Who is in the Non-Practising Class?
The Non-Practising Class is for registrants who want to keep their registration at times when they are not practicing nursing in Ontario.
Registrants in this class cannot practice nursing in Ontario. They also cannot present themselves as qualified to practice nursing anywhere in Ontario.
Registrants in the Non-Practising Class differ from other classes in the following ways:
- they pay a reduced annual fee
- they do not take part in CNO’s Quality Assurance Program
- they are not eligible to run for CNO Council, serve on committees, or vote in CNO elections
- they do not have to hold professional liability protection.
Registration Requirements
Registrants can join the Non-Practising Class if they are (or ever were) a registrant in the General Class or Extended Class.
All other certificates of registration automatically expire when a registrant enters the Non-Practising Class.
Registrants do not have to join the Non-Practising Class when they retire, leave the nursing profession or choose to practice outside Ontario. They may instead resign their registration in CNO.
Membership Obligations
Use of protected titles
Registrants in the Non-Practising Class can identify themselves by the following terms:
- “Registered Nurse, Non-Practising” or “RN, Non-Practising” in the case of registrants previously registered as RNs
- “Registered Practical Nurse, Non-Practising” or “RPN, Non-Practising” in the case of registrants previously registered as RPNs.
Non-Practising Class registrants can also use their title without the “Non-Practising” qualifier if they make it clear at the time they are using their title they are not qualified to practice nursing in Ontario.
Returning to practice
Registrants in the Non-Practising Class can apply for reinstatement of their previously held General Class and/or Extended Class certificate. They must meet all requirements for reinstatement.
When they apply to return to the General or Extended Class, they must:
- not be considered ineligible for reinstatement based on past conduct
- pay all fees required under CNO’s by-laws
- provide evidence of practice as an RN, RPN or NP (as applicable) within three years prior to the date of meeting all other requirements for reinstatement; CNO may extend this timeframe if it is in the interest of public safety
- complete either the RN/RPN Jurisprudence Examination or RN(EC) Jurisprudence Examination within the five years before they apply for reinstatement
- show language proficiency in either English or French (that is, be able to communicate and comprehend effectively, both orally and in writing) within two years (or a longer period of time approved by the Registrar and CEO) before they apply for reinstatement
Reporting requirements
Every Non-Practising Class registrant must tell the Registrar and CEO about any of the following:
- a finding of guilt in any jurisdiction relating to any offence
- a charge in any jurisdiction relating to any offence
- a finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity or any similar finding, in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction
- a current investigation, inquiry or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, or any similar investigation or proceeding, in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction.
Also, the registrant must provide any information requested by the Registrar and CEO under the authority of the Nursing Act, 1991, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, regulations under those acts or CNO by-laws.
Terms, conditions and limitations
Every Non-Practising Class certificate of registration is subject to the following terms, conditions and limitations.
You must not engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario.
You will not be considered in breach of this term, condition, or limitation if:
- you are engaged in continuing education or remediation directed by a CNO committee or a panel of CNO committee, approved by the Registrar and CEO or as required to obtain the reinstatement of a General or Extended class certificate of registration which you formerly held and
- you maintain professional liability protection in accordance with the requirements, if any, set out in CNO’s by-laws for a registrant holding the certificate of registration in the class for which you are seeking reinstatement.
You must not hold yourself out as a person qualified to practice in Ontario as a nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Practical Nurse, Registered Practical Nurse, or in any specialty of nursing.
You are restricted to the use of the following titles:
- if you hold a Non-Practising class certificate of registration as a registered nurse, “Registered Nurse, Non-Practising”, or “RN Non-Practising” or
- if you hold a Non-Practising class certificate of registration as a registered practical nurse, “Registered Practical Nurse, Non-Practising” or “RPN Non-Practising.”
You can also use the RN or RPN title without the “Non-Practising” qualifier so long as you make it clear, at the time you are using their title, that you are not qualified to practice nursing in Ontario.
At the request of the Registrar and CEO, you must provide information that is required pursuant to the Nursing Act, 1991, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, regulations under those Acts or CNO’s by-laws in the form and manner requested by the Registrar and CEO.