CPNRE Exam Requirements

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Hey all,

I am an international student and just got the offer for practical nursing program May 2018.

I just want to know that anyone here (as an international student) is taking or took the exam before? Because I saw the information on the ONA website, I am so confused whether international student can take the exam or not?

Thanks.

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ONA is the Ontario Nurses Association and is the nursing union for registered nurses in Ontario, it has nothing to do with international students taking the practical exam. Did you mean CNO? The College of Nurses of Ontario is the regulatory body for Ontario nurses. International students who complete an Ontario nursing program can qualify to write the practical exam, but if you look at the CNO's registration requirements you will see that citizenship, or permanent resident or work permit authorizing you to practise nursing in Ontario is required to become licensed. There is a surplus of local, qualified new grads in Ontario who are struggling to find work and employers cannot justify offering a job to someone who requires a work visa. Have you been accepted into to a practical nursing program? If so, which school?

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Yes! I have been accepted into Durham College for practical nursing May 2018.

I mean CNO, sorry for the confusion. To my understand, so international student can take the exam and become a RPN, however, if they want to work in Canada, they need to apply for the work permit?

Clarify me, if I made any mistakes. Thanks

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

If the college/university meets requirements you should get a permit allowing you to work for same duration as course. Example if course is 2 years then you get a post graduate permit. You need a employer willing to go the work permit route.

Suggest reading the student section on the CIC website

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Yes! I have been accepted into Durham College for practical nursing May 2018.

I mean CNO, sorry for the confusion. To my understand, so international student can take the exam and become a RPN, however, if they want to work in Canada, they need to apply for the work permit?

Clarify me, if I made any mistakes. Thanks

You won't be granted registration in Ontario unless you meet all of CNO's registration requirements.It is unlikely that you will meet the work permit requirement because the Ontario nursing job market is not a shortage market, it is a surplus market. There is no legal way an employer can justify hiring someone who requires a work permit when there are hundreds of local qualified RPNs applying for every vacant job.

Suggest you look on other provincial regulatory body websites and see what their registration requirements are before you commit to education in Ontario.

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Yes, I understand! Thank you so much. I just want to make sure whether I can take the exam after I completed the program and get the RPN. Therefore, I can get the post graduate permit to work.

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So for your point of view, if you are an international student, you graduated from the practical nursing program, you cannot become RPN and work in Ontario?

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You won't be granted registration in Ontario unless you meet all of CNO's registration requirements.It is unlikely that you will meet the work permit requirement because the Ontario nursing job market is not a shortage market, it is a surplus market. There is no legal way an employer can justify hiring someone who requires a work permit when there are hundreds of local qualified RPNs applying for every vacant job.

Suggest you look on other provincial regulatory body websites and see what their registration requirements are before you commit to education in Ontario.

So for your point of view, if you are an international student, you graduated from the practical nursing program, you cannot become RPN and work in Ontario?

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If the college/university meets requirements you should get a permit allowing you to work for same duration as course. Example if course is 2 years then you get a post graduate permit. You need a employer willing to go the work permit route.

Suggest reading the student section on the CIC website

Yes, I understand! Thank you so much. I just want to make sure whether I can take the exam after I completed the program and get the RPN. Therefore, I can get the post graduate permit to work.

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In my opinion, it is unlikely that you will become employed or registered in Ontario post graduation. I formed this opinion from talking to RPNs and RNs who are currently looking for work, as well as from talking to HR staff and from watching the surplus/shortage nursing job cycles over my many years working as a nurse.

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In my opinion, it is unlikely that you will become employed or registered in Ontario post graduation. I formed this opinion from talking to RPNs and RNs who are currently looking for work, as well as from talking to HR staff and from watching the surplus/shortage nursing job cycles over my many years working as a nurse.

My Fri is a RN and graduated from MAC, and she is working as a nurse. She is an international student too. that is why I am so confused.

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When did she graduate and what city/town was she hired? You are planning to go to school at Durham in Oshawa, do you know any recent grads who have been hired in the Durham region? or in Toronto or the GTA? I know recent grads from these aeas, who are licensed and they do not require a work permit, they have health care experience, but they have not gotten jobs.

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