waive cno ielts

How to Waive CNO English Proficiency Requirement

Do you want to waive the English proficiency requirement of CNO? All regulatory bodies require evidence to prove English proficiency by submitting a valid IELTS or CELBAN result. In Ontario, CNO can waive the English proficiency requirement as long as they will be satisfied with your documentations in proving your English communication skills. 

UPDATE (2020): CNO now require to accomplish forms for this! Learn about the new CNO Evidence of Language Proficiency Forms

Also Read:

How Does It Work?

Once you have an open application with CNO, you can start doing the following:

  1. Send a request letter to waive the English proficiency requirement. Include details on how you think you have met the English proficiency requirement already like work experiences and studies done.
  2. Wait for CNO’s response to the letter. In my case, it took six weeks to receive CNO’s response. They requested to send the following:
    1. A more detailed letter explaining why and how you think you have already met the English proficiency requirement. 
    2. Reference letters from your previous superiors or employers.
    3. Reference letters from your previous teachers if you have any kind of studies done in Canada. 
    4. Any additional documents that can be helpful for your case. 
  3. Comply with the requested requirements. Take note that all reference letters and additional documents should be mailed directly from the superiors, employers and teachers who issued them. The reference letters and documents should be sent in an envelope bearing the institution’s or company’s logo and return address. 

Tips in Complying the Requested Documents

  • Use the four elements of English communication when explaining your skills. Give a detailed explanation of your skills in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. This method makes the evidence of your skills organized and easy to identify. If possible, ask your previous employers or superiors to use this format when writing a reference letter for you. 
  • Include your Canadian work experience. Whatever field or job you had here in Canada, they will be always helpful in proving your English communication skills. Ask your previous and current Canadian employers to send certificates of employment and reference letters to CNO. A Canadian work experience will prove that you are capable of communicating in English in a professional level. 
  • Attach a copy of your old IELTS results. A valid IELTS result is required before immigrating to Canada. Include a copy in your request letter even if it’s expired or in General Training (GT) category. It will be helpful in establishing a baseline English assessment in your case. 
  • Include your Canadian studies. Any kind of studies done in Canada is always helpful even if it’s short-course or vocational only. Ask your school to send a letter confirming that you are a student in a specified period and course. If possible, ask you teacher to write a reference letter for you. 

This English Proficiency Letter Sample will give you a better idea on how you should write a letter to CNO.

What Did I Do to Waive My English Proficiency Requirement with CNO? 

In total, I provided the following documents to CNO through my previous employers.

  1. A Request Letter to waive the English test requirement
  2. A detailed letter of explanation as to why I think I have already met the English proficiency requirement
  3. A Certificate of Employment and Job Description as a Team Leader from my employer here in Montreal (Marche Goodfood Corp) 
  4. A reference letter from my previous Chief Nurse in Philippines
  5. A reference letter from the head of Infection Control Committee in Philippines for my previous position as an Infection Control Nurse. 
  6. A letter confirming that I’m a current student in Pearson Adult Career Centre. Back then I enrolled in a bridging program for nursing assistants in Quebec. 

After several months, they referred my case to the Registration Committee. According to the letter they sent, the evaluator is not satisfied with the supporting documents I sent. They asked me of any additional documents I can send to support my request. During that time, I enrolled in a bridging program for LPNs in Pearson Adult Career Centre so I just requested the school to send a letter confirming that I’m a student. 

As detailed in my CNO application timeline, CNO sent me a letter confirming that the committee approved my request to waive the English proficiency exam after three weeks. In total, it took a year for me to process this! 

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20 Comments

  1. Hi! Did your documents go through NNAS? If so, did you waive the English Proficiency on NNAS first before sending the waive letters to CNO? Please and thank you!

    1. Hi Holly! Yes my documents went through NNAS. I’m not sure if it’s still the same as the current NNAS dashboard, but back then there’s a little button in the dashboard for deferring IELTS/CELBAN requirement. Just click it and the English test will be excluded in the NNAS evaluation. After clicking there’s a disclaimer that will appear stating that your Regulatory Body (RB) will still require IELTS/CELBAN after NNAS evaluation. Also back then it only works if your registered RB is CNO.

