What is the Emergency Class?

The Emergency Class comes into effect when the province or CNO Council determines that it is in the public interest to register qualified nurses to address emergency circumstances.

The Emergency Class is authorized for the sole purpose of allowing nurses to assist during an emergency. Nurses can assist in a variety of ways. For example, some nurses registered in the Emergency Class may cover positions vacated by nurses who are redeployed to deal with the emergency.

There is no fee to register in this class.

Registration requirements

Emergency Class applicants do not have to meet all the registration requirements for other classes. However, their application must show CNO that they have:

  • completed a nursing education program approved or recognized in any jurisdiction
  • practiced as an RN or RPN (as appropriate) within the three years before the day they are issued an Emergency Class certificate of registration
  • passed the nursing Jurisprudence Exam within five years before the day they are issued an Emergency Class certificate of registration
  • language proficiency in either English or French
  • not failed the nursing registration examination two times
  • reported any past offences or findings
  • declared any health or conduct issues that could affect their ability to practice nursing safely

Transitioning to other classes of registration

Registrants in the Emergency Class may be eligible to practice as a nurse in Ontario by registering in another practicing class, such as the General Class or Temporary Class.

In some instances, certain registration requirements met to enter the Emergency Class can be carried over to a new application for a different class.

Registrants can apply to another class before their Emergency Class registration expires, to minimize interruption in their registration. Learn more about our other classes of registration.

Terms, Conditions and Limitations

Every Emergency Class certificate of registration is subject to the following terms, conditions and limitations.

As an Emergency Class registrant, you must:

  • be supervised by a CNO registrant who is:
    • an NP, RN or RPN if you are an RPN
    • an NP or RN if you are an RN
    • an NP if you are an NP
  • identify yourself as an Emergency Class registrant at all times when providing nursing services
  • not perform a controlled or authorized act, unless the act is ordered by a Registered Nurse in the General Class or a person authorized to do the procedure under section 5(1)(b) of the Nursing Act, 1991
  • not supervise, monitor or direct the performance of a controlled act or authorized act or the practice of another registrant in any class
  • not delegate or accept the delegation of a controlled or authorized act from another registrant or any other person
  • be restricted to the use of the following title:
    • if you hold an Emergency Class certificate of registration as a registered nurse, “Registered Nurse (Emergency)" or
    • if you hold an Emergency Class certificate of registration as a registered practical nurse, “Registered Practical Nurse (Emergency)”

Professional liability protection

You must maintain professional liability protection in accordance with the requirements, if any, set out in the by-laws.

At the request of the Registrar and CEO, you must provide evidence satisfactory to the Registrar and CEO, and in the form and manner requested by the Registrar and CEO, that you maintain this protection in accordance with the requirements, if any, set out in CNO's by-laws.