Effective July 1, 2026, CNO is changing the regulatory framework for Nurse Practitioners (NPs).

This change is being made in alignment with a national initiative led by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR), which aims to streamline NP regulation across Canadian provinces and territories.

One of the most significant changes in Ontario is the removal of population-specific registration certification. Historically, NPs were issued certificates based on the population they were authorized to treat, such as Adult, Pediatric, or Primary Health Care. Under the new framework, these specific distinctions will no longer appear on NP certificates of registration and NPs will be registered under a single classification. 

As a result of this change, NPs will have greater flexibility to deliver accessible services across patient populations and practice settings. They will also have more flexibility to develop their practice and acquire new competencies throughout their careers. This evolution supports safe, high‑quality care for the public and aligns with the reality of NP practice today, where patient health needs are complex and professional growth is ongoing.

Information for current NPs

Nurses currently registered in Ontario with Primary Health Care, Adult or Pediatric certificates will automatically become registered under the new single classification on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. There is nothing you need to apply for or complete to move to the new classification.

No additional education, examinations or training will be required, and you can continue to work with current patients and within your current scope of practice. 

The nursing practice accountabilities in the Nurse Practitioner practice standard and other practice guidelines have not changed. The professional expectations that guide NP practice today will continue to apply.

Quality Assurance requirements are also unchanged. NPs will continue to meet the same QA requirements, including self‑assessment, learning plans, and participation in QA Assessment when selected, just as you do now.

For more information about how the transition to a single classification of NPs will impact NPs, read our FAQs.

New annual attestation

As part of the annual renewal process, NPs will be required to complete a new attestation confirming that they are practicing within their legislative scope of practice, the Code of Conduct, all other practice standards, and their relevant education and competence (knowledge, skills and judgment).

This attestation reinforces the ongoing expectation that NPs engage in reflective practice, assess their learning needs and ensure they possess the knowledge, skills and judgment necessary for the populations they serve.

Information for applicants

For current NP applicants, the transition to a single classification will happen automatically on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — there is nothing you need to apply for or complete to move to the new classification. If you have an open application with CNO for registration as an NP, your application will remain open and you should continue to work towards completing your registration requirements as usual.

If you meet all requirements for registration any time on or after July 1, 2026, we will register you under the new single classification. Under the new classification, NPs should continue to practice within their individual knowledge, skill and judgment and ensure they have the competence required to provide safe care.

If you meet all requirements for registration prior to July 1, 2026, then we will register you under the current framework (with a population-specific certificate) and you will automatically be registered under the new single classification on July 1, 2026.

If you have questions about your application status or how this change will impact you, please contact us. We are here to support you through the registration process.

For more information about how the transition to a single classification of NPs will impact NP applicants, read our FAQs.

A new national exam for NP applicants

To become registered with CNO as an NP, applicants must meet several registration requirements, including the successful completion of a CNO Council-approved registration exam. Registration exams ensure that new NPs entering practice, have the foundational knowledge, skill and judgment to provide safe, competent care. As of July 1, 2026, the registration exam for NP applicants is the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam (CNPLE). 

The CNPLE is a national, entry-level exam that will assess NP applicants based on the practice analysis and revised entry-level competencies that educate across patient populations and practice settings. Overall, the CNPLE is designed to provide a consistent, Canadian‑based assessment of entry‑level NP competence, aligned with the national regulatory framework.

Exam writing windows

To support NP candidates to write the exam in a timely manner, the CNPLE is available four times per year (an increase from the current national CNPE: F/AA exam, which has two windows). The exam windows will be in February, May, June and September of each year. Applicants can write the CNPLE during these exam windows at in-person test centres around the province. 

In person:

All booking windows will open at 9:00 am EST on their opening day and will close at 11:59 pm EST on their closing day.

To ensure the exam is accessible to all candidates, the CNPLE will be available in both English and French. Accommodations will be available if needed.

If you need help booking your exam, please contact the exam provider at testingsupport@meazurelearning.com.

Preparing to write the exam

The following resources are available to support you as you prepare to write the CNPLE: 

Gradually retiring population-specific exams 

As the CNPLE comes into effect, previous Council-approved exams for registration in a population-specific certificate like NP-Adult, NP-Pediatrics and NP-Primary Health Care will no longer be needed, given these exams no longer align with the move to a single classification of NP. 

Current NP applicants who have successfully completed an NP-Adult, or NP-Primary Health Care education program but have yet to complete the corresponding exam will have the opportunity to write the exam until the end dates.

This approach is part of CNO’s commitment to ensure our registration processes are fair. It’s also in keeping with fairness expectations set out in legislation governing health regulators. 

Exams to be phased out include:

  • The Canadian NP Exam: Family/All Ages (CNPE) will be end dated on July 1, 2026, at the same time the CNPLE comes into effect.
  • The American Family/All Ages NP exams will be end dated on January 1, 2027.
  • The American Adult‑Gerontology NP exams will also be end dated on January 1, 2027.

These phase‑out dates are intended to support a clear, planned transition to a single, national exam, while giving students and applicants time to complete their pathways.

Project updates:

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  • April 13, 2026: CNO held a virtual webinar to share more information about the transition to the single classification of NP. Watch a recording of the webinar here.
  • March 2026: Council voted to retire previous CNO-approved population-specific registration exams for NPs. On July 1, 2026, the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam becomes the new national NP registration exam.
  • March 2026: Council reviewed feedback from the consultation about the draft CNO by-law amendments (re: making changes to NP information on CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse, and reallocating NP speciality certificate fees and merging with registration and reinstatement fees.) Council approved these by-law changes.
  • Dec. 11, 2025: CNO invited nurses and system partners to participate in a 60-day consultation and provide feedback about the draft CNO by-law amendments to support a single NP class. This consultation closed on February 9, 2026.
  • Dec. 11, 2025: Council approved the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Exam as the new national NP registration exam, which will come into effect on July 1, 2026
  • Dec. 2025: The Ontario government approved NP regulation amendments under Ontario Regulation 275/94 with an in-effect date of July 1, 2026.
  • March 19, 2025: Council approved the proposed NP regulation amendments for submission to the Ministry of Health.
  • Feb. 11, 2025: The Canadian Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure Exam blueprint was made available (in English and French). This blueprint builds on work completed by the CCRNR and nursing regulators across Canada. The NP exam blueprint was a necessary step to develop the Canadian NP Licensure Exam and is part of the new national NP regulatory model.
  • Sept. 26, 2024: System partners were invited to participate in a 60-day consultation and provide feedback about the draft NP regulation amendments.
  • Sept. 25, 2024: CNO's Council approved proposed NP regulation amendments for a 60-day public consultation, seeking feedback from registrants and system partners.
  • Sept. 5, 2024: CNO held a virtual Town Hall where we discussed ongoing plans for moving toward a single classification of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in Ontario, in keeping with the National Nurse Practitioner Regulation Framework Implementation Plan Project. You can watch the recording of the Town Hall here.
  • Sept. 1, 2024: Ontario universities have ramped down NP entry-level specialty education programs and begun using the revised national NP entry-level competencies (ELCs) — which were endorsed by Council in December 2022 — in nurse practitioner education programs to educate NPs across patient populations and practice settings.

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