This guide explains CNO’s registration process for applicants registered in a Canadian jurisdiction who want to apply for registration as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Ontario.

We have made every effort to make sure our information is accurate and up to date. Please contact CNO if you have any questions.

Who is this guide for?

This information is intended for

  • RPNs, RNs and NPs who arecurrently registered to practice in a Canadian province or territory (but notin Ontario) at the time they apply to CNO:
    • If you areapplying as an RPN, you must be registered to practice as an RPN in another Canadian jurisdiction.
    • If you areapplying as an RN, you must be registered to practice as an RN in another Canadian jurisdiction.
    • If you areapplying as an NP, you must be registered to practice as an NP in another Canadian jurisdiction.

If you intend to apply to CNO and your registration as a nurse in another Canadian jurisdiction is no longer active (for example, it has expired or been cancelled or you resigned), consider renewing or reinstating your registration as a practicing RPN, RN or NP before you apply to CNO. Being currently registered to practice in Canada will help you meet specific CNO requirements more quickly.

Please see our other registration guides if you are

The application process

Registering using automatic recognition

If you:

  • are currently registered in another Canadian Canadian jurisdiction.
  • have not registered with CNO before

you apply to register in Ontario using automatic recognition. This process allows you to register in two business days by completing an application, signing an Attestation form confirming good standing and good character, and paying your application fee and the registration fee.

Follow these steps to begin your application:

  1. Log in and select "create a new application".
  2. Fill in your application completely.
  3. Pay your application fee. This fee is non-refundable.
  4. Sign the Attestation for registration under automatic recognition form.
  5. Check the portal for the next steps.

Once these steps are complete, you are eligible to register within two (2) business days. To complete your registration, you will need to pay the registration fee.

Verification steps

To be eligible topractice in Ontario under automatic recognition, you must demonstrate that youare registered to practice as an RPN, RN or NP in good standing in another Canadian jurisdiction. "Good standing" means:

  • you are not the subject of anydiscipline or fitness-to-practice orders, ongoing investigations, interim orders or agreements resulting from complaints or proceedings
  • you arecomplying with the continuing competency and quality assurance requirementswhere you are currently registered to practice in Canada

When you register with CNO, you will have terms, conditions and limitations(TCLs) placed on your certificate of registration and posted on CNO’s public register, Finda Nurse. They require you tosubmit proof that you have requested the following:

  • a verification of registration from each Canadian nursing regulatory body where you hold a certificate of registration in the nursing category you are applying to at CNO (This documentation confirms your good standing as a nurse and your entitlement to practice in that province or territory.)
  • a police criminal record check. (You can access the Police Check option in the application portal.)

You have seven (7) days after being registered to send us, by email, proof of having requested this documentation. We will accept the following as proof:

  • an email confirmation from another jurisdiction that you have requested the verification of registration, or a screenshot of your request, including the date you made the request  
  • a payment receipt from our online Police Check vendor, or from your local police services, if you don’t use the Police Check option in the application portal

Once we receive either proof that you requested the documents or the actual documents, the verification of registration and the police check, the TCLs will be removed from your registration information on Find a Nurse. If you don’t provide the required documentation, CNO will revoke your certificate of registration.

Notes about your application

Name changes: You must let us know if your name has changed, by sending us a written request for a name change. You can find details of what to include in the request on our Applying to CNO FAQ page .

Sharing your information: Your application is confidential. We will not share information about your application with anyone, unless you give us written permission to release it to a third party, such as an employer, spouse, agency or lawyer. To authorize this, you can either send us a written and signed letter of permission, or complete the Authorization to Release Information form. Please review the Privacy Policy on the CNO website to understand how your personal information will be used.

False information: If you provide false or misleading information and/or documents in support of your application for registration, CNO may refuse your application for registration or cancel any certificate that has been issued.

Registration Requirements

This section outlines the registration requirements to become a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Ontario, if you are already registered to practice in another Canadian province or territory.

