Applying to Become a Nurse in Ontario? You Need Certified True Copies -NNAS, CNO, and the NCLEX
If you trained as a nurse outside of Canada and you want to practice nursing in Ontario, the road to getting your licence involves three major steps - NNAS, CNO, and the NCLEX. Each step has its own document requirements, and at almost every stage, you will need notarized copies of your documents.
Hanshah
4/5/20261 min read
Who Is This For?
This guide is for people who:
Trained as a nurse outside Canada - in India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Jamaica, Kenya, the UK, or anywhere else
Are now living in Ontario and want to register with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) so they can legally practice as a nurse here
Have been told they need to submit certified copies of their credentials but are not sure what that means or where to go
If you are already a registered nurse practicing in Ontario and just need copies for your employer or for a renewal - this guide still applies to you, but the CNO registration section is specifically for new applicants coming from another country.
What Is the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)?
The College of Nurses of Ontario is the regulatory body that governs all nurses practicing in Ontario. Before you can work as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in Ontario, you must be registered with the CNO. It does not matter how many years of experience you have or what country you trained in - without CNO registration, you cannot legally practice nursing in Ontario.
The CNO's registration process for internationally educated nurses is detailed. It involves submitting your educational credentials, proof of previous registration, language test results, and other supporting documents — most of which need to be certified.
For the most current and complete list of requirements, always check directly at cno.org before starting your application.
