To be eligible for Temporary Class Registration you must:

• meet all requirements for registration in the General Class, except for the education requirement and the registration exam
• have completed a nursing education program approved or recognized in any jurisdiction, and
• have an offer of employment from an approved Ontario nursing employer
  

You can be registered in the Temporary Class for up to two years. This means, Temporary Class registration will expire two years from the date the certificate of registration is issued.

If you fail the registration exam two times, your registration in the Temporary Class will be revoked, even if it occurs before the two-year expiry date.

The Temporary Class exists to allow individuals to practice while meeting their outstanding requirements to register in the General Class. To ensure public safety, Temporary Class registrants must, by law, practice under terms, conditions and limitations. Practicing under terms and conditions means that practice restrictions are in place to protect the public. Temporary class registrants are also monitored by a nurse registered with CNO.

By law, Temporary Class registrants must be monitored and directed by a nurse registered with CNO. Employers will have to decide if they have the capacity to support these nurses.

No. The law says that you cannot re-apply to the Temporary Class if you were previously registered in it.

No. If you have already failed the exam two times or more, you are not eligible for registration in the temporary class.

Once CNO receives and assesses the required documentation and is satisfied that you meet all Temporary Class Requirements, it will take up to 15 days to process the registration. Employers can confirm an individual’s Temporary Class registration by searching for their name on CNO’s public Register Find a Nurse.

CNO’s priority is to register safe and qualified applicants regardless of which Class they are applying to. We do not prioritize the registration of one Class over another.

The fee to apply to the Temporary Class is $75.71. Once CNO determines you are eligible, there is a registration fee of $455.39. Please visit our Application & Membership Fees webpage for a list of all fees.

No. To be eligible for the Temporary Class, applicants must complete an approved nursing program. This includes nursing students in Ontario.

The time it takes for an Ontario nursing school to collect, approve and submit students’ Verification of Course Completion to CNO varies. While we appreciate students want to be registered as soon as possible, it is important that the Verification of Course Completion is accurate and should not be rushed.

Registration in the Temporary Class is different than participating in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program (SPEP).

SPEP offers applicants the option to complete a supervised practice experience in Ontario, giving them the opportunity to meet the evidence of practice and language proficiency requirements to practice safely in today’s health system.

The Temporary Class is for applicants who have met meet all requirements for registration in the General Class, except for the education requirement and the registration exam.

The table below shows the eligibility requirements for both SPEP and the Temporary Class.

Temporary Class members will also require an offer an employment to be eligible. Whereas applicants for SPEP will be matched with an approved employer.

The government of Ontario is temporarily providing financial supports to cover the costs associated with General Class and Temporary Class registration for internationally educated nurse applicants and former nurses wishing to reinstate their certificates of registration with CNO.

Reimbursements are available to applicants who initiated a General Class or Reinstatement application on or after August 18, 2022, and will cover items such as examinations, applications and registration fees.

Information on eligibility and how to request reimbursement is available through Ontario Health (Health Force).

Monitoring and directing a Temporary Class registrant's practice involves a nurse, who is registered with CNO, working with the Temporary Class registrant to support them in providing safe, competent nursing care and meeting the expected standards of practice. Monitoring and directing practice may be direct or indirect based on the needs of the Temporary Class registrant. This will ensure Temporary Class registrants receive the appropriate teaching, feedback, remediation, guidance, and support to provide safe, competent nursing care. Indirect monitoring means the nurse is readily available for consultation but is not directly at the side of the registrant.

No, RNs in the Temporary Class must be monitored and directed by an RN in the General Class or in the Extended Class (Nurse Practitioner (NP)). However, RPNs in the Temporary Class can be monitored and directed by either an RPN or an RN in the General Class, or an RN in the Extended Class (NP).

Yes, Temporary Class registrants can move to a different employer. However, CNO must receive and approve the offer of employment from the new employer before you start working.

Temporary Class registrants employed for at least six months may meet some competency gaps. Your employer must fill out a Verification of Nursing Practice form and submit it to CNO for consideration.

Applicants identified as not having equivalent education have a number of options to meet education equivalency. More information can be found on completing additional education.

"Equivalent" means you received an education that provided you with the nursing knowledge, skill and judgment comparable to a current graduate from an approved nursing program in Ontario.

CNO does not share outstanding education needs of registrants to employers. Temporary Class registrants are not obligated to share with employers their outstanding educational needs, but may choose to do so.

Yes. An unsuccessful attempt of the RNCCAP does not impact your eligibility for Temporary Class.

Yes, NNAS is the first step in an IENs application journey. NNAS works with CNO to validate education and identify outstanding competency needs to meet the education equivalency requirement.

If you meet all registration requirements for the Temporary Class, you are eligible for registration.

Eligible applicants for the Temporary Class will receive an e-mail from CNO. Employers can ask an applicant to share this e-mail with them as part of the hiring process.

No, Temporary Class registrants cannot monitor or direct the practice of another nurse in any category or class. Therefore, it is not appropriate for a Temporary Class registrant to be “in-charge” or act in a formal supervisory or leadership role.

This does not prevent a Temporary Class registrant from learning the elements of an “in-charge” role, as long as they are supported by a mentor/preceptor or a designated resource nurse. For example, a Temporary Class registrant could supervise the care provided by UCPs as part of a collaborative practice model, but should not be left as the only Charge Nurse or Director of Care in a practice setting.

No. Temporary Class registration does not grant eligibility for the Registration Exam. To be eligible to write the Registration Exam, you must meet the Nursing Education requirement . Check the Applicant Portal to see whether you have met the Nursing Education requirement. If you have not, you can continue to work toward meeting this requirement by completing the education recommended by CNO while registered in the Temporary Class. Please note, CNO sends a message to applicants once they become eligible to write the exam.

Under the Nursing Act, 1991, you have 30 days to complete your General Class registration after you meet all of the requirements. CNO will revoke your Temporary Class certificate of registration if you do not move into the General Class in a timely manner.

No, we cannot recommend an employer. However, applicants can refer to Schedule 1Opens link in new window. on our website that includes hyperlinks to Ministry sites containing lists of employer/facility names. This page can be shared with prospective employers who may be unfamiliar with temporary class registration. Ontario Health also offers Temporary Class employment supports for RN and RPN applicants.