do I only have to answer some of the questions?
No, you should attempt to answer every question. It is not possible to know beforehand which questions will be removed in the scoring process.
9. Is there a pass/fail cut-off or are the ANCC exams bell-curved? What details will I receive about my performance on the exam?
There is a pass/fail cut-off. The cut-off is established by a national exam committee responsible for scoring the exams. The committee includes Canadian NPs working with the guidance of the psychometrician. Candidates who pass will receive a report indicating that they have passed. Candidates who fail will receive additional information about their scores and performance in the major content areas to assist them in future exam preparation.
10. How do I schedule my ANCC exam?
If you are eligible for the exam, the College will send you an exam application form. You must submit this application and pay the exam fee. Then, the ANCC will provide you with the information you need to schedule your exam directly with the Ontario writing centres within the timeframes posted on the College website here. Candidates are advised to schedule their exams as soon as possible and should ask the writing centres about their hours of operation and seating capacities, as they differ at each.
11. Does writing the ANCC exam make me eligible for certification in the U.S.?
No. Canadian candidates who write the ANCC exam at a Canadian centre to apply for registration in Canada are not eligible for certification in the U.S. through the ANCC. Successful completion of the exam solely supports the registration process in Canada. Canadian candidates who have obtained the ANCC certification by writing the exam (in 2002 or later) are considered to have met the College’s exam requirement for NP registration in Ontario. To be eligible for U.S. certification, the candidate must apply to write the exam through the ANCC directly and meet the ANCC’s criteria for certification.