ÑÕÉäÍ̾« is now offering new, tuition-free competency upgrade courses for Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) who want to qualify as Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) and Registered Nurses (RN) in Ontario. All theory courses will be delivered asynchronously, online in partnership with OntarioLearn.
These courses have been funded through the Ontario government’s Nursing Program Transformation in Ontario’s Colleges initiative and are designed to offer flexible study options for working IENs.
These courses are for IENs who have had their education assessed by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and have been informed in writing of the need for additional education. The letter provided by the CNO will outline the specific competencies that need to be addressed. The courses have been designed to address specific competencies and provide an efficient path towards meeting the CNO’s Education Requirement.
If you require additional education, you should review your Competency Assessment Form to know what learning needs you have outstanding. Then, you should review the list of courses below to identify which ones match your learning needs. Unless otherwise specified, the courses are available online and can be completed asynchronously. This means that you can take the courses at your own pace while meeting the due dates for assignments.
IEN Competency Upgrade Courses
Available Soon
- Healing and Episodic Health Challenges
- Health and Transitions
- Relational Practice
- Pre-clinical Readiness
- Nursing Skills Lab
- Note: this course may require in-person lab time
- Clinical Experience
- Note: this is not an online course. On-site participation is required
- Preceptorship
- Note: this is not an online course. On-site participation is required
, including language proficiency requirements.
Who Can Apply?
You are eligible if you meet ALL the following criteria, including:
- You are an Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN)
- You have proof of one of the following:
- Canadian citizenship status; or
- Canadian permanent resident status; or
- Appropriate authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) that permits you to engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario.
- You have a letter from CNO containing the results of your education assessment and the additional education you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Am I eligible for funding to cover the tuition cost for a course?
IENs who meet the above criteria are eligible for a tuition award to cover the full tuition cost for these Nursing Transformation competency upgrade courses. Eligible students will also receive a stipend of up to $400 per course to help them with the costs of books and other supplies.
Note: the stipend is subject to a maximum of $2,000 per student. These IEN supports are made possible through funding by the Ontario government. When registering for a course, we will let you know how to access the tuition award and the supplies stipend.
- How do I register for a course?
Once you have identified which courses match your learning needs, please complete the form below. Your form will be sent to the ÑÕÉäÍ̾« team in Continuing Education to determine your eligibility. Once approved, our Continuing Education department will support you in getting your registration processed.
- Will I receive a credential for completing one of these courses?
You will have access to your academic records from ÑÕÉäÍ̾« as evidence of successful completion, depending upon your specific CNO registration requirements. No credential is required, needed or supplied for this program.
- How much time will I need to spend on the courses each week?
This will depend on each learner. Most courses are an average of 42 to 60 hours over 14 weeks, plus assignments, studying and assessments.
- Are online courses self-paced and will I have to be online at specific times?
Every course will have a schedule to follow with specific start and end dates. As the courses are available 24/7 and course schedules have week to week timelines, coursework may be completed at any time within the week.
- 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.
- Are the courses available in French?
The IEN Nursing Transformation courses will be available in French this winter. Stay tuned to this page for information about course offerings if you are seeking French programming.