How to Become a Registered 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 registered nurse in Ontario or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Registered Nurse, nurse
Show the source
“To practice as a Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Ontario, you must register with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Only registrants of CNO are allowed to refer to themselves as nurses in Ontario.”
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: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
- Annual fees
-
- Annual Fee: $368
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $368
-
Graduates of a Canadian nursing program can apply directly to CNO, which will assess their credentials and tell them whether they are eligible to write the registration exam.
Source
“If you graduated from a nursing program in Canada, you can apply directly to CNO. We will assess your credentials and let you know whether you’re eligible to write the REx-PN.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
Applicants must successfully complete the registration examination approved by CNO for the category of nursing in which they want to register.
Source
“You must successfully complete the registration examination approved by CNO for the category of nursing in which you want to register.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements -
Applicants must successfully complete the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination.
Source
“You must successfully complete either the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination or the NP Jurisprudence Examination.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements
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.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Annual Fee: $368
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $368
-
Applicants currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction follow a separate process and need to meet specified requirements for registration.
Source
“These requirements apply to all applicants to CNO except those currently registered in other Canadian jurisdictions, who need to meet specified requirements.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements -
Applicants registered to practice in another Canadian jurisdiction meet the Transition to Practice requirement through their 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...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Annual Fee: $368
Trained outside Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $368
-
Applicants educated outside Canada must have their credentials verified by an approved educational credential assessment service provider.
Source
“If you graduated from a nursing program in another country, your credentials need to be verified by an approved educational credential assessment (ECA) service provider.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
Once CNO has received the credential verification report from the ECA service provider, the applicant can begin their application with CNO, which will assess their credentials and confirm whether they are eligible to write the exam.
Source
“Once CNO has received your credential verification report from the ECA service provider, you can begin your application with CNO. We will assess your credentials and let you know whether you are eligible to write the REx-PN.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... -
Internationally educated applicants meet the Transition to Practice requirement by completing a TTP course.
Source
“Internationally educated applicants will meet the requirement by completing a TTP course.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac...
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.
Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Annual Fee: $368
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Application Fee: $433
- Education Requirement - Additional Evaluation Fee RN (French): $719
Source
“| Education Requirement - <br> Additional Evaluation Fee RN (French) | $719.00 | $754.00 |”
cno.org/what-is-cno/about-cno - Initial Registration Fee: $69 (Not applicable to RNEC (NP) effective July 1, 2026)
Source
“| Initial Registration Fee<br> NOTE: Not applicable to RNEC (NP) effective July 1, 2026 | $69.00 | $72.00 |”
cno.org/what-is-cno/about-cno - Penalty Fee: $135
- Examination Rescore Fee: $110 (only applicable for the CNPE written before July 1, 2026)
Source
“| Examination Rescore Fee<br> *Note: only applicable for the CNPE written before July 1, 2026* | $110.00 | N/A |”
cno.org/what-is-cno/about-cno - Jurisprudence Examination Fee: $40
- QA Practice Assessment Fee: $1,500
- QA Practice Assessment - Additional Fee: $1,500
Source
“| QA Practice Assessment - Additional Fee | $1,500.00 | $1575.00 |”
cno.org/what-is-cno/about-cno
Requirements
Education
Applicants must demonstrate successful completion of a nursing education program designed to prepare them for the type of nursing they want to practice in Ontario.
Source
“You must demonstrate the successful completion of a nursing education program designed to prepare you for the type of nursing that you want to practice in Ontario.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements
Experience
Applicants must show that they have experience practicing as a nurse within the past three years.
Source
“You must show that you have experience practicing as a nurse within the past three years.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements
Other
Applicants must successfully complete the registration examination approved by CNO for the category of nursing in which they want to register.
Source
“You must successfully complete the registration examination approved by CNO for the category of nursing in which you want to register.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirementsApplicants must successfully complete either the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination or the NP Jurisprudence Examination.
Source
“You must successfully complete either the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination or the NP Jurisprudence Examination.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirementsApplicants must meet the Transition to Practice requirement to register as an RN or RPN.
Source
“You must meet the Transition to Practice requirement to register as an RN or RPN.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirementsApplicants must pass one of the language proficiency tests approved by CNO, with results sent directly from the test centre or language proficiency organization to CNO.
Source
“Language Proficiency Test | Passing one of the language proficiency tests approved by CNO | Tests results must be sent directly from the test centre or language proficiency organization to CNO”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/proficiency-in-eng...
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages say applicants registered in other Canadian jurisdictions need to meet specified requirements and are exempt from the evidence of practice requirement, but do not state whether they can register without retaking the entry-to-practice exam or a competence assessment. Source
“These requirements apply to all applicants to CNO except those currently registered in other Canadian jurisdictions, who need to meet specified requirements.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements
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
-
Registration Examination
Source
“You must successfully complete the registration examination approved by CNO for the category of nursing in which you want to register.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements -
RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination
Source
“You must successfully complete either the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination or the NP Jurisprudence Examination.”
cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
Exemptions: Applicants can demonstrate language proficiency through holding current or previous registration as a practicing nurse within the past two years with CNO or in another Canadian jurisdiction. 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
Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Nurses of Ontario
Supervised practice
Not required
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $29.00 | $42.00 | $55.00 | Very good (5 of 5) |
| Canada | $30.00 | $43.27 | $54.37 | — |
Registered 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
- REx-PN: FAQs cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-... · fetched October 8, 2026
- Registration Requirements cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements · fetched October 8, 2026
- Transition to Practice cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-prac... · fetched October 8, 2026
- Proficiency in English or French cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/proficiency-in-eng... · fetched October 8, 2026
- About CNO cno.org/what-is-cno/about-cno · fetched October 8, 2026
- Evidence of Practice cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/evidence-of-practice · fetched October 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a registered nurse in Ontario?
Yes. Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario is required to practise in Ontario, and to use the title Registered Nurse or nurse.
Which exams are required?
Registration Examination, RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination.
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