Temporary Class FAQs

Temporary Class

What are the requirements for Temporary Class Registration?

To be eligible for Temporary Class Registration you must:

• meet all requirements for registration in the General Class, except for the education requirement and the registration exam
• have completed a nursing education program approved or recognized in any jurisdiction, and
• have an offer of employment from an approved Ontario nursing employer

You can be registered in the Temporary Class for up to two years. This means, Temporary Class registration will expire two years from the date the certificate of registration is issued.

If you fail the registration exam two times, your registration in the Temporary Class will be revoked, even if it occurs  before the two-year expiry date.

Are applicants safe to practice if they have not completed the necessary education?

The Temporary Class exists to allow individuals to practice while meeting their outstanding requirements to register in the General Class. To ensure public safety, Temporary Class registrants must, by law, practice under terms, conditions and limitations. Practicing under terms and conditions means that practice restrictions are in place to protect the public. Temporary class registrants are also monitored by a nurse registered with CNO.

Won’t the need for more precepting for those without full education, burden our health care system?

By law, Temporary Class registrants must be monitored and directed by a nurse registered with CNO. Employers will have to decide if they have the capacity to support these nurses.

I was registered in the Temporary Class,  and my registration expired.  Can I re-apply?

No. The law says that you cannot re-apply to the Temporary Class if you were previously registered in it

Can I apply to the Temporary Class if I have failed my registration exam twice?

No. If you have already failed the exam two times or more, you are not eligible for registration in the temporary class.

How long will it take to get a Temporary Class registration?

Once CNO receives and assesses the required documentation and is satisfied that you meet all Temporary Class Requirements, it will take up to 15 days to process the registration. Employers can confirm an individual’s Temporary Class registration by searching for their name on CNO’s public Register Find a Nurse.

Will you be prioritizing Temporary Class registrations over everyone else?

CNO’s priority is to register safe and qualified applicants regardless of which Class they are applying to. We do not prioritize the registration of one Class over another.

How much will it cost to register in the Temporary Class?

The fee to apply to the Temporary Class is $75.71. Once CNO determines you are eligible, there is a registration fee of $455.39.  Please visit our Application & Membership Fees webpage for a list of all fees.

Can a nursing student in Ontario join the Temporary Class while they are completing their nursing education? 

No. To be eligible for the Temporary Class, applicants must complete an approved nursing program. This includes nursing students in Ontario.  

Why isn’t CNO putting pressure on universities to send Verification of Course Completion and other documents in more timely fashion?

The time it takes for an Ontario nursing school to collect, approve and submit students’ Verification of Course Completion to CNO varies. While we appreciate students want to be registered as soon as possible, it is important that the Verification of Course Completion is accurate and should not be rushed.

What is the difference between Temporary Class and the Supervised Practice Experience program?

Registration in the Temporary Class is different than participating in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEP).

SPEP offers applicants the option to complete a supervised practice experience in Ontario, giving them the opportunity to meet the evidence of practice and language proficiency requirements to practice safely in today’s health system.

The Temporary Class is for applicants who have met meet all requirements for registration in the General Class, except for the education requirement and the registration exam.

The table below shows the eligibility requirements for both SPEP and the Temporary Class.

Temporary Class members will also require an offer an employment to be eligible. Whereas applicants for SPEP will be matched with an approved employer.

Will my Temporary Class application or registration fees be reimbursed? 

The government of Ontario is temporarily providing financial supports to cover the costs associated with General Class and Temporary Class registration for internationally educated nurse applicants and former nurses wishing to reinstate their certificates of registration with CNO.  

Reimbursements are available to applicants who initiated a General Class or Reinstatement application on or after August 18, 2022, and will cover items such as examinations, applications and registration fees.  

Information on eligibility and how to request reimbursement is available through Ontario Health (Health Force).  

I understand that an applicant registered in the Temporary Class must be monitored and directed by a nurse registered in the General Class or Extended Class with CNO. Does this mean the nurse must always be with the Temporary Class registrant?

Monitoring and directing a Temporary Class registrant's practice involves a nurse, who is registered with CNO, working with the Temporary Class registrant to support them in providing safe, competent nursing care and meeting the expected standards of practice. Monitoring and directing practice may be direct or indirect based on the needs of the Temporary Class registrant. This will ensure Temporary Class registrants receive the appropriate teaching, feedback, remediation, guidance, and support to provide safe, competent nursing care. Indirect monitoring means the nurse is readily available for consultation but is not directly at the side of the registrant.

Can a RN in the Temporary Class be monitored by an RPN in the General Class?

No, RNs in the Temporary Class must be monitored and directed by an RN in the General Class or in the Extended Class (Nurse Practitioner (NP)). However, RPNs in the Temporary Class can be monitored and directed by either an RPN or an RN in the General Class, or an RN in the Extended Class (NP).

Can I change employers while in the Temporary Class?

Yes, Temporary Class registrants can move to a different employer. However, CNO must  receive and approve the offer of employment from the new employer before you start working.  

Can a Temporary Class registrant have more than one employer?

Yes, Temporary Class registrants can have more than one employer. CNO must receive and approve each offer of employment before you start working.

If my Nursing Education requirement is outstanding, can employment in the Temporary Class help meet some competency gaps?

Temporary Class registrants employed for at least six months may meet some competency gaps. Your employer must fill out a Verification of Nursing Practice form and submit it to CNO for consideration.

How can a Temporary Class registrant achieve educational equivalency?

Applicants identified as not having equivalent education have a number of options to meet education equivalency. More information can be found on completing additional education.

What does education equivalency mean?

"Equivalent" means you received an education that provided you with the nursing knowledge, skill and judgment comparable to a current graduate from an approved nursing program in Ontario.

Will employers be made aware of any outstanding education needs of Temporary Class registrants?

CNO does not share outstanding education needs of registrants to employers.  Temporary Class registrants are not obligated to share with employers their outstanding educational needs, but may choose to do so.

I previously participated in the Registered Nurses Canadian Competency Assessment Program (RNCCAP), formally the Internationally Educated Nurse Competency Assessment Program, but was not successful. Can I still register in the Temporary Class?

Yes. An unsuccessful attempt of the RNCCAP  does not impact your eligibility for Temporary Class.

Do IENs still have to apply to NNAS first, before becoming eligible for the Temporary Class?

Yes, NNAS is the first step in an IENs application journey. NNAS works with CNO to validate education and identify outstanding competency needs to meet the education equivalency requirement.

I am an RPN registered with CNO but have applied for registration as an RN in the General Class. Am I eligible for Temporary Class registration as an RN?

If you meet all registration requirements for the Temporary Class, you are eligible for registration.

How will an employer know if an applicant meets the requirements for registration in the Temporary Class?

Eligible applicants for the Temporary Class will receive an e-mail from CNO. Employers can ask an applicant to share this e-mail with them as part of the hiring process.

Can a Temporary Class registrant implement a medical directive?

Yes, a Temporary Class registrant can implement a medical directive if they have the knowledge, skill and judgement to do so. A medical directive is a type of order for several patients when specific conditions are met and when specific circumstances exist. See CNO’s practice guideline Authorizing Mechanisms.

Can a Temporary Class registrant be in a Charge Nurse or supervisory role?

No, Temporary Class registrants cannot monitor or direct the practice of another nurse in any category or class. Therefore, it is not appropriate for a Temporary Class registrant to be “in-charge” or act in a formal supervisory or leadership role.

This does not prevent a Temporary Class registrant from learning the elements of an “in-charge” role, as long as they are supported by a mentor/preceptor or a designated resource nurse. For example, a Temporary Class registrant could supervise the care provided by UCPs as part of a collaborative practice model, but should not be left as the only Charge Nurse or Director of Care in a practice setting. 

CNO has granted me a Certificate of Registration in the Temporary Class. Does this make me eligible to write the Registration Exam if I haven't met the Nursing Education requirement?

No. Temporary Class registration does not grant eligibility for the Registration Exam. To be eligible to write the Registration Exam, you must meet the Nursing Education requirement . Check the Applicant Portal to see whether you have met the Nursing Education requirement. If you have not, you can continue to work toward meeting this requirement by completing the education recommended by CNO while registered in the Temporary Class.  Please note, CNO sends a message to applicants once they become eligible to write the exam. 

Can I stay in the Temporary Class after I meet all the requirements for the General Class?

Under the Nursing Act, 1991, you have 30 days to complete your General Class registration after you meet all of the requirements. CNO will revoke your Temporary Class certificate of registration if you do not move into the General Class in a timely manner. 

Can CNO help me find an employer?

No, we cannot recommend an employer. However, applicants can refer to Schedule 1 on our website that includes hyperlinks to Ministry sites containing lists of employer/facility names. This page can be shared with prospective employers who may be unfamiliar with temporary class registration. Ontario Health also offers Temporary Class employment supports for RN and RPN applicants.

Page last reviewed March 08, 2024