Anyone extended Language proficiency successfully with CNO?

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Hi there,

I'm a UK nurse- born and bred, studied in the UK and spent my nursing career of 10+years there before moving to Ontario. I was given the "two years" of recognized English proficiency upon my application but given the length of time it took for the CNO to assess and put me forward for the exam, my "proficiency" expired on the 31st December 2015. I sat and passed both exams (RPN and JP) the second week of January but now need to prove my proficiency in English before I can register.

Of course the easiest way would be to suck it up and sit the Academic IELTS but I'm feeling beligerent and cross about it all. There is an option to ask for an extension for the two year period, but I'm just wondering if this has any hope of succeeding. Has anyone done this? How often does the Registration Committee meet? The only thing in my favour or maybe not is that I have left an email trail over misinformation given to me by the call centre which delayed my application. After I wrote to them and pointed this out formally, I was very quickly informed I could sit the exam. I sat the next available exam and passed. Might work in my favour but they might think blah make her do the exam!

Honestly I just want to work, I'm frustrated again by another step put in my way..

Hope someone has some helpful experience either negative or positive!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

.....and?

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On my phone and posted too soon!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Lol I wondered about the partial post

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

No advice but that does sound frustrating. Best of luck.

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Am I reading this correctly?

CNO is asking a native born, English speaker to take a language proficiency test?

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Yes because I'm just over two years out of practice. Apparently they grant two years grace of "English Proficiency" to get all components together. They had my application for 18 months before I was told I could sit the exam which was September. Applied for the next exam in January 2016 which took me past my two years.

The idea that they can find someone proficient in English and it expires is nonsensical. There are other options than an exam but a vague word of mouth has it that they are rarely successful but since that reportedly came from the CNO customer service and I don't trust much they say, I was hoping to run into someone on here with advice or experience..

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I spoke to someone at the College in NS and the English exam was waivered have you tried talking to them.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Am I reading this correctly?

CNO is asking a native born, English speaker to take a language proficiency test?

English speakers now have to prove their proficiency but taking English exam when coming PR or Citizen. For citizenship you have to go through an interview and physically prove proficiency in either English or French

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You mean the 45 minutes spent waiting for them to answer on Wednesday, and the 40 minutes yesterday. I have also emailed my case worker (Wednesday morning) without reply as yet.

I spoke to the Office of Fair Commission today who has given me another email to try and said it was totally ridiculous and that if I don't get any joy to ring them back.

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English speakers now have to prove their proficiency but taking English exam when coming PR or Citizen. For citizenship you have to go through an interview and physically prove proficiency in either English or French

i know that it's a requirement for citizenship, always has been

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
i know that it's a requirement for citizenship, always has been

I know when I applied to the NS college of RN back in 2008 I had to provide proof of English and if the person on the who hadn't waivered it I would have had to take one of the acceptable English exams. It has only been in the last couple of years that English or French speaking applicants had to provide actual proof by sitting one of the acceptable language exams. Before they could just prove it if spent more than 12 months full time education studying under one of the 2 languages.

@Bobbins.... I am sorry you are going through this and really hope that it gets sorted for you soon

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