Patient safety is a collective responsibility that involves partnership and support from nurses, educators, students, the public and other partners. Volunteering with CNO or a system partner is a meaningful way you can actively participate in the regulatory processes that keep the public safe.

By volunteering, you can help with the development of many high-profile and important projects, while showing leadership and building your relationships within the nursing profession. Volunteers must be current registrants in good standing with CNO.

You can also participate by volunteering for other nursing-related organizations, including those that create nursing registration exams. Some of these opportunities are listed on this page.

Volunteer with CNO

Serve on CNO’s Council

You can learn about serving on CNO’s elected Council on our Council Elections page.

Serve on a CNO committee

You can learn about serving on a CNO Committee on our Serving on a Committee page.

Join the Employer Reference Group

The Employer Reference Group (ERG) is made up of CNO representatives and nurse employers from across Ontario who share information and collaborate on relevant nursing regulatory issues. Learn more about joining the Employer Reference Group on our Employer Reference Group page. 

Volunteer with examination organizations

Develop questions for the CNPLE

Meazure Learning has volunteer positions for Nurse Practitioners who may be interested in developing questions for the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam (CNPLE).

Nurse Practitioners currently in direct practice are encouraged to apply.

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity or to apply, please email education@cnomail.org.

Develop questions for the NCLEX-RN

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) develops the NCLEX-RN used to measure competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as an entry-level registered nurse. An important step in this process is the NCLEX Item Development program, a key component in creating and maintaining high quality examination items. The development of the NCLEX examination depends on qualified registered nurse volunteers from all jurisdictions that use the NCLEX for entry to practice.

By volunteering, you may be selected to participate as an item writer (you must be an RN educator with a master's degree) or item reviewer (you must be a practicing RN).

Volunteers must not have participated in exam development or related activities (for example, as an invigilator, proctor or participation in exam courses or guides) within the previous 24 months. Apply on the NCSBN website.

Develop questions for the REx-PN

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is seeking Ontario nurses who are familiar with entry-level RPN practice to help develops test items for the REx-PN exam. NCSBN develops the REx-PN, which measures the competencies entry-level RPNs need to perform safely and effectively. NCSBN’s REx-PN Item Development Program is a key component of creating and maintaining high-quality exam items. The Item Development Program depends on the participation of qualified nurse volunteers from Ontario and BC, where the REx-PN is used for entry to practice.

By volunteering, you may be selected to participate as an item writer (you must be an RPN educator), an item reviewer (you must be a practicing nurse) or a French translator (you must be a French-speaking Ontario nurse).

Volunteers must not have participated in exam development or related activities (for example, as an invigilator, proctor or developing exam courses or guides) within the previous 24 months. Apply on the NCSBN website.