Declaration regarding your conduct, offences and findings

When you apply to CNO for a certificate of registration, you must truthfully state whether you have ever:

  • been found guilty of an offence
  • been refused registration
  • had a finding related to the practice of nursing or another profession against you

or whether you are involved in certain proceedings.

In addition, CNO must have reasonable grounds to believe that you:

  • will practice nursing with decency, honesty and integrity and in accordance with the law
  • have sufficient knowledge, skill and judgment to competently engage in the practice of nursing authorized by your certificate of registration
  • will display an appropriately professional attitude

You make these statements by completing the Declaration of Registration Requirements form included in your application, and you must provide additional information to CNO for review if you answer “yes” to any question on the form.

Answering “yes” to a question does not mean that you will be immediately refused registration. It means that CNO may ask you for additional information to review and assess before we can proceed with your application.

CNO may ask you to provide supporting documents for your application. We keep all your information confidential except as required or allowed by law.

Any supporting documents we require must be sent to CNO by the proper authorities. Supporting documents that do not come directly to CNO from the proper authorities will not be accepted.

Information from third parties

In addition to the information that you provided to CNO, we may receive information from third parties about your conduct, offences and findings. CNO can consider this information when we assess your application.

If we receive third-party information that suggests you may not meet the requirements for registration, we may ask you to provide additional information on the matter.

Nursing knowledge, skill and judgment

As an applicant, you must show that you possess the required nursing knowledge, skill and judgment to practice nursing.

In most cases, you can do this by satisfying the registration requirements related to nursing education, recent nursing practice, and the registration and jurisprudence exams.

However, during the application process CNO may receive other information that raises concerns about your ability to meet this requirement (for example, if another regulatory body reports a finding of incompetence or professional misconduct against you). If that happens, CNO can consider this additional information.

If we have concerns about whether you possess sufficient nursing knowledge, skill and judgment, we will ask for additional information to better understand your circumstances. Additional information we may ask for can include:

  • information about findings of incompetence
  • information about current investigations, inquiries or proceedings for incompetence
  • information about a refusal of registration
  • information from another regulatory body, such as your compliance with continuing competence requirements
  • any other information requested by CNO

How will CNO assess the information?

CNO will take into account several considerations relevant to the circumstances when we review information about your nursing knowledge, skill and judgment. For example:

  • Is there evidence that you are unable to meet the required skills and abilities expected of all nurses?
  • Is there evidence that you failed to meet continuing competence requirements for nursing or any other profession (that is, you did not demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning, engagement in reflective practice or an ability to set and achieve learning goals)?

To avoid delays, we strongly encourage you to ensure all supporting documents are sent to CNO as early as possible in the application process.

You are responsible for ensuring that all supporting documents from third-party sources (such as regulatory bodies or individuals providing references) are sent directly to CNO from the third party. If you forward the third-party information to CNO, it will not be accepted.

Practicing with decency, honesty and integrity and in accordance with the law and displaying an appropriately professional attitude

The expectation that nurses practice with honesty, integrity and professionalism is extremely important to the nursing profession.

CNO must be satisfied that all applicants will:

  • practice nursing with decency, honesty and integrity, and in accordance with the law
  • display an appropriately professional attitude

If we receive information that raises concerns about your ability to meet these requirements, then we may request additional information to better understand whether you can practice in accordance with them.

Examples of the types of documents CNO may ask you to forward include:

  • any information related to
    • findings of guilt
    • findings of professional misconduct
    • current investigations, inquiries, or proceedings for professional misconduct
    • current proceedings for other offences
    • refusal of registration
  • any other information as requested by CNO

How will CNO assess the information?

CNO will take into account several considerations when we review information about your ability to meet the two conduct requirements. For example:

  • What is the nature and severity of your conduct?
  • What is the conduct’s relationship to nursing?
  • Is there a pattern of conduct (such as an escalation in frequency or severity)?
  • Does the conduct reflect poorly on the nursing profession?
  • When did the conduct occur and what were your circumstances at the time?
  • How much time has elapsed since the conduct last occurred?
  • Did you assume accountability and take responsibility for your actions?
  • Have you shown evidence of remorse?

To avoid delays, we strongly encourage you to ensure all supporting documents are sent to CNO as early as possible in the application process.

You are responsible for ensuring that all supporting documents from third-party sources (such as regulatory bodies or individuals providing references) are sent directly to CNO from the third party. If you forward the third-party information to CNO, it will not be accepted.

Police criminal record check

As part of the registration process, CNO also requires all applicants to provide a recent police criminal record check. This requirement provides CNO with information to determine whether we need further information to assess your suitability for registration. For more information, including how to request a police criminal record check, read our police criminal record check webpage.

About the past offences and findings questions on the declaration form

Past offences

You must tell CNO if you have ever been found guilty of any of the following in any jurisdiction:

  • a criminal offence (for example, shoplifting, assault, impaired driving, theft, fraud)
  • an offence relating to the use, possession or sale of drugs
  • an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada)
  • any other offence in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession

Even if you received a pardon for the offence, you will still have to declare it on your application and provide additional information.

A finding of professional misconduct, incompetence, incapacity, malpractice or negligence

You must tell CNO if you are, or have been, the subject of any of the following findings in any jurisdiction:

  • professional misconduct
  • incompetence
  • incapacity
  • professional negligence
  • malpractice
  • any similar finding in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession

Involvement in a current proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity

You must tell CNO if you are currently the subject of one of the following, in any jurisdiction:

  • an investigation, inquiry or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity
  • a similar investigation or proceeding related to the practice of nursing or another profession

Involvement in a current proceeding for any offence

You must tell CNO if you are the subject of a current proceeding in respect of any offence (that is, charges have been laid against you) in any jurisdiction.

A refusal of registration to practice nursing or any other profession

You must tell CNO if you have ever been refused registration as a nurse (or another profession) in any jurisdiction.

You are responsible for ensuring that all supporting documents from third-party sources (such as police or individuals providing references) are sent directly to CNO from the third party. If you forward the third-party information to CNO, it will not be accepted.

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