Language Proficiency: Other Types of Evidence For Ontario (CNO)
If you are not able to demonstrate language proficiency through your nursing program, registration status, or your results on a language proficiency test, then the following types of evidence may also be considered by the College.
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
If you were asked by the College to complete additional education to meet the evidence of practice requirement for registration, then you may also present that additional education as evidence of your language proficiency.
The additional education must include:
a minimum 200 hours of clinical instruction in the program in English or French
evidence the primary language used for theory and clinical instruction was English or French, and that the primary language of the educational institution was English or French
evidence that theory instruction and clinical instruction were not completed through PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) exclusively and
evidence the program was not exclusively an online or distance education program exclusively.
COMPLETION OF ANOTHER NURSING OR NON-NURSING PROGRAM
The College will consider successful completion of another nursing or non-nursing program at a college or university as evidence of language proficiency if:
theory instruction and clinical/practicum/internship placement was provided in English or French
the primary language of the educational institution was English or French
you completed a minimum 200 hours in that clinical, practicum, or internship placement in English or French
the program was not exclusively an online or distance education program and
theory instruction and clinical/practicum/internship placement instruction was not delivered exclusively through PLAR.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Applicants who taught courses in nursing or another health profession at the college or university level can use their teaching experience as evidence of language proficiency if:
the profession was regulated in the jurisdiction in which the post-secondary institution was located at the time you taught
the primary language used by you for that teaching was in English or French
the primary language used for theory and clinical instruction was English or French, and the primary language of the institution was English or French
the course(s) taught by you were not delivered online or through distance education exclusively.
Note the theory course cannot be an independent reading, research, or thesis course where you taught students individually (i.e., through a one-on-one supervisory role). If this is the case, then you must provide evidence of having taught other seminar or lecture courses, or provide some other evidence of language proficiency, so that all areas of language (reading, writing, listening, speaking) can be assessed adequately.
REVIEW BY THE REGISTRATION COMMITTEE
Applicants also have the option to provide evidence of language proficiency that doesn’t fall under any of the categories listed above. Examples might include:
employment or volunteering as a nurse
employment or volunteering in a non-nursing role, such as a personal support worker
employment as a manager or an employee in a service environment, such as a store or restaurant.
If you choose to provide evidence of language proficiency that does not fall under one of the options outlined above (additional education, completion of another program, teaching experience), then you will have to submit a written request to the College for the Registration Committee to review your application. You can also submit a written request to the College asking that the Committee consider an extension of the two-year timeframe if your evidence falls outside the two-year timeframe.
