Outside Canada

1. Introduction

   This guide explains the process for registering in Ontario and the requirements that all nurses must meet to become a member of the College.

2. Getting Started

   Know which documents you will need to support your application when you begin.

3. Why Register with the College?

   Becoming a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario is a legal requirement for anyone who wishes to practise nursing in Ontario.

4. Beginning Your Application

   The registration process begins when you open an account with the National Nursing Assessment Service, the national body that begins the initial document collection and assessment of all internationally educated nurses who want to work in Canada.

5. Registration Requirements

   During the registration process, the College evaluates all applicants to determine whether they meet the registration requirements.

6. Examinations

   All applicants to the College must successfully complete the registration examination approved by Council for the category to which they are applying.

7. Requesting Accommodation

   Everyone who writes an examination as part of their application to the College has the right to request accommodation.

8. Initial Registration - Outside Canada

   When you have successfully met all registration requirements, you can complete your registration online and pay the applicable fee.

9. Timelines for registration processes

   To ensure fairness and equitable treatment of all applicants, every application is assessed individually. As a result, the time required to complete the assessment process can vary from one applicant to the next.

10. Translation of Documents

    All documents submitted to the College as part of the application process must be in either English or French. This includes documents that come to the College directly from the official source (e.g., course transcripts should come to the College directly from the school that offered the program of...

11. Documents from official source

    When applying to the College, you are required to obtain certain documents relating to your nursing education, practice, registration and other requirements from official sources such as schools, employers, or regulatory boards. These could be documents such as: Verification of Course Completion...

12. Further Resources

    To learn more about nursing education in Ontario, the province’s health care system, or how to access programs and services designed to help newcomers, please visit one of the following sites...

13. Collection of Personal Information

    Please review the Privacy Code on the CNO’s website to understand how your personal information will be used.