Canadian · Professional Licensing
CNO Find a Nurse lookup.
Looking for a nurse in Ontario? Search CNO’s official Find a Nurse register by first or last name, workplace, or registration number. This page explains the identifier and sends you to the public register for the record itself.
Use the official register for the answer: a CNO number is an assigned identifier, not a self-checking code. This page cannot confirm a nurse’s registration or practice status; use Find a Nurse for that record.
What a CNO registration number is
A CNO registration number is an identifier assigned when a nurse is registered in Ontario. CNO’s public guidance supports searching by registration number, but the number alone does not establish current status. You'll usually find it on:
- A nurse's ID badge in a hospital or clinic
- A home-care or private-duty nursing agency's staff records
- A signed care plan, assessment, or nursing note
A number that looks plausible tells you nothing about whether the person is currently registered and in good standing — only CNO's own register can confirm that.
Find a nurse in Ontario
Search CNO’s public register by first or last name, workplace, or registration number. The College’s result is the authoritative place to review the record and any public information it provides.
Why you'd check a CNO registration number
The most common reasons: a home-care agency, employer, or family member confirming a nurse's credentials before hiring or trusting them with care, checking that a nurse practitioner is entitled to prescribe or diagnose independently, verifying no active practice restrictions, and confirming a caregiver claiming to be a nurse actually is one.
What Find a Nurse actually shows
CNO's register returns registration class (RN, RPN, or NP), the certificate of registration held (general, or one with specific terms, conditions, or limitations), and any public discipline decisions. It's the same register hospitals, agencies, and the public use to confirm a nurse is entitled to practise in Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
What does a CNO registration number look like?
It is the registration identifier used in CNO’s public register. Its appearance alone cannot tell you whether it is genuine or current.
What's the difference between an RN, an RPN, and an NP?
All three are registered with CNO, but scope of practice differs: RPNs typically care for patients with stable conditions, RNs handle more complex and unpredictable care, and NPs (nurse practitioners) can autonomously diagnose, prescribe, and order tests within their specialty.
Can I validate a CNO number without visiting the register?
No. A format check cannot confirm a nurse’s registration or practice status. Find a Nurse is the authoritative source.
What can I search for in Find a Nurse?
You can search using a nurse’s first or last name, workplace, registration number, or other available details. Use the official result to confirm the person’s registration status.
Format explainer only — not a verification tool
This page describes what a CNO registration number is and looks like. It does not check anyone's licence status, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Use the official Find a Nurse register linked above to confirm a nurse is currently registered.