You must be able to show proficiency in either English or French to practice nursing in Ontario. This is to ensure you have the appropriate level of language skills needed to practice as a nurse.

CNO defines “Language proficiency” as the ability to communicate and comprehend effectively, both orally and in writing, in either English or French.

To meet this requirement for registration, CNO reviews your evidence to determine if you can read, write, listen and speak, in either English or French, at a level that allows you to practice nursing safely and competently. See the types of evidence CNO considers for this requirement, including accepted language proficiency tests.

You can meet the language proficiency requirement through several options, in any category described below:

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