Effective July 1, 2026, CNO is changing the regulatory framework for Nurse Practitioners (NPs). This change is being made in alignment with a national initiative led by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR), which aims to streamline NP regulation across Canadian provinces and territories.

One of the most significant changes in Ontario is the removal of population-specific registration certification. Historically, NPs were issued certificates based on the population they were authorized to treat, such as Adult, Pediatric, or Primary Health Care. Under the new framework, these specific distinctions will no longer appear on NP certificates of registration and NPs will be registered under a single classification. 

As a result of this change, NPs will have greater flexibility to deliver accessible services across patient populations and practice settings. They will also have more flexibility to develop their practice and acquire new competencies throughout their careers. This evolution supports safe, high‑quality care for the public and aligns with the reality of NP practice today, where patient health needs are complex and professional growth is ongoing.

Ongoing accountability and professional responsibility

Practice changes, whether regulatory, organizational or professional, are a natural time to pause and reflect. For some NPs, the move to a single classification may not result in any immediate change to current nursing practice. For others, it may support future career pathways, new roles, or new nursing practice involving different patient populations or new settings. 

Regardless of the impact on your practice, this regulatory transition provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on your current practice, readiness and future learning needs. CNO’s Quality Assurance Program and the resources in QA Every Day can support turning that reflection into action by offering a structured, reflective approach to maintaining competence and meeting evolving practice expectations.

While the regulatory framework is evolving, CNO’s expectations for safe, competent nursing practice remain the same. Every NP continues to be accountable for:

  • practicing within their individual knowledge, skill and judgment and ensuring they have the competence required to provide safe care
  • seeking additional education, training or experience when expanding or deepening their practice
  • upholding practice standards and evidence-informed clinical decision-making
  • engaging in CNO’s QA activities. This includes practice reflection, identifying learning needs, completing a learning plan which clearly outlines activities to improve competence, and participating in a QA Assessment when requested.

How QA Every Day supports NPs

QA Every Day is a cornerstone of professional nursing practice. It supports NPs in reflecting on their competence, identifying learning needs, developing learning plans that strengthen practice, and demonstrating ongoing accountability throughout their careers.

By integrating reflection and learning into everyday practice, QA Every Day encourages all nurses to: 

  • reflect on their practice and professional responsibilities
  • identify learning needs and areas for growth
  • create meaningful learning goals that align with current and evolving practice expectations
  • use evidence, feedback and self-assessment to guide ongoing development.

Learning Plans: Supporting continued competence

Self-reflection and well-designed learning plans support continuous competence across your career. Learning plans are living documents that help you organize goals, document learning activities, and regularly reassess readiness for practice. Reviewing your learning plan on an ongoing basis helps ensure they remain aligned with changing practice expectations, emerging evidence, and professional responsibilities.

The sample plans below illustrate how reflective insights can be translated into clear, purposeful learning goals. Some examples highlight how NPs can use learning plans when changing their practice populations or practice setting as a result of the single classification of NP regulation change, while others focus on the general continued competence for NP practice.  These examples are intended to support understanding and are not prescriptive. 

If you have questions about developing a learning plan or about NP practice under the updated regulatory framework, please contact Practice Support at ppd@cnomail.org

Sample learning plans for NPs:  

If you are moving to a new area of practice or working with new populations, check out these sample learning plans:


If your learning goals are about maintaining your competence in your current practice area, check out this sample learning plan: 

Annual attestation

As part of the annual renewal process, NPs will be required to complete an attestation confirming that they are practicing within their legislative scope of practice, the Code of Conduct, all other practice standards, and their relevant education and competence (knowledge, skills and judgment). 

This attestation reinforces the ongoing expectation that NPs engage in reflective practice, assess their learning needs and ensure they possess the knowledge, skills and judgment necessary for the populations they serve.

Resources for NPs 

CNO Resources:

External Resources: