To practice as an NP in Ontario, you must be a member of the College’s Extended Class.

Only members of the Extended Class are permitted to call themselves “Nurse Practitioners” (NPs) and practice as NPs within the province.

In Ontario, there are three specialty certificates available to NPs:

• Primary Health Care
• Paediatrics
• Adult

Find more about the standards of NP practice, as well as a list of standards that all nurses in Ontario must follow, in Standards & Guidelines.

Prescribing controlled substances

NPs can prescribe controlled substances once they have completed approved controlled substances education and are registered in the Extended Class with the College. You can complete your controlled substances education during the application process or once you are registered as an NP.

Here’s a complete list of approved NP courses and programs that integrate controlled substances education.

The College will notify you if you are required to completed controlled substance education. If you do not complete the controlled substances education by the time you register with the College, you won't be authorized to prescribe controlled substances as an NP. Your profile on Find a Nurse will state: “Entitled to practice. Cannot prescribe controlled substances until specialized education is completed.” We will also notify any employer we have on record about your status on Find a Nurse.