Course Offerings for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs)
Introduction
This webpage provides information about courses offered by Ontario colleges for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) who want to qualify as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) in Ontario. These courses, funded by the Ontario government’s Nursing Program Transformation in Ontario’s Colleges initiative, are designed to be a flexible option for IENs to meet the CNO’s new education requirements (effective April 1, 2025).
Individuals who successfully complete the CNO-approved Nursing Transformation Transition to Practice for Nurses (TTPN) course will have met the new transition to practice requirement designed to ensure that individuals entering the nursing profession in Ontario are familiar with competencies specific to the Canadian context.
The TTPN course is fully online and can be completed at your own pace while meeting assignment deadlines. For the list of colleges offering the course and to register, please click this link. For the French version of the course, please click this link.
For more information regarding the transition to practice requirement, please visit the CNO’s website: https://cno.org/become-a-nurse/registration-requirements/transition-to-practice.
Additional Education Requirements for IENs
Some IENs may be required to complete additional nursing education and/or evidence of practice to meet the eligibility criteria for registration with the CNO. If you have been directed by the CNO to pursue further education, the following courses may help you meet requirements related to safe practice, language fluency, and education equivalency. These courses are fully online and can be completed at your own pace while meeting assignment deadlines.
For a list of colleges offering each course and to register, please click the links corresponding to the course titles below:
- Transition to Practice for Nurses
- Health Assessment Through the Life Span
- Clinical Decision Making
Please note that students requiring additional education will also be required to complete a 400-hour clinical preceptorship. This is an in-person placement arranged by your registering college and delivered in partnership with a health-care organization. The preceptorship provides an opportunity to integrate and apply your learning in a supervised clinical setting.
If you need help locating a participating college near you, please consult this map.
Will I receive a credential for completing one of these courses?
You will not receive a credential upon completing these courses. Your local college will provide an academic record as evidence of successful completion, depending upon your specific CNO registration requirements.
How much time will I need to spend on the courses each week?
Please check-in with your college to find out more about the course load.
Are online courses self-paced and will I have to be online at specific times?
Every course will have a schedule to follow with a distinct start and stop date. The online courses are available 24/7 and course schedules have week to week timelines, coursework may be completed at any time within the week. Please note: there is a preceptor clinical requirement for the IEN substantially equivalent pathway which requires on-site participation which will have a defined schedule determined by your college.
Will I have access to support if I need help with my online course?
Yes. For academic questions, your course facilitator should be your first contact. Once you register for a course, you will also receive information regarding the key contacts for technical support.
Will I receive a credential for completing one of these courses?
You will require academic records from your local college as evidence of successful completion, depending upon your specific CNO registration requirements. No credential is needed for this purpose.
Are the courses available in French?
The IEN Nursing Transformation Transition to Practice for Nurses course is available in French. The French Nursing Transformation courses designed to meet the Substantially Equivalent pathway requirements will become available in Spring 2026. This website will be updated as more information becomes available.