Everyone who applies to practice as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Ontario must successfully complete an exam approved by CNO’s Council.

As of July 1, 2026, the approved exam for registration as an NP is the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam (CNPLE).

About the exam

The CNPLE is a national, entry-level exam administered by Meazure Learning. The exam assesses NP applicants based on the entry-level competencies that are integrated into NP programs that educate across patient populations and practice settings. The new exam is designed to provide a consistent, Canadian‑based assessment of entry‑level NP competence, aligned with the national regulatory nurse practitioner framework. The CNPLE is available in both English and French.

A blueprint of the exam is available for applicants and educators wishing to familiarize themselves with the exam. The exam has 180-185 questions, mostly multiple choice, written over a four-hour period.

You will have three chances to successfully complete the exam. See “repeat attempts” on the Registration Examinations page to learn what happens when you have reached your maximum number of tries on an exam.

Scheduled CNPLE exam writing windows will be available four times a year to support NP candidates to write the exam in a timely manner. The exam will be available in-person at test centres around the province.

Steps for applying to write the exam

The Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam is a computer-based, linear-on the-fly exam.

1. Once CNO has determined that you are eligible to write the CNPLE, you must submit your exam registration through CNO’s Maintain your Membership portal. CNO will then send your information to Meazure Learning.
2. Meazure Learning will grant you access to its seat reservation and examination delivery website.
3. Approximately four weeks before the scheduled exam, Meazure Learning will send you an email. You will then be able to confirm your test centre location, access the examination platform tutorial and pay your examination fee.
4. If you want to request any changes to your examination booking, contact Measure Learning at testingsupport@meazurelearning.com. Changes can be made only up to 10 business days before your exam. For more information, see the Preparing for the exam section below.
5. Candidates that require accommodation for writing the exam should contact CNO at least 90 days before the examination.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Preparing for the exam

• the CNPLE Study Guide by Meazure Learning
• the CNPLE prep tool
• Review the exam blueprint

Writing the exam

• valid government-issued photo identification (such as a passport, driver’s license, or permanent resident card)
• a copy of the email that Meazure Learning sent to you to confirm your booking

After the exam

CNO will notify you via the applicant portal about your results within 15 business days after the exam window closes. Results will not be released over the phone.

It is important that you notify CNO promptly if your name or contact information change during the exam process so we can ensure you receive your results. (For more information about submitting a name change request, see our Update Your Info page.)

Request a re-score

You have the option to request a re-score of your CNPLE results. If you would like to have your exam re-scored, please submit a request to CNO at enp@cnomail.org. Write “CNPLE Re-score Request” in the email subject line.

Please provide the following details when submitting your request:

• Your first and last name
• Your application or registration number
• The date you wrote the exam

You can request a re-score within two months of receiving your score.

We will submit your re-score request to Meazure Learning only after we receive your written request. There is a fee of $68.25 for the re-score request. Payment for the re-score is made directly to Meazure Learning. Please do not contact CNO after your request is submitted. Once CNO receives your re-score result, we will notify you.

Questions?

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Other Accepted Exams

To support a smooth transition to a single classification of NP, previously approved population-specific exams will be phased out gradually. Current NP applicants who have successfully completed an NP-Adult, or NP-Primary Health Care education program but have yet to complete the corresponding exam will have the opportunity to write the exam until the end dates noted below.

CNO will also accept the following exams for registration in the Extended Class, depending on the date of the exam pass:

Adult specialty certificate

The following exams will be accepted until Dec. 31, 2026:

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination (if you passed it between January 2013 and December 31, 2026)offered by The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

Adult Nurse Practitioner Examination (if you passed it between 2002 and September 2016) offered by The American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Note: The American Nurses Credentialing Center stopped offering this exam as of Sept. 1, 2016.

Pediatrics specialty certificate

The following exams will be accepted until June 30, 2026:

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Certification Examination (if you passed it between December 1995 and June 30, 2026) offered by The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Examination (if you passed it between January 2002 and June 30, 2026) offered by The American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Primary Health Care specialty certificate

The following exams will be accepted until June 30, 2026:

Canadian Nurse Practitioner Examination (CNPE: F/AA) (if you passed it between January 2005 and June 30, 2026) offered by Meazure Learning or Yardstick Assessment Strategies Inc.

The following exams will be accepted until Dec. 31, 2026:

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination (if you passed it between October 2001 and Dec. 31, 2026) offered by The American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination (if you passed it between January 2013 and Dec. 31, 2026) offered by The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).