To register in Ontario in the General Class, you must have a certificate of registration equivalent to the class you are applying for:

  • If you are registered and entitled to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) elsewhere in Canada, you can apply for an RPN registration in Ontario.
  • If you are registered and entitled to practice as an RN elsewhere in Canada, you can apply for an RN registration in Ontario.
  • To register in Ontario in the Extended Class, you must have a certificate of registration equivalent to the class and specialty you are applying for: adult, pediatric or primary health care.
  • If you are registered and entitled to practice as an NP elsewhere in Canada, you can apply for an NP registration in Ontario.

Exceptions

RNs and LPNs who practice under Temporary, Provisional, Graduate or other similar registrations are not considered to have a registration equivalent to the RN or RPN registration required to practice in Ontario.

RNs, LPNs and NPs who maintain a Non-Practising, Not Licensed or other similar registrations are not considered to have a registration equivalent to the RN, RPN or NP registration required to practice in Ontario.

Post-registration requirements

Once you are registered in Ontario, CNO’s Registrar and CEO may request additional information, such as evidence that you have practiced nursing or graduated from a nursing program within the past three years.

As a nurse registered in Ontario, you are accountable for knowing and understanding the laws, regulations, by-laws, practice standards and guidelines that govern the nursing profession in the province.

CNO strongly recommends that you review the Jurisprudence Examination Study Resources before you begin practicing in Ontario.

We will notify you when you need to take the Jurisprudence Examination.

Practicing in multiple Canadian jurisdictions

If you will remain registered to practice as a nurse in one or more other Canadian jurisdictions and Ontario in the same category (for example, as an RN) and you live in Canada, you may be considered an interjurisdictional applicant. Learn more about Interjurisdictional Nurse Licensure (INL). As an interjurisdictional applicant you will receive a 25% rebate on your annual fee if Ontario is your host jurisdiction. Learn more about fees.

Examinations

Nurses currently registered to practice in another Canadian jurisdiction are not required to write a registration examination to register with CNO and practice in Ontario.

Complete your registration

You can complete your registration using the Maintain Your Membership portal and pay the applicable registration fee.

You can then confirm your registered status by searching for your name in Find a Nurse.

Remember:

  • During the application process, if CNO receives any information about issues that could affect your ability to practice nursing safely, we will review the information.
  • If, after you are registered, CNO becomes aware of information that existed during the application process but was not disclosed to the Registrar & CEO, or is information that would have warranted refusal, CNO may suspend your certificate of registration. We may also immediately impose terms, conditions and limitations on your certificate of registration and refer the matter to the Registration Committee for a decision.

Paying your annual fee

You must pay the full registration fee for the year you become registered, no matter when during the year you complete your registration. The fee is not pro-rated for partial years.

You must pay this fee before you can practice as a nurse in Ontario.

Practicing as an RPN, RN or NP in Ontario

Registering with CNO is a legal requirement to practice nursing in Ontario.

Only nurses registered with CNO can practice nursing in Ontario and use the titles “nurse,” “Registered Nurse,” “Registered Practical Nurse,” “Nurse Practitioner,” “RN,” “RPN” or “NP.”

It is illegal for anyone to practice nursing or use any of these titles in Ontario without a valid certificate of registration issued by CNO.

Your status as an RPN, RN or NP informs the public that you have gained the knowledge, skill and judgment required to provide safe and ethical nursing care.

The majority of CNO applicants enter the General Class, the most common class of registration for nurses in Ontario.

CNO must also be satisfied you will practice with decency, honesty, integrity and in accordance with the law.

RN prescribing practice

RNs registered with CNO in the General Class can add prescribing authority to their practice by completing RN prescribing education approved by CNO. RNs with this authority can prescribe certain medications and communicate diagnoses for the purposes of prescribing those medications.

If you have completed education that qualifies you to prescribe medication as an RN in another Canadian jurisdiction or another country, you will still need to successfully complete CNO-approved education to become authorized in Ontario. There are many differences in RN prescribing across jurisdictions. CNO-approved education is based on the legal scope of practice for RN prescribing in Ontario. Visit RN Prescribing Practice for more information, including a list of continuing education programs approved for RN prescribing in Ontario. 

RN prescribing practice is available only to General Class applicants. 

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