CNO Sanctions Explained for Ontario Nurses and Midwives: From Caution to Revocation

The CNO Sanction Ladder: How Outcomes Are Ordered

The College of Nurses of Ontario applies a graduated approach to disciplinary outcomes. Not every concern results in a Discipline Committee hearing; the majority of matters are resolved at an earlier stage by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC), which assesses each complaint and determines what action, if any, is required.

The possible outcomes, from least to most serious, are as follows:

Sanction	Stage	Register
No action	ICRC	Private
Written advice	ICRC	Private
Written caution	ICRC	Registration record
Specified CPD or remediation program	ICRC	Registration record
Undertaking / conditions on practice	ICRC or Discipline	Published
Reprimand	Discipline Committee	Published
Suspension	Discipline Committee	Published
Revocation	Discipline Committee	Published

Ontario nurses and midwives facing a CNO proceeding can also review the professional development courses for Ontario nurses and midwives available through our Ontario professional development page.

Written Advice, Written Caution, and the ICRC Stage

The majority of CNO complaints do not proceed to a formal Discipline Committee hearing. The ICRC resolves most matters at the inquiry stage through one of the following outcomes:

• No action. The ICRC determines there is no basis for action. This is the outcome in a significant proportion of CNO complaints and leaves no record on your registration beyond the closed complaint file.
• Written advice. The ICRC provides written guidance on professional practice without any formal finding. Written advice is not a caution and does not constitute a record of professional misconduct or incompetence. It is intended to assist with practice improvement.
• Written caution. A formal written caution is recorded on your CNO registration record. The ICRC may require you to appear before the Committee in person before the caution is issued — this is sometimes referred to as an in-person caution. A written caution is not typically published on the public register but will appear on your registration record for a period of time and may be considered if a subsequent complaint is received.

If you receive any of these outcomes, contact CNPS (Canadian Nurses Protective Society) for advice on whether it is appropriate to seek a review of the ICRC decision. Both the complainant and the registrant have certain rights of review in relation to ICRC outcomes.

Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Programs (SCERPs)

Where the ICRC or the Discipline Committee determines that formal requirements should be placed on a registrant's practice, the outcome may take the form of a specified continuing education or remediation program, an undertaking, or conditions on practice.

• Specified continuing education or remediation program. This requires the registrant to complete a defined educational or remediation program relevant to the concerns raised. It is a formal regulatory requirement recorded on the registration record. Completion is mandatory and must be demonstrated to the CNO.
• Undertaking. An undertaking is a formal written commitment by the registrant. The specific terms of an undertaking depend on the nature of the concern — for example, committing to practise under supervision, to avoid certain clinical activities, or to complete specified CPD. Undertakings are recorded on the registration record and may be published on the public register depending on the circumstances.
• Conditions on practice. Conditions imposed by the Discipline Committee or agreed under an undertaking may include supervision requirements, restrictions on the type of patients seen, requirements to practise only in certain settings, or mandatory reporting to the College at specified intervals. Conditions imposed by the Discipline Committee are published on the public register.

Demonstrating genuine insight and remediation is particularly important where undertakings or conditions are in place. Our Insight for Fitness to Practise and Reflection for Fitness to Practise courses provide structured CPD evidence that can support your case at any review of conditions.

Conditions, Restrictions, and Practice Monitoring

A suspension from practice is one of the most serious outcomes available to the CNO Discipline Committee. It removes your right to practise in Ontario for the period specified in the Committee's order and is published on the CNO public register.

Suspensions at the CNO vary in their terms:

• Fixed-term suspension. A suspension for a defined period — which may range from a matter of weeks to a year or more, depending on the severity of the finding. At the end of the fixed term, practice may resume subject to any conditions that have been imposed.
• Indefinite suspension pending compliance. A suspension that continues until the registrant has satisfied specified conditions — for example, completing a remediation program, passing a competency assessment, or demonstrating certain behaviours over time. This type of suspension has no fixed end date.

During a suspension, you are not permitted to practise in Ontario in your regulated capacity. Practising while suspended is itself a serious regulatory offence and may result in criminal prosecution under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). Ensure that your employer, hospital privileges (where applicable), and other relevant parties are notified promptly on receiving a suspension order.

Contact CNPS (Canadian Nurses Protective Society) immediately if you receive a suspension order, and before making any public statements or communications about the outcome.

Suspension and Revocation: The Most Serious CNO Outcomes

Revocation is the most serious sanction available to the CNO Discipline Committee. It removes your registration entirely, ending your ability to practise as a regulated nurses and midwive in Ontario. A revocation is published on the CNO public register and remains there permanently.

Revocation is typically imposed in cases involving the most serious professional misconduct, such as sexual abuse of a patient (which under the RHPA mandates revocation in certain circumstances), persistent incompetence, or conduct fundamentally incompatible with continued registration.

The Path Back: Reinstatement After Revocation

Reinstatement of registration after revocation at the CNO is possible in some circumstances but is not guaranteed. The CNO considers applications for reinstatement on their merits, taking into account:

• The nature and severity of the conduct that led to revocation
• The time that has elapsed since revocation
• Evidence of genuine rehabilitation, insight, and behavioural change
• Any CPD or remediation completed since revocation
• Whether reinstatement is in the public interest

Some categories of revocation — particularly those involving sexual abuse of a patient — carry statutory restrictions on reinstatement under the RHPA. Consult a regulatory lawyer well before making any reinstatement application.

