To become registered in Ontario, all applicants must pass either the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) or the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE). These exams, which are designed to measure entry-level competencies, are a mandatory part of the registration process.

Dates and locations of upcoming examination sittings can be found in the Examination Schedule section of this website.  

Applying for the exam

Applicants must also submit two fees to the College, one to cover the cost of processing the application and one to cover the cost of the examination. The assessment fee is non-refundable, but the examination administration fee can be fully or partially refunded depending on when the applicant notifies the College of their intent to withdraw.  

Both the CRNE and the CPNRE are offered three times a year, and they can only be written within Canada. Requests to write the exam must be received by the College 90 days before the date of the examination sitting.

Exam grades

Your score on the exam will be reported as either “pass” or “fail.” If you pass, you will not receive feedback on your performance. If you fail, you will receive feedback showing how you performed in the different areas.

If you fail the examination, you will be required to rewrite the entire examination. Due to the time required to process examination results, it is unlikely that you would be able to write the next scheduled examination; however, you can apply to write at a later date.

Remember:

• All qualified applicants will be allowed three opportunities to write the exam, with no time limit. It is recommended that you take an Examination Review Course designed to help applicants prepare for their examinations, especially if you are about to attempt the exam for a third time. Please consult the list of schools in our Further Resources section to learn more about these courses.
• You must report to the College any successful or unsuccessful attempts on the nurse registration examination in any other province/jurisdiction.
• Any attempts to write the CRNE/CPNRE or an acceptable equivalent in another jurisdiction (i.e., Professional Exam in Quebec or the Canadian Nurses Association Testing Services RN examination, or CNATS) are counted and subtracted from the total of three.
• Falsifying or failing to inform the College about previous attempts to write the CRNE/CPNRE or an acceptable equivalent in another jurisdiction may result in the cancellation of your application for registration or of any certification that may be issued.

Have you already passed the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) or Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE)?