Ontario NP applicants will write the new exam beginning July 1, 2026, and foundational NP education will be added to the public register.
At recent meetings, CNO’s Council approved key changes that support Ontario’s transition to a single NP classification and a more streamlined national approach to NP registration. Beginning July 1, 2026, NP applicants in Ontario will write a new national registration exam, and foundational NP education will be added to CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse.
A national approach to strengthen patient access to qualified nurses
CNO, along with the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators, is making changes to streamline NP registration across Canada. Starting July 1, 2026, Ontario NPs will no longer register with a population-specific certificate (Primary Health Care, Adult or Pediatric). Instead, they will register under a single NP classification. NPs can and will continue to deliver specialized care, but removing the need for a population-specific certificate will allow them to work more flexibly, potentially increasing patient access to qualified health care providers.
This new framework is being adopted across Canada (except Quebec), supporting greater consistency and mobility for NPs who wish to practice in different provinces and territories. It’s one of the ways CNO is supporting nurse mobility and helping to strengthen Ontario’s health care workforce.
A new national exam for NP applicants
Starting July 1, 2026, NP applicants in Ontario will be required to pass the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Examination (CNPLE). This new exam will replace previous CNO-approved population-specific exams, including:
- the American Family/ All Ages NP exam, which will be discontinued on January 1, 2027
- the American NP- Adult-Gerontology certification exams, which will be discontinued on January 1, 2027
- the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Exam: Family/All Ages, which will be discontinued on July 1, 2026.
The CNPLE is based on the national entry-to-practice competencies and assesses the foundational knowledge, skills and judgment required for safe NP practice across patient populations.
You can learn more about the CNPLE, background for this change, and Council’s decision on our Council page.
Next steps for applicants and current NPs
Nurses currently registered in Ontario with Primary Health Care, Adult or Pediatric certificates will automatically become registered under the new single classification. No additional education, examinations or training will be required, and they can continue to work with current patients and within their current scope of practice.
NP applicants entering the profession on or after July 1, 2026, will be required to pass the new CNPLE exam and register under the single classification.
Over the coming months, CNO will directly contact NP applicants in the process of registering to communicate next steps.
Consultation results: NP foundational education to be displayed on public register
At their March meeting, CNO’s Council reviewed feedback from the 485 people who responded to our recent consultation about making changes to NP registration information on CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse. We received feedback from NPs, RNs, RPNs, NP students and applicants, and members of the public. Over 66% of respondents were in support of the proposed changes to display an NP’s foundational education on the public register. Displaying this information helps improve transparency and public understanding of NP expertise.
Additionally, about 56% of respondents were in favour of the proposed changes to reallocate NP speciality certificate fees and merge with registration and reinstatement fees — a change which keeps NP fees as they currently stand with no increase.
Council reviewed and discussed the feedback, and approved these changes to CNO’s by-laws, which will take effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Coming soon: updates to the Nurse Practitioner practice standard
CNO is making minor changes to the Nurse Practitioner practice standard to remove references to NP population-specific certificates. The updated practice standard will take effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the same day the new NP framework takes effect, to ensure that the standard applies to all NPs regardless of their role, job description or area of practice.
Join us in April for a webinar about the single classification of NPs
CNO is here to support NPs through the change to a single classification. If you’d like to learn more about the new framework, join us for a virtual webinar on Monday, April 13, 2026, between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. EST.
The webinar will include discussion of the single classification, approved NP exams and more.
As we approach the July 1, 2026, implementation date, we will continue to share updates and guidance about the transition to a single NP classification. Please continue to check cno.org for news.