Access to the profession / Expectations of RNs and RPNs / Classes of registration / Who is involved with registration?
Access to the Profession
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is the self-regulatory body for nursing in Ontario. It is not an academic institution or school.
In Ontario, nurses are self-regulating health professionals. Self-regulation is a privilege granted to professions that have a proven ability to put the public interest first. Self-regulation means that the profession governs itself, both through the College and through individual members.
CNO's role is to protect the public's right to quality nursing services by providing leadership to the nursing profession. It does this by establishing requirements for becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), establishing and enforcing the standards of practice and managing quality assurance programs that help nurses maintain competence throughout their careers.
Within the nursing profession, only RNs and RPNs are authorized to perform the procedures in the three controlled acts authorized to nursing.
Only those with a Certificate of Registration and a current annual payment card from CNO can practice as a nurse in Ontario, or use the titles "nurse," "Registered Nurse" or "Registered Practical Nurse."