How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Ontario
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario to work as a licensed practical nurse in Ontario or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“You need a valid certificate of registration from CNO to practice nursing in Ontario and perform the procedures in the Controlled Acts that are authorized to nursing.”
From cno.org/become-a-nurse/become-a-nurse, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Licensed in another province: 3 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 0.2 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
-
You open an application for RPN registration on CNO's online portal and pay the application fee.
Source
“Open an application for RPN registration on the Maintain your Membership (MYM) portal and pay the application fee.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
You wait until CNO sends you a message in the portal telling you that you are eligible to write the exam.
Source
“CNO will send you a message in the portal with instructions when you are eligible to write the REx-PN.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
You follow CNO's instructions to arrange your examination date with the exam provider.
Source
“Follow CNO’s instructions to arrange your examination date with the exam provider.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/registration-exami... -
You wait for CNO to notify you of your exam results.
Time: 1 weekTime source
“After you have taken the exam, you will receive a message through the MYM portal about your test result within one week.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-...Source
“Wait for CNO to notify you of your results.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/registration-exami...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
You open an application for RPN registration on CNO's online portal and pay the application fee.
Source
“Open an application for RPN registration on the Maintain your Membership (MYM) portal and pay the application fee.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
You meet the transition to practice requirement through your current Canadian registration.
Source
“Applicants registered to practice in another Canadian jurisdiction will meet the requirement through their current Canadian registration.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac... -
You follow CNO's instructions to arrange your examination date with the exam provider, pay the exam fees, write the exam, and wait for CNO to notify you of your results.
Source
“Follow CNO’s instructions to arrange your examination date with the exam provider.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/registration-exami...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
You open an application for RPN registration on CNO's online portal and pay the application fee.
Source
“Open an application for RPN registration on the Maintain your Membership (MYM) portal and pay the application fee.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
You complete a transition to practice course to meet the requirement.
Source
“Internationally educated applicants will meet the requirement by completing a TTP course.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac... -
You follow CNO's instructions to arrange your examination date with the exam provider, pay the exam fees, write the exam, and wait for CNO to notify you of your results.
Source
“Follow CNO’s instructions to arrange your examination date with the exam provider.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/registration-exami...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Requirements
Education
If you have not completed CNO-approved or recognized nursing education, you must complete education that meets CNO's requirements.
Source
“You will need to complete education that meets CNO’s requirements of an RN, RPN or NP.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/become-a-nurse
Experience
You must demonstrate evidence of practice, such as practice experience as a nurse within the past three years relevant to the category you are applying for.
Source
“You have practice experience as an RN, RPN or NP within the past three years (which must be relevant to the category or class of nursing to which you are applying).”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/evidence-of-practice
Other
You must pass a registration exam approved by CNO's Council for the nursing category for which you are applying.
Source
“If you plan to register as a nurse in Ontario, you must first pass a registration exam approved by CNO’s Council for the nursing category for which you are applying (RN, RPN or NP).”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/registration-exami...All applicants to CNO must meet the transition to practice requirement.
Source
“All applicants to CNO must meet the requirement.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac...You must demonstrate proficiency in English or French, such as by passing one of the language proficiency tests approved by CNO.
Source
“Passing one of the language proficiency tests approved by CNO”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/proficiency-in-eng...You must provide proof of immigration or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario.
Source
“CNO will leave your application open until you provide the required proof of immigration or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/authorization-to-work
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages state that labour mobility applicants registered as practicing nurses in another Canadian province are not required to meet the evidence of practice requirement for registration, but they do not state whether the entry-to-practice exam or a competence assessment is waived. Source
“As of Jan. 1, 2026, a labour mobility applicant who is currently registered as a practicing nurse in another Canadian province and intends to get an equivalent practicing nursing certificate of registration with CNO is not required to meet the EOP requirement for registration.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/evidence-of-practi...
Apply for registration
Source
“Open an application for RPN registration on the Maintain your Membership (MYM) portal and pay the application fee.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
Exams
-
REx-PN
Source
“The REx-PN is the exam accepted for applicants who want to register with CNO as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in the General Class.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
jurisprudence exam
Source
“No. The TTP course does not cover content in the jurisprudence exam.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac...
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
Exemptions: Applicants holding current or previous registration as a practicing nurse within the past two years with CNO or another Canadian jurisdiction can meet the language requirement through registration. Source
“Holding current registration or having previously held registration as a practicing nurse within the past two years with CNO or in another Canadian jurisdiction (as a Registered Nurse, Licensed/Registered Practical Nurse or Nurse Practitioner)”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/proficiency-in-eng...
Canadian experience
Nursing work outside Ontario can be considered nursing practice that meets the requirement, but it must be attained through paid nursing employment or other paid nursing roles rather than volunteer practice. Source
“Nursing work outside Ontario can be considered nursing practice that meets the requirement, however, it must be attained through paid nursing employment or other paid nursing roles rather than volunteer practice”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/evidence-of-practice
Supervised practice
Not required
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $25.32 | $31.00 | $37.94 | Good (4 of 5) |
| Canada | $25.00 | $31.32 | $38.00 | — |
Licensed practical nurses in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Licence required
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Licence required
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Licence required
Sources checked
- Become a Nurse cno.org/become-a-nurse/become-a-nurse · fetched October 8, 2026
- Transition to Practice cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac... · fetched October 8, 2026
- Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Registration Examinations cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... · fetched October 8, 2026
- Registration Examination cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/registration-exami... · fetched October 8, 2026
- Evidence of Practice cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/evidence-of-practice · fetched October 8, 2026
- Proficiency in English or French cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/proficiency-in-eng... · fetched October 8, 2026
- Authorization to Work cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/authorization-to-work · fetched October 8, 2026
- Evidence of Practice (RN & RPN): Frequently Asked Questions cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/evidence-of-practi... · fetched October 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a licensed practical nurse in Ontario?
Yes. Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario.
Which exams are required?
REx-PN, jurisprudence exam.
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