Public Versus Private Outcomes: What Appears on the CNO Register

Not all CNO outcomes are published on the public register. Understanding what is and is not publicly visible is important both for managing your own expectations and for understanding your disclosure obligations to employers, hospitals, and insurers.

Outcome	Public Register	Notes
No action	Not published	Complaint closed; no record on register
Written advice	Not published	Guidance provided; no formal finding
Written caution	Registration record only	Recorded but not typically on public register
Specified CPD / SCERP	Registration record only	Recorded on registration; not published
Undertaking	Published	Terms visible on public register
Conditions on practice	Published	Conditions visible on public register
Reprimand	Published	Finding and order published
Suspension	Published	Duration and reasons published
Revocation	Published permanently	Remains on register indefinitely

The CNO public register is searchable online. Employers, hospitals, credentialling agencies, and insurers routinely check the register. Even where an outcome is not published, you may have separate disclosure obligations — for example, under your employment contract, hospital by-laws, or the terms of your professional liability coverage. Always seek advice from CNPS (Canadian Nurses Protective Society) on your specific disclosure obligations.

Key Resources for Ontario Nurses And Midwives

For accurate, current information on CNO proceedings and outcomes, always refer to the College and your professional liability provider directly:

• College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) — The primary regulatory authority for Ontario nurses and midwives. The CNO website contains current information on the public register, complaints and investigations process, Discipline Committee hearings, and sanction guidelines.
• CNPS (Canadian Nurses Protective Society) — Contact your professional liability provider at the first sign of any CNO proceeding, before taking any other action including drafting a response or attending any College meeting.
• Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) — The national body for nurses and midwives' regulatory matters in Canada.
• Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) — National professional association providing resources on professional standards and advocacy for Canadian nurses and midwives.

Ontario nurses and midwives navigating disciplinary proceedings can also find relevant complaint response guidance in our article: How to Respond to a CNO Complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the least serious CNO sanction?

The least serious outcomes at the College of Nurses of Ontario are written advice and a written caution. Written advice provides guidance without a formal finding. A written caution is a formal outcome recorded on your registration record but is not typically published on the public register.

Does a CNO caution appear on the public register?

A written caution from the College of Nurses of Ontario is recorded on your registration record but is not typically published on the public register. More serious outcomes — including suspensions, revocations, and findings of the Discipline Committee — are published publicly.

Can my CNO registration be reinstated after revocation?

Reinstatement after revocation at the College of Nurses of Ontario is possible in some circumstances but is not guaranteed. An application for reinstatement is considered on its merits, including evidence of rehabilitation, insight, and time elapsed since revocation. Consult a regulatory lawyer or your professional liability provider before making any application.

What is an undertaking at the CNO?

An undertaking at the College of Nurses of Ontario is a formal written commitment by a registrant to do or refrain from doing certain things — for example, completing specified education, practising under supervision, or avoiding certain clinical activities. An undertaking is recorded on your registration record and may be published on the public register depending on its nature.

How long does a CNO suspension last?

The length of a CNO suspension depends on the severity of the finding and the circumstances. Suspensions may be for a fixed term of weeks or months, or may be indefinite pending completion of specified conditions. The terms of the suspension are set out in the Discipline Committee order.

Will my employer know about a CNO sanction?

Whether your employer learns of a CNO sanction depends on the nature of the outcome. Discipline Committee findings and orders — including suspensions — are published on the CNO public register, which employers can access. ICRC outcomes such as written cautions are recorded on your registration but not typically published. You may also have disclosure obligations under your employment contract.

What is the difference between a restriction and a condition at the CNO?

A restriction at the CNO limits the scope of your permitted practice. A condition imposes a positive obligation — for example, requiring supervision, completing specified CPD, or reporting to the College at intervals. Both may appear on the public register.

Does a CNO sanction affect my insurance?

A CNO sanction may affect your professional liability insurance. Contact CNPS (Canadian Nurses Protective Society) as soon as a disciplinary process begins so that you can obtain advice on insurance implications specific to your circumstances.

Can I appeal a CNO Discipline Committee decision?

Yes. Discipline Committee decisions at the CNO may be appealed to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB) or the Divisional Court, depending on the grounds of appeal. Appeal rights are time-limited. Consult a regulatory lawyer immediately if you are considering an appeal.

What CPD can help after a CNO sanction?

Ethics training, insight and reflection courses, and professional standards programmes are commonly accepted as CPD evidence in CNO disciplinary contexts. Our courses — including Ensuring No Repeat of Misconduct, Insight for Fitness to Practise, and Reflection for Fitness to Practise — provide structured CPD that documents genuine professional development.

How does revocation differ from suspension at the CNO?

A suspension at the CNO removes your right to practise for a specified period, after which practice can resume subject to any conditions. Revocation removes your registration entirely. To practise again after revocation, you must make a formal application for reinstatement and satisfy the CNO that it is in the public interest to restore your registration.

Does a CNO sanction affect my ability to practise in another Canadian province?

Yes. CNO disciplinary findings are reportable to other Canadian regulatory authorities under mutual recognition and information-sharing agreements. A finding in Ontario may affect your eligibility to register or practise in another province. Consult your professional liability provider for advice on cross-provincial implications.