Nurses Registration Process – Ontario
The CNO regulates RN, RPN (Registered Practical Nurse), and NP in Ontario. The official “Outside Canada” guide is CNO’s main step-by-step reference for IENs.
Step 1: Start with an approved Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
CNO states the registration process can begin after your educational credentials are validated by a CNO-approved ECA service provider
Step 2: Meet CNO registration requirements
CNO registration requirements include several separate checks; two that commonly affect IEN timelines are:
A) Evidence of Practice (EOP) – must be within the past 3 years
CNO defines Evidence of Practice and explains you must show nursing practice or nursing education within the past three years before registration can be issued (with details by category).
B) Transition to Practice (TTP) – 5 ways to meet it (official)
CNO lists five ways to meet TTP, including: recent Canadian nursing graduation (≤3 years), registration in another Canadian jurisdiction, recent Canadian nursing practice (≤3 years), completing a CNO-approved TTP course (valid 5 years), or the new Education Pathway program offered by schools starting Summer 2025 (valid 3 years).
Step 3: Language proficiency
CNO lists accepted tests and provides minimum benchmark scores, including CELBAN, IELTS (Academic/General + One Skill Retake rules), OET, PTE Academic, TEF, and TCF.
Important detail: IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted if taken within 60 days and used with the original test.
Step 4: Exams, jurisprudence, and final registration
CNO’s “Outside Canada” guide includes the exams section and the final “Initial Registration” step once all requirements are met.