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 Last modified July 21, 2006  
The Standard of Care.

Registration

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There are more than 106,000 registered nurses (RNs) and 29,000 registered practical nurses (RPNs) in Ontario. Only nurses with a valid Certificate of Registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario are permitted to practise and authorized to perform the procedures in the controlled acts authorized to nursing.

Registration assures the public and employers that nurses are accountable to the College for meeting and maintaining the standards of the profession.

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Initial registration

According to the legislation governing the College — the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) and the Nursing Act, 1991 — you must register with the College of Nurses and be a member in good standing in order to practise as a nurse in Ontario. The initial registration fee is $171.73. There is no expiration on your Certificate of Registration. To remain a member of the College in the following years, you must pay the annual fee of $122.66.

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Certificate of Registration

After you register as a new member, you will receive a Certificate of Registration. It will identify:

  • your category (registered nurse or registered practical nurse);
  • your class (General, Extended, Special Assignment or Temporary);
  • your registration number; and
  • the year you established registration with the College.

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Membership

After paying the initial registration fee of $171.73 for your first year, the subsequent annual payment of $122.66 entitles you to remain a member of the College, use the restricted title nurse (RN or RPN) and practise as a nurse in Ontario. You are accountable to the College for your nursing conduct, competence and capacity.

As a member, you will receive an Annual Payment Card which confirms payment of the annual fee for a specific year. It contains:

  • your name;
  • your category;
  • your class;
  • your registration number; and
  • restrictions, if applicable.

Your Annual Payment Card has an issue date (the date the fee was paid), an effective date (January 1) and a date until which the fees are paid (December 31). If you pay your fee after January 1 of the current year, the effective date will be the same as the issue date.

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Participation in the Quality Assurance (QA) Program

Participation in the QA Program may differ depending upon whether you are practising or not practising nursing.

Practising nurses must participate in Reflective Practice. This includes doing a self-assessment, obtaining peer feedback on their practice, creating and implementing a learning plan, and evaluating the learning that has occurred. Practice Review requires nurses to participate when they are randomly selected.

Non-practising nurses partially participate in the QA program. This entails doing a self-assessment of their situation, and identifying and meeting their individual learning needs. At a minimum, non-practising nurses are expected to maintain an awareness of developments in the profession and their area of practice, and the standards, legislation and expectations for nurses in Ontario. Non-practising nurses will not be included in the Practice Review component.

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Resignation

If you do not expect to practise nursing in Ontario again, you can choose to give up your membership and resign from the College. You no longer pay the annual fee. If in the future you decide to return to nursing in Ontario, you will need to re-apply and meet the entry-to-practice requirements at that time.

To resign, complete the relevant section of the Annual Membership Renewal Form and return it to the College. You can also submit your resignation in writing to Customer Service. Please include your registration number.

If you resign, you will no longer be a member of the College. This means you may not use the titles "nurse," "RN," or "RPN," or practise nursing in Ontario. You will no longer be accountable to the College for your ongoing nursing competence, conduct and capacity.

The College offers a Retired Class of membership, to nurses who have reached the age of 65, do not intend to practise and who wish to maintain their membership in the College.

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Reapplication

If, after resigning, you wish to re-establish registration with the College, you must meet the entry-to-practice requirements in effect at that time. Currently, the entry-to-practice requirements you would be expected to meet are:

  • submission of an application for a Certificate of Registration and fee;
  • proof of safe nursing practice within the past five years; and
  • proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to engage in the practice of nursing.

Information regarding the following is also required:

  • any convictions of a criminal offense or an offense under the Narcotic Control Act or the Food and Drug Act;
  • being the subject of previous or current proceedings with respect to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity in Ontario in another health profession, or in another jurisdiction in nursing or another health profession; and
  • whether you have a physical or mental condition/illness which may affect your ability to practise nursing.

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Suspended for non-payment of fees

If you do not pay the annual fee and do not resign, your membership will be suspended for non-payment of fees. Once your membership is suspended, you are no longer a member of the College, you are not entitled to practise nursing in Ontario and you may not use the restricted titles "nurse," "RN" or "RPN."

You remain accountable, however, to the College for your nursing conduct, competence and capacity. You are not required to participate in the QA Program.

A list of members suspended for non-payment of fees is maintained on CNO's website.

If you wish to return to nursing in Ontario, you will need to reinstate your membership.

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Reinstatement

In order to be reinstated, you will be required to pay the reinstatement fee and resume participation in the Quality Assurance Program. You will be expected to do a self-assessment and create a learning plan that will address your learning needs.

Once you are reinstated, you will be expected to participate in the QA Program according to whether or not you are practising, and to declare your participation on the Annual Membership Renewal Form.

For more information, see the Reinstatement fact sheet.

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The Standard (formerly Communiqué)

If you decide not to pay the annual fee, you may continue to receive The Standard in order to keep abreast of developments and changes in nursing regulation in Ontario. The annual subscription fee is $15 per year. U.S. subscriptions are $20. Other foreign and overseas subscriptions are $40. Please contact the Customer Service Centre at 416 928-0900, if you wish to subscribe.

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Questions?

If you have any questions, contact the College's Customer Service Centre at 416 928-0900, toll free in Ontario at 1 800 387-5526, or e-mail cno@cnomail.org.

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