      If you can’t find that button in your dashboard, I suggest you contact Customer Support via email or call and tell them that you would like to waive the English requirement for now and you will just deal with it during the RB evaluation of your Advisory Report from NNAS.

  2. Hi
    How can I send request letter to CNO to exclude language proficiency requirement..
    Should I send through mail or post..

  3. Hello,

    Do i have to wait for the response from CNO to ask for additional evidence for language proficiency after submitting the formal application request letter to waive language proficiency, or should i start sending all other letters without any response from CNO ; such as from my school and employer; just after sending my request letter????

    Please let me know and thank you.

    1. No you don’t have to wait. According to the new CNO English proficiency forms, after you submit the Applicant Form and the Summary of Evidence Form together to CNO by mail or fax next step would be “download the appropriate forms that employers, educators and others sources must complete to provide supporting evidence of your language proficiency. Complete your portion of each form and send the form to the appropriate source. Ask them to complete the form according to the instructions and mail it directly to CNO.”

      https://nurselist.ca/cno-english-proficiency-forms/

  4. Hi does the new update for waiving English exam ONLY APPLICABLE for those who studied for the last two years??

    1. No. The new update is applicable to all applicants. The proof or evidence you will submit to support your application to waive the English test should be RECENT e.g. Education or Work Experience you had in the last two years. Therefore, any education or work experience you had three years ago is not valid anymore as a proof or evidence for this.

      1. Hello I graduated March 2015 practical nursing here in Vancouver. Can I still use it for evidence of language proficiency? And Can I also use LPN job as safe practice?

  5. Hi! Would it help to still send a personal letter and old ielts score along with my application forms and summary?

    1. Yes there’s no harm in trying if your scores are good! With the new English Proficiency forms, you should mention and attach your old IELTS score in the Applicant form. Back then I also attached my old IELTS score in my application to waive the English test. .

  6. Hi , can i send my job references i am doing two jobs( tim horton and part time at medical clinic) to waive my language proficiency but its three year to pass out from college so i cant send my education form from college.

  7. Hi, i have started my evaluation with NNAS and waiting to receive my advisory report for RN and RPN. i would like to do an accelerated nursing program for two years but one of the requirements for this says a letter from CNO . When exactly can i request for this and do you think CNO would approve to the letter because i intend doing this program even if my RN and RPN is comparable or if is somewhat comparable, or not comparable, do you think they would agree to me doing this program? please what do you have to say

  8. hi, I have just applied for my LPN registration with CNO ,Do I have to send in the application to waive the English test immediately?. Could you please explain more on how am gonna start the application to waive. Can I get the forms on my profile.and I got a mail that I have to do jurisprudence exam.does anyone have an idea of how tough it is and do I have to sit for the exam before the CPRNE?

  9. Hi,
    I sent documents( evidence of language proficiency to CNO to waive my language proficiency for RN and my employer sent too. After 6 months long wait CNO send me one notifications that they refered my apllication to registration committee to review the documents and assess that. Do anyone know that how long it takes after that? Is anyone in same situation.?
    Getting refer application to committee means good thing or bad thing?
    Please let me know ..

  10. Hi,
    I sent documents( evidence of language proficiency to CNO to waive my language proficiency for RN and my employer sent too. After 6 months long wait CNO send me one notifications that they refered my apllication to registration committee to review the documents and assess that. Do anyone know that how long it takes after that? Is anyone in same situation.?
    Getting refer application to committee means good thing or bad thing?
    Please let me know ..

  11. Hii, my concern is i forget to add my canadian courses in my nnas application but i have got my advisory report.could you tell me how can i add my study like can i directly send documents to CNO? Because somebody has told me it is good if we add candain study in application

  12. Hi,
    I just recently apply to nnas and i click on the button to waive my passing language score and it turned out (waived). Do i beed to submit additional documents like reference letter from my current employer.
    Thanks

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