Nursing for IEN: Substantially Equivalent Pathway

This information is applicable to you if you are an internationally educated nurse (IEN) not registered to practice in Ontario.

IENs may require competency gap nursing education and/or evidence of safe nursing practice to be eligible to be registered by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

If you are an IEN seeking to become registered in the Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) class or Registered Nurse (RN) class, Continuing Education at George Brown College can help you meet safe practice, language fluency, and education/competency gap requirements.
This Substantially Equivalent Pathway gives an IEN with RN competency gaps the opportunity to become registered as an RN general class but with no BScN credential. If you want to pursue the BScN credential, you must apply to a university. (Acceptance criteria to university is determined by the university.)

For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Notes

Nursing at George Brown College emphasizes holistic care, cultural diversity/sensitivity, critical thinking, and reflective practice. Courses take a patient-focused, family-centred, and interprofessional approach and are offered in a flexible format: they may be offered on weekends or during the evening and may be available through in-class, online, or blended and hybrid deliveries. Current research, adult learning principles, social justice, best practices, and lived experience provide the foundation for learning. For more information about nursing in Ontario, visit the CNO's Become a Nurse web page.

Intake Date(s)

All letters of acceptance indicate the first term in which courses can be taken. (Most courses are offered every term.)

Admission Requirement(s)

You must secure formal admission (see How To Apply) before you can register for courses. Admission will only be considered if you meet the following requirements:

You must be an IEN with a College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) application file number.
If you are required to complete a clinical placement in Ontario, you must meet the relevant Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada requirements.

How to Apply

You must complete the Nursing for IENs application form. You will receive an email response to your application within 10 business days (excluding college closures) of the day we receive your application. If you receive a positive response, you will receive a formal letter of acceptance. The email will also contain important information regarding your program and your next steps.

Completion Details

Your letter of acceptance will include an academic guide – developed specifically for you based on your CNO requirements – that contains the list of courses you are recommended to complete. (The timeline for completing your courses is individualized based on your specific needs and is between you and the CNO.) Completion order is only limited by course prerequisites. Use the course links below to register for the courses listed on your academic guide. In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check to be eligible for any practice placements.

Courses (Links for registration as per academic guide)

Clinical Placements (Links for registration as per academic guide)

NURS 9223
Clinical Preceptorship – SEP Off Campus

Disclaimer: George Brown College reserves the right to add or delete programs and/or courses and to change campus locations and/or clinical placement sites depending on enrollment numbers and/or the availability of sites. Clinical placement site assignment is entirely within the discretion of the college and is based on availability. George Brown College also reserves the right to alter program requirements due to legislative changes and/or changes in the requirements of clinical placement providers or the CNO.

Disclaimer: Registered status is awarded by the CNO. The information provided here does not represent the extent of the requirements for registered status. The requirements are set by the CNO, not George Brown College, so you must follow the process listed on the CNO's website and meet the requirements applicable to you to achieve registered status. The CNO's policies are subject to change without notice, and George Brown College is not responsible for any information errors or inaccuracies that result from a change in the CNO's policy.

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