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Applying online: Frequently asked questions
The following are answers to questions you may have about CNO's online application process.
How do I apply online?
Go to Maintain Your Membership and select “Login to my account." If you already have an account with CNO, login using your email address and password and then select "create a new application."
If you do not have an account with CNO, select "Don't have an account" to create one. After you have created an account, you can then proceed with creating a new application.
You sent me a link to create my password but I did not use it within 24 hours, so it has expired. What do I do next?
Return to the Maintain Your Membership page and click on “Forgot my password.”
I do not have an online account yet. How do I change my email address that CNO has on record?
Contact our Customer Service centre.
I was previously registered in Ontario (as an RN, RPN, NP) and I want to practice again. How do I apply?
The new online portal does not yet have a reinstatement feature. Read Applying for Reinstatement to find out what you need to do.
I am an internationally educated nurse. How do I apply?
If you have received your advisory report from NNAS, then you can use the online portal to create an account and complete your application. You must have your NNAS application and ID numbers to be able to complete your online application with CNO.
If you haven’t received your advisory report, you must first apply to NNAS to get your advisory report.
What information do I need to have before I apply?
It depends on if you are an applicant who completed your nursing education in Ontario, another province in Canada or internationally.
For international applicants, read the question above. For all other applicants, go to Maintain Your Membership, select “create an account” and follow the steps to apply.
I have an error with my payment. What should I do?
First check to make sure you used the correct payment method and typed in your card number and other details correctly. If you still get an error message, contact our Customer Service centre.
I have an online account but don’t see the application option I need. What should I do?
Contact our Customer Service centre.
Who do I contact if I have questions about information in the online portal?
Contact our Customer Service centre.
What do I do if I want to update one of my registration requirements?
You will not be able to do this update online. Contact our Customer Service centre to find out what you will need to do.
What does it mean when I see “outstanding” beside one of my requirements?
Your requirement will have “Outstanding” noted beside it if CNO has not received the related information or if the information has been received but it is still being reviewed by CNO.
Can I apply to the temporary class if I have not met all the requirements?
If you have a General Application Class open, you can apply to the Temporary Class and work towards meeting the requirements for Temporary Registration.
Why was my application for Temporary Class not accepted and closed?
CNO will close your application for Temporary Class if you fail the registration exam twice for the category to which you applied to. For example, if you failed the NCLEX-RN exam two times or more, you will not be eligible for registration as an RN in the Temporary Class. Please note that your application fee is non-refundable.
If you have already passed the registration exam, then you need to complete your general class registration requirements.
I completed my initial application but I need to make an update. Can I update my application in the online portal instead of mailing it in?
Once your account is created and you have completed your application by paying your fee, you can update your application.
What documents can I upload in the portal for CNO to review?
Applicants with an open application may upload the following documents:
- Competency Assessment Supplement (CAS)
- Authorization to Work
- Name Change
- Accommodation Request
- Offer of Employment for Temporary Class applications
- Authorization to release information
- Withdrawal Application form
- Immigration Authorization to Practice – Consent
Can I upload school transcripts, nursing practice documents or my examination scores online?
No. Documents from third parties (e.g. education transcripts or verification of nursing practice in another jurisdiction, verification of registration from another jurisdiction) must be directly sent to CNO by the third party. CNO will then update the portal with the document status. Please do not upload documents sent by third parties.
Can I start my temporary class application by uploading an offer of employment letter?
An Offer of Employment letter must only be uploaded by an applicant with an open Temporary Class application. Read our Temporary Class Guide for more information.
As an International Educated Nurse, will I see my NNAS documents in the portal?
You will not have access to your NNAS documents in the portal. Once you have applied to CNO, NNAS sends us a copy of your Advisory Report, along with images of the documents received by NNAS in support of your application. You will only be able to view a list of documents that have been received from you directly or other third parties, along with the status of the documents. Note - You can request copies of any documents that form part of your CNO application at any time during the application process.
I completed an Ontario baccalaureate or a diploma program in nursing. Why don’t I see the add nursing education button?
Applicants who are Ontario graduates are not required to declare or add nursing education. CNO receives a list of nursing graduates directly from the school and updates your application based on confirmation that you completed your nursing program.
I created a new application and some of the information regarding my education and practice do not appear correctly. What should I do?
We strongly encourage you to not update any information or ask CNO to correct a record if you have recently applied as it takes up to 15 days for your records to be updated once you create an application. Please wait until after 15 days after creating a new application to update your information.
Can I declare non-nursing information, such as employment as a personal support worker or a health care aide?
No, information should only relate to nursing education, nursing practice, nursing registration and nursing examinations.
What happens if I see incorrect details?
If any have a concern about information in your application , please contact Customer Service by clicking on the appropriate link found under the section that is incorrect (nursing education, nursing employment, other nursing registrations, nursing examinations) and providing the details in the message box. Please do not call CNO as we are not able to update information over the phone.
I recently completed new nursing education and want to declare a new nursing education record. However, I do not see the name of the school. What should I do?
Please carefully review the entire list. If you are still not able to locate your school when declaring a new nursing education record, you may scroll to the bottom of the school list and select: Not listed (enter below), to manually enter the name of the school.
I logged in and declared a new record. What do I do now?
Please refer to your Message Centre for information regarding your next steps and how to submit all relevant documents to CNO.
I have noticed that some records are duplicate. Do I have to inform cno about them?
Please contact Customer Service by clicking on the appropriate link found under the section that is incorrect (nursing education, nursing employment, other nursing registrations, nursing examinations) and providing the details in the message box. Please do not call CNO as we are not able to update information over the phone.
I am currently in the process of completing additional education as directed by CNO. Can I declare my education now?
You may declare new nursing education only once you have completed the program or all relevant courses.
Will I still receive letters by mail from CNO?
CNO has stopped mailing letters to applicants and now sends correspondence through the message centre in the online portal. You will not be able to reply or use the message centre to communicate with CNO – it is your personal online mailbox where CNO will send you updates about, and next steps for, your application.
