NNAS application
Start the credential file first so schools, employers and nursing regulators have time to send official documents.
PrepBoard supportCNO | College of Nurses of Ontario
Nursing Registration in Ontario for Internationally Educated Nurses
Ontario IENs complete credential assessment, meet CNO registration requirements, pass the jurisprudence exam and NCLEX-RN, then pay registration fees.
CAD ~900 (US$650)NNAS feeAll fees are indicative and should be verified.
CAD 489 applicationCollege fee
10-14 monthsAvg. timeline
IELTS Academic or General 7.0 overall; 6.5 Reading/Writing, 7.0 Listening/SpeakingIELTS req.
01Registration process
The Ontario filing path, in the order that protects your timeline.
Treat each step as a checkpoint. Some files move faster, but most delays happen when a document, language score or regulator-specific form is started too late.
IELTS/CELBAN score
Meet the province's language standard: IELTS Academic or General 7.0 overall; 6.5 Reading/Writing, 7.0 Listening/Speaking.
PrepBoard supportProvincial college application
Submit the provincial application through CNO, then watch for regulator-specific forms, fee requests and document deadlines.
Open official pageJurisprudence exam
CNO requires a separate online jurisprudence exam for General Class RN applicants.
Open official pageNCLEX-RN
Pass the NCLEX-RN after CNO confirms you are eligible or verifies an accepted prior pass.
PrepBoard supportRegistration granted
After CNO confirms all requirements are met, pay final registration or permit fees and wait for your practising status before working as an RN.
Open official page02Immigration timing
Run registration and immigration in parallel, with one careful boundary.
PrepBoard can help you map timing and documents, but formal immigration advice belongs with an authorized representative. Use this as a planning layer before you commit fees.
Provincial stream
OINP Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker - healthcare-targeted draws
Parallel planningRecommended
Job offerUsually required
Keep the registration file moving while you watch offer, licensing and language milestones. A nomination can help your settlement plan, but it cannot replace the regulator's permission to practise.
03Common mistakes
The Ontario pitfalls that quietly cost the most time.
Booking IELTS General for immigration and assuming the timing automatically satisfies CNO.
Forgetting the CNO jurisprudence exam until the end of the file.
Budgeting only for NNAS and missing CNO application, exam and registration fees.
04Questions
Ontario registration FAQ.
How long does nursing registration take in Ontario?
Most PrepBoard planning files use 10-14 months as the working timeline for Ontario. Complex files, missing documents, competence assessment, bridging education or immigration timing can extend that.
Does CNO accept CELBAN?
Yes. CNO accepts CELBAN when the required component scores are met and the results remain valid for registration.
Do I need NCLEX-RN for Ontario?
Yes. RN applicants normally need NCLEX-RN or accepted verification of a prior pass before registration can be granted in Ontario.
Is there a jurisprudence exam in Ontario?
Yes. CNO requires a separate online jurisprudence exam for General Class RN applicants.
Can I run immigration in parallel with Ontario registration?
Ontario can usually be planned alongside immigration research. The relevant route to watch is OINP Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker - healthcare-targeted draws; a qualifying job offer is usually central to that route.
PrepBoard walks you through Ontario registration step by step.
PrepBoard walks you through Ontario registration step by step, from the first credential file to the final regulator checklist.
Last verified May 8, 2026 · Source: College of Nurses of Ontario