Everyone who applies to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in Ontario must successfully complete an examination approved by CNO’s Council for their chosen NP specialty.

You will have three chances to successfully complete the NP exam approved for your specialty. See “repeat attempts” on the Registration Examinations page to learn what happens when you have reached your maximum number of tries on an exam.

Who is this information for?

This information is for graduates of a Nurse Practitioner program who want to register with CNO in the Extended Class.

Adult specialty

The following examination has been approved for Ontario NP candidates applying to CNO for the Adult specialty certificate:

• Adult-Gerontology primary care Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)

You have up to three attempts to pass this exam.

Steps for applying to write this exam

• Apply on the Maintain your Membership portal for a Nurse Practitioner Certificate of Registration.
• Complete the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board's disclosure of information form. Please email the completed form to cno@cnomail.org. Write “NP Exam Consent Form” in the subject line of your email.

Pediatrics specialty

The following examination has been approved for Ontario NP candidates applying to CNO for the Pediatrics specialty certificate:

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Certification Examination offered by The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board

You have up to three attempts to pass this exam.

Steps for applying to write this exam

• Apply on the Maintain your Membership portal for a Nurse Practitioner Certificate of Registration.
• Obtain the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board’s disclosure of information form from the exam provider and fill it in. Email the completed form to cno@cnomail.org. Write “NP Exam Consent Form” in the subject line of your email.

Neonatology examination

• Certification Examination for Nurse Practitioners Specializing in Neonatology
  Ordre des Infirmières et Infirmiers Du Québec

This exam is no longer being offered in Quebec, but it remains recognized for applicants who have already written it.

Primary Health Care specialty

The following examination has been approved for Ontario NP candidates applying to CNO for the Primary Health Care specialty certificate:

• The Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination (CNPE: F/AA), administered by Meazure Learning.

The exam is based on the 2018: CNPE F/AA Blueprint and has 170-190 multiple choice questions written over a four-hour period.

You have up to three attempts to pass this exam.

Steps for applying to write this exam

The Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination is a computer-based exam.

1. Once CNO has determined that you are eligible to write the CNPE, you must submit your exam registration through CNO’s Maintain your Membership portal. CNO will then send your information to Meazure Learning.
2. Meazure Learning will grant you access to its seat reservation and examination delivery website.
3. Approximately four weeks before the scheduled exam, Meazure Learning will send you an email notification. You will then be able to confirm your test centre location, access the examination platform tutorial and pay your examination fee.
4. If you want to request any changes to your examination booking, contact Measure Learning at testingsupport@meazurelarning.com. Changes can be made only up to 10 business days before your exam. For more information, read the Candidate Examination Handbook by Meazure Learning.
5. Candidates that require accommodation for writing the exam should contact CNO at least 90 days before the examination.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Writing the examination

You must bring

• a piece of government-issued photo identification that has not expired and
• a copy of the email that Meazure Learning sent to you to confirm your booking.

Acceptable forms of identification are: a valid passport, a driver's licence or a permanent resident card.

For more information, read the Candidate Examination Handbook by Meazure Learning.

After the examination

You will be notified about your results six weeks after the examination. Results will not be released over the phone.

It is important that you notify CNO promptly if your name or contact information change during the examination process to ensure you receive your exam results. Requests for name changes must be accompanied by a legal document, such as a marriage certificate.

Questions? Contact CNO’s Customer Service Centre at 416 928-0900 (toll-free in Canada 1 800 387-5526), or email exams@cnomail.org.

Request a re-score

You have the option to request a re-score of your CNPE results. 

If you would like to have your CNPE exam results re-scored, please submit your request to CNO at enp@cnomail.org. Write “CNPE Re-score Request” in the email subject line.

Please provide the following details when submitting your request:

• Your first and last name
• Your application or registration number
• The date you wrote the exam

You can request a re-score within two months of receiving your score.

There is a fee of $110.00 for the re-score request. CNO does not collect payment information in writing. Please do not contact CNO to provide payment until we have notified you that your request has been received. Once CNO receives your request, we will contact you about making your payment.

We will submit your re-score request to the exam provider only after we receive your written request and process your payment. 

Questions? Contact CNO’s Customer Service Centre at 416 928-0900 (toll-free in Canada 1 800 387-5526), or e-mail at cno@cnomail.org.

Other accepted examinations

The following examinations have also been recognized by CNO for applicants to the Extended Class.

Adult specialty certificate

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination (if written in January 2013 or later)
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)

Adult Nurse Practitioner Examination (if you passed it between 2002 and September 2016) offered by The American Nurses Credentialing Center 

Note: The American Nurses Credentialing Center stopped offering this exam as of September 1, 2016.

Pediatrics specialty certificate

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Certification Examination (if you passed it in December 1995 or later) offered by The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

Certification Examination for Nurse Practitioners Specializing in Neonatology (if you passed it in 2006 or later) offered by Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec. 

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Examination (if you passed it in January 2002 or later) offered by The American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Certification (if you passed it in January 1994 or later) offered by The National Certification Corporation.

Primary Health Care specialty certificate

Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination (CNPE: F/AA) (if you passed it in January 2005 or later) offered by Meazure Learning or Yardstick Assessment Strategies Inc.

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination (if you passed it in October 2001 or later) offered by The American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination (if you passed it in January 2013 or later) offered by The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).