Extended Class
The Extended Class is for RNs who have additional education and clinical experience that allows them to practise as Nurse Practitioners.
Members in this class have an expanded scope of practice that gives them the authority to diagnose, prescribe medication, perform procedures, and order and interpret diagnostic tests.
The College offers three specialty certificates in the Extended Class: Adult, Paediatrics and Primary Health Care.
Only nurses in the Extended Class can call themselves Nurse Practitioners.
Registration Requirements
Applicants to the Extended Class must meet all registration requirements for Nurse Practitioners before they can practise as an NP in Ontario.
Membership Obligations
Use of protected titles
When practising, members of the Extended Class must identify themselves using the titles “Registered Nurse (Extended Class),” “RN(EC),” “Nurse Practitioner” or “NP.”
NPs may also use one of the following titles based on the specialty certificate they hold:
- NP-Adult
- NP-Paediatrics
- NP-Primary Health Care
QA Program
Every nurse in the General and Extended classes is required to take part in the College’s Quality Assurance Program.
Compliance with NP practice standards
In addition to the practice standards that all College members must follow, NPs are accountable for following the Nurse Practitioner practice standard.
Recent practice in a clinical NP role
NPs must maintain clinical NP practice to remain in the Extended Class. This clinical practice must include:
- direct interaction with the client population(s) consistent with each specialty certificate held by the NP
- the use of advanced nursing knowledge and decision-making skill in health assessment, diagnosis and therapeutics in the treatment of those clients.
Each year, NPs must declare if they have practised as an NP within the previous three years. Those who have not are no longer eligible to stay in the Extended Class.
Education requirement to prescribe controlled substances
NPs can prescribe controlled substances once they have completed approved controlled substances education and are registered in the Extended Class with the College. You can complete your controlled substances education during the application process or once you are registered as an NP.
Here’s a complete list of approved NP courses and programs that integrate controlled substances education.
Professional liability protection
All Extended Class members must hold professional liability protection (PLP) as set out in the College by-laws. They must produce evidence of PLP whenever the College asks for it.
Reporting requirements
Every Extended Class member must tell the Executive Director 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 member must provide any information requested by the Executive Director under the authority of the Nursing Act, 1991, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, regulations under those acts or College by-laws.
Citizenship/Permanent residency/Authorization to practise nursing
An Extended Class member 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 practise nursing in Ontario.
If a member ceases to be any of these, then that member must immediately stop practising and inform the Executive Director in writing.
View the Terms, Conditions and Limitations for the Extended Class
