Canadian Registration Requirements

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Aug 14, 2012

Those requirements are not new and they're not limited to IENs. EVERYone who applies for nursing registration in Canada has to meet those requirements and always have. Virtually all health care employers in the country will require a Canadian criminal records check so that documentation will serve 2 purposes - one for the college and one for the employer. The "evidence of safe nursing practice" part is prorated because obviously a new grad cannot provide 5 years of any kind of evidence. Nurses who have been registered fewer than 5 years are only required to provide proof for the time they've actually been practicing. The method the colleges choose for demonstrating this is the number of practice hours a nurse has performed in those preceding years. Each year when we renew our registration we report our nursing practice hours on our applications. These hours must be hours actually worked, not including vacations, sick time or other leaves of absence. In Alberta the minimum is 1125 hours in the preceding 5 years OR successful completion of a basic nursing education program acceptable to the Registrar OR successful completion of a refresher program acceptable to the provincial council.

missysg · Aug 15, 2012

Those requirements are not new and they're not limited to IENs. EVERYone who applies for nursing registration in Canada has to meet those requirements and always have. Virtually all health care employers in the country will require a Canadian criminal records check so that documentation will serve 2 purposes - one for the college and one for the employer. The "evidence of safe nursing practice" part is prorated because obviously a new grad cannot provide 5 years of any kind of evidence. Nurses who have been registered fewer than 5 years are only required to provide proof for the time they've actually been practicing. The method the colleges choose for demonstrating this is the number of practice hours a nurse has performed in those preceding years. Each year when we renew our registration we report our nursing practice hours on our applications. These hours must be hours actually worked, not including vacations, sick time or other leaves of absence. In Alberta the minimum is 1125 hours in the preceding 5 years OR successful completion of a basic nursing education program acceptable to the Registrar OR successful completion of a refresher program acceptable to the provincial council.

Thanks for the info Janfrn. How to get Criminal records check done? I checked cpic online. I could not find any phone numbers to contact. So, I sent them an email to the email id provided. No reply. I am sure there must be some application form to get criminal records. Don't know where and how to approach.

Not sure if I can ask questions related to this here although it is somewhat related (required) to Registration. Please ignore me if we are not supposed to talk about this.

Fiona59 · Aug 15, 2012

You apply for a criminal records check at your local police station or RCMP Detachment. Last time I had one done it cot $25. It's usually not don on the spot. You go back in a couple of days to pick it up.

Confused Person · Sep 21, 2012

I,ve recieved a letter from CNO today.telling me that since i submit my ducuments to CNO 3 years ago, i'm not allowed to write CRNE test on Feb 2013. Because registration requirements from January 1, 2013 will be changeing and by new directive i will not be eligible to write the test at that time since safe nursing practice during the preceding years will be changed from 5 to 3. As IEN i am not practicing as nurse for last three and half years. my question if CNO could change the registration requirements unilaterally without giving the applicants an addvanced notice. registration time to write the CNRE exam on October 2012 is already past and there is not any CRNE exam till Feb 2013.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 21, 2012

CNO is governed by the Health Professions Act and is a self regulating professional organization.They can pretty much do whatever they please within the legislation. That includes changing criteria. They are accountable to the government, the public and their members but not to people who are not members. 3 years is a long time to sit on your application without at least writing the exam. If you haven't worked as a nurse in 3 1/2 years you're probably going to need at least a refresher.

missysg · Oct 5, 2012

Also the applicants have to note that under the new regulation, we must meet all of the requirements for registration within two years from the day we file the application with CNO. Applicants who do not meet this deadline will need to reapply if they wish to continue seeking registration. For my case, it already took 16 months for the verification of certs, employment, etc. Within the remaining 6 months, it is possible to sit for CRNE only once.

Maria2013 · Mar 30, 2013

I,ve recieved a letter from CNO today.telling me that since i submit my ducuments to CNO 3 years ago, i'm not allowed to write CRNE test on Feb 2013. Because registration requirements from January 1, 2013 will be changeing and by new directive i will not be eligible to write the test at that time since safe nursing practice during the preceding years will be changed from 5 to 3. As IEN i am not practicing as nurse for last three and half years. my question if CNO could change the registration requirements unilaterally without giving the applicants an addvanced notice. registration time to write the CNRE exam on October 2012 is already past and there is not any CRNE exam till Feb 2013.

Hi, Confuesed have a same situation.

Maria2013 · Mar 30, 2013

Hi , Confused Person, did u receive any direction fron CNO?