The Registered Nurses Canadian Competency Assessment Program (RNCCAP) is an evaluation that enables you to demonstrate the nursing knowledge, skill and judgment you obtained from your nursing education and experience through an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

The RNCCAP is offered both in-person (Toronto) and virtually, depending on the date. Further information about the RNCCAP format can be found on the Touchstone website.

You must be referred by CNO. If you do not meet the nursing education requirement based on an assessment of your nursing education, CNO will send your name and email contact information to Touchstone Institute. Touchstone will contact you by email about registering for an upcoming session.

If you are applying to become an RPN, and CNO informs you that your nursing education does not meet Substantial Equivalence you will be given the option to complete a  Competency Assessment Supplement.

If you are applying to become an NP, and CNO finds gaps in your nursing education and experience, you will be given the option to complete a Competency Assessment Supplement.

No. The RNCCAP is available in English only. If you apply to CNO and would like to complete an alternative nursing education equivalency assessment in French, contact CNO in writing. Please note that there is a fee for this evaluation option.

You will find the most recent fee information on Touchstone's website. This is separate from other application and registration fees CNO requires.

No. You can complete the Education Pathway instead of the RNCCAP, to meet the Nursing Education requirement. You can choose the option that best suits your needs.

It is important to be prepared to take the RNCCAP. If you arrive at Touchstone on the day of your assessment, and you feel you are not able to complete any part of the RNCCAP for any reason, do not begin the RNCCAP. Before the test starts, tell a Touchstone examiner that you are not able to participate and contact CNO for further instructions. If you withdraw before starting any part of the evaluation, you will be permitted to reschedule at another date.

If you start the evaluation but are unable to continue, tell a Touchstone examiner. They will document your reasons for withdrawing and send this information to CNO.

You may request a Letter of Participation from Touchstone Institute.

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is an assessment that allows applicants to demonstrate their nursing knowledge, skill and judgment in a simulated health care setting.

During the OSCE, applicants rotate between stations, interacting with patient-actors who present with different health issues. Please refer to Touchstone’s resources and sample OSCE scenarios.

An OSCE allows applicants to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and judgment in a setting that is as close as possible to real-life nursing experiences they would encounter in Ontario.

The OSCE is based on Entry-to-Practice Competencies for Registered Nurses, which includes all the competencies that a practicing Canadian nurse is expected to possess. Please refer to Touchstone Institute’s website under Exam Format to learn more about the content and blueprint.

It is important to ensure you are ready to take the evaluation. Touchstone Institute has resources available to help you prepare for the RNCCAP.

The RNCCAP will assess many areas of your foundational knowledge including the sciences and humanities, as well as your ability to communicate.

Communication is a key part of the OSCE. This includes:

• reading charts or notes related to health issues
• participating in a conversation with a patient or another health professional
• completing a health assessment to take a history
• documenting care provided
• discussing the specifics of a health scenario

Your ability to complete the evaluation can be affected by challenges in communicating effectively in English. You should be confident that you can read, write, listen and speak English at a level that allows you to practice nursing safely in Ontario.

To help you prepare, you can also:

• review Entry-to-Practice Competencies for Registered Nurses
• review CNO’s practice standards and guidelines
• review current nursing textbooks about nursing practice in Ontario

Touchstone will provide CNO with your examinee report approximately eight weeks after your RNCCAP. Touchstone assigns one of three achievement levels to each assessment category as follows: Demonstrated, Partially demonstrated and Not Demonstrated.

If you achieve an overall score of 3.5 or higher (out of five) on the RNCCAP you will meet the Nursing Education requirement.

If your overall score is less than 3.5, CNO will direct you to take the Education Pathway to meet the Nursing Education requirement.

You must contact Touchstone Institute if you have any questions about your RNCCAP results.

• Registered Nurses of Canada Competency Assessment Program (RNCCAP)
• Exam Details
• RNCCAP Participant Guide
• Entry-to-Practice Competencies for RNs