What is the Special Assignment Class?

The Special Assignment Class is an option for nurses who have an appointment as an RN or RPN with an approved facility (as defined in Schedule 1 of the Nursing Act) in Ontario.

Registrants in this class can practice only within the scope of their appointment and only under the defined terms, conditions and limitations listed on this page.

Registration requirements

Applicants to the Special Assignment Class must meet the following registration requirements before they can practice nursing in Ontario. To qualify, you must:

• demonstrate successful completion of a nursing education program recognized or approved in the jurisdiction in which the program was taken and designed to prepare you for the type of nursing you want to practice in Ontario
• demonstrate Evidence of Practice by showing you have recent practice as a nurse
• successfully complete the jurisprudence examination
• show proficiency in English or French
• provide proof you are authorized to work in Ontario
• state any past offences, registration refusals in other jurisdictions, findings related to the practice of nursing or another profession against you, or whether you are involved in certain proceedings
• declare any health conditions that could affect your ability to safely practice nursing

You must also:

• have an appointment or special assignment with a facility in Ontario recognized by CNO, or an assignment approved by a panel of the Registration Committee
• not have been previously registered as an RN or RPN with CNO except as a registrant of the Special Assignment or Emergency Class
• not have been previously registered as a Special Assignment Class registrant for the same assignment or appointment

A Special Assignment Class registration expires on the first of these dates:

• exactly one year after the registrant joins the class
• on the expiry date specified on the registrant’s certificate of registration
• on the last day of the appointment or special assignment

Membership obligations

Use of protected titles

Registrants in the Special Assignment Class must identify themselves in the following ways in their practice:

• “Registered Nurse (Special Assignment)” or “RN (Spec. Assign.)” in the case of registrants registered as RNs
• “Registered Practical Nurse (Special Assignment)” or “RPN (Spec. Assign.)” in the case of registrants registered as RPNs.

Professional liability protection

All Special Assignment Class registrants must hold professional liability protection as set out in CNO’s by-laws. They must produce evidence of this protection whenever CNO asks for it.

RN prescribing practice

RNs are not authorized to prescribe medication or communicate diagnoses while they are registered in the Special Assignment Class.

If you completed CNO-approved RN prescribing education, the legal authority to prescribe certain medications and communicate diagnoses for the purpose of prescribing those medications comes into effect after you become registered as an RN in the General Class. Visit RN Prescribing Practice for more information about this practice.

Reporting requirements

Every Special Assignment Class registrant must tell the Registrar and CEO about any of the following:

• a finding of guilt in any jurisdiction relating to any offence
• a charge in any jurisdiction relating to any offence
• a finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity or any similar finding, in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction
• a current investigation, inquiry or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, or any similar investigation or proceeding, in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction

Also, the registrant must provide any information that is requested by the Registrar and CEO under the authority of the Nursing Act, 1991, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, regulations under those acts or CNO’s by-laws.

Citizenship/permanent residency/authorization to practice nursing

A Special Assignment Class registrant must be one of the following:

• a Canadian citizen
• a permanent resident of Canada
• someone authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to practice nursing in Ontario.

If a registrant ceases to be any of these, then that registrant must immediately stop practicing and inform the Registrar and CEO in writing.

Terms, Conditions and Limitations

Every Special Assignment Class certificate of registration is subject to the following terms, conditions and limitations.

You must practice the profession only within the scope of your appointment or special assignment and only within the facility named in the certificate.

Your practice must be monitored and directed by a registrant of CNO holding a General or Extended class certificate of registration.

You must not perform a controlled or authorized act, including one which is delegated to you, unless the act is ordered,

• pursuant to clause 5(1)(b) of the Nursing Act, 1991 or
• by a Registered Nurse in the General class.

You must not supervise, monitor or direct the performance of a controlled or authorized act or the practice of another registrant in any class.

You must not delegate to another registrant or any other person the authority to perform a controlled or authorized act.

At all times when providing nursing services, you must identify yourself as a Special Assignment registrant.

You are restricted to the use of the following title:

• if you hold a Special Assignment certificate of registration as a registered nurse, “Registered Nurse (Special Assignment)” or “RN (Spec. Assign.)”, or
• if you hold a Special Assignment certificate of registration as a registered practical nurse, “Registered Practical Nurse (Special Assignment)” or “RPN (Spec. Assign.)”.

You must provide to the Registrar and CEO the details of any of the following that relate to you and occur or arise on or after the day that you were issued a certificate of registration:

• a finding of guilt arising in any jurisdiction relating to any offence
• a charge arising in any jurisdiction relating to any offence
• a finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity or any similar finding in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction
• a current investigation, inquiry or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity or any similar investigation or proceeding in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction

At the request of the Registrar and CEO, you must provide information required pursuant to the Nursing Act, 1991, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, regulations under those acts or CNO’s by-laws in the form and manner requested by the Registrar and CEO.

You must not engage in the practice of nursing unless you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada or you have authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) permitting you to engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario.

You must immediately advise the Registrar and CEO in writing if you cease to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada or you no longer have authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) permitting you to engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario.

If you subsequently obtain Canadian citizenship, become a permanent resident of Canada or attain authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) permitting you to engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario, you must immediately advise the Registrar and CEO in writing of that fact.

You must maintain professional liability protection in accordance with the requirements, if any, set out in CNO’s by-laws.

At the request of the Registrar and CEO, you must provide evidence satisfactory to the Registrar and CEO, and in the form and manner requested by the Registrar and CEO, that you maintain this protection in accordance with the requirements, if any, set out in CNO’s by-laws.