The Ontario government has approved updated education requirements for nursing registration. The changes, which will take effect on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, will enhance the way CNO registers applicants, and provide supports for internationally educated applicants to become registered in a timely way.
The new education requirement offers an applicant pathway that supports Ontario’s growing health care needs, while ensuring nurses have the knowledge, skill and judgment to practice safely.
As part of CNO’s registration process, applicants to Ontario must show evidence of completing a nursing program designed to prepare them for becoming an RN or RPN. CNO assesses all applicants’ nursing education to ensure they hold the required credentials.
In April, CNO will accept relevant nursing education from any jurisdiction (Ontario, Canada or international), if it meets the regulation’s requirements.
“These changes are designed carefully to maintain the highest standards of patient safety,” said Silvie Crawford, RN, CNO’s Registrar/Executive Director and CEO. “They reflect CNO’s commitment to ensuring application processes are fair and inclusive, and contribute to supporting safe nursing care in Ontario.”
Benefits, support for IENs
The changes are particularly significant for internationally educated applicants, since it means many will now meet the education requirement based on their validated foundational nursing education.
Also coming in April is a new requirement to support applicants’ successful integration into the Canadian health care system. Called Transition to Practice (TTP), it covers 31 critical safety competencies to ensure applicants are aware of their accountabilities that are crucial to patient safety as they enter practice in Ontario.
The TTP requirement is another way CNO prepares and supports nurses to provide safe care. CNO offers many resources for nurses including webinars on relevant topics, and “Ask Practice” questions and answers on cno.org. Nurses with questions about a practice activity or scope of practice can contact CNO’s Practice Support at any time. As well, TTP is a companion to another registration requirement, the jurisprudence exam.
CNO developed the TTP requirement by examining common challenges new nurses face in practice settings. These include adjusting to the level of autonomy expected in the practice setting and understanding the patient’s right to make informed decisions about their treatments.
“Nursing accountabilities can vary across jurisdictions. The TTP requirement helps bridge the gap in nursing practices and supports a nurse’s integration into the Ontario practice setting,” Crawford said.
The new requirement applies to all nursing applicants. Many will meet the requirement through their already existing education or registration. Internationally educated applicants will meet the requirement by completing TTP.
Through CNO’s work modernizing applicant assessment processes, we understand the challenges IENs face in the practice setting when they start practice in Ontario. The new requirement supports this transition, focusing on competencies and patient safety. The TTP requirement will benefit internationally educated nurses because it supports safe practice and offers a smoother transition to nursing in Ontario.
“Meeting this requirement supports aspiring nurses in their practice, while upholding CNO’s commitment to public safety. It will equip applicants with the specialized knowledge they need to ensure they understand the responsibilities and expectations of nursing within Ontario’s unique health care environment,” added Crawford. “Applicants showing the needed nursing knowledge, skill and judgment to practice safely will contribute to Ontario’s health care system and enrich our workforce.”
See more about the education requirement and the Transition to Practice requirement.