What examinations are accepted for Registered Nurses?

National Council Licensure Examination — Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) 

The NCLEX-RN is an entry-to-practice examination for Registered Nurse (RN) applicants. It tests the competencies nurses need at the beginning of their careers. The examination is administered by Pearson Professional Assessments (formerly Pearson VUE).

Before you can become an RN in Ontario, you must successfully complete this registration exam that measures the competencies required of RNs at the beginning of their nursing career in Ontario. 

You must write the NCLEX-RN in person at a testing centre.

See "Other examinations" at the end of this page for other accepted exams.

If you passed the NCLEX-RN before you applied to CNO, you may not need to write it again. However, you must still meet all of the other requirements for registration in Ontario. Contact CNO for more information.

“Accommodation” can refer to any adjustment made to the testing conditions that helps an applicant overcome the impact of a physical or mental condition/disorder on their ability to write the exam.

Submit any requests for accommodation and supporting documents to CNO before booking your exam time with Pearson Professional Assessments. If you have requested accommodations on your application for RN registration, you will not receive your Authorization to Test until CNO reviews your accommodation documents. Visit Requesting Accommodations to learn how to submit your request.

  1. Open an application for RN registration on the Maintain your Membership portal and pay the application fee.
  2. If you are requesting exam accommodation, submit this request before you register with the Pearson Professional Assessments.
  3. CNO will send a message through the portal when you are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN.
  4. Register for your examination on Pearson Professional Assessments’ registration page.
    Note: Be sure to register on Pearson Professional Assessments using the same name you used to apply to CNO. The name you give to CNO and Pearson Professional Assessments must match the identification you present at the test centre when you arrive to write the exam. 
  5. Pay the exam registration fee to Pearson Professional Assessments when you are ready to write the examination.
  6. Pearson Professional Assessments will send your Authorization to Test (ATT). The ATT email will be sent to the email address you provided when you registered with Pearson Professional Assessments.  Note that the ATT has an expiration date. 
  7. Schedule your writing time on Pearson Professional Assessments’ NCLEX-RN sign in page. Book this as soon as you can to ensure there is space in the testing centre you want to use.
  8. Write your exam in the scheduled location at the scheduled time.
  9. After you have taken the exam, you will receive a message through the MYM portal about your test result within one week. If you do not receive your result, please contact CNO.

Visit the NCLEX Testing Locations page to see the full range of testing centres. There are both permanent and temporary testing centres where you can write the NCLEX-RN, including several locations in Ontario.

If you are outside Ontario, you can also write the NCLEX-RN in a testing location in another province or territory.

If you are outside Canada, Pearson Professional Assessments has testing centres in a number of other countries. Visit the NCLEX Testing Locations page for an updated list of locations. There may be additional fees for using international testing centres. 

If you fail the examination, you can take it again as many times as necessary. However, your application with CNO remains open for a maximum of two years. If you haven’t passed the NCLEX-RN within that time, you will need to open a new application.

Pearson Professional Assessments allows candidates to write the exam up to eight times per year. You must wait at least 45 days between each attempt. 


  • Test Plan: The NCLEX-RN test plan provides a concise summary of the content and scope of the exam. It serves as a guide for both exam development and candidate preparation.
  • Computer-Adaptive Testing: The NCLEX-RN uses computer-adaptive testing (CAT) to administer the exam. CAT is a method that merges computer technology with modern measurement theory to increase the efficiency of the exam process.
  • Practice Test: The test plan contains in-depth information regarding exam content, exam administration, item writing tips and the inclusion of clinical judgment. The test plans guide candidates preparing for the exam, inform the direction for item development and facilitate classification of exam items. Practice tests are free of charge.
  • Review CNO’s practice documents.
  • If you are not fully fluent in English or French, take an English or French language course that emphasizes both written and oral skills.
  • Consider joining a nursing peer support group. These groups can provide suggestions for preparing to write the exam.

Additional Information

Other examinations

Quebec Professional Examination (QPE) 

In 2013, CNO Council approved the professional examination for the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (also known as the Quebec Professional Examination) for registering as an RN in the General Class. You must have passed this exam within three attempts.

Canadian Registered Nurse Exam (no longer offered)

CNO Council continues to accept the CRNE for registration as an RN in the General Class if you passed it before January 2015. You must have passed this exam within three attempts.

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