The College’s registration practices are regularly audited by the Office of the Fairness Commissioner. Created under the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act (2006), this government agency works with regulated professions and compulsory trades in Ontario to ensure they have registration processes that are transparent, objective, impartial and fair.  

By law, all regulatory bodies in the province, including the College of Nurses, must:

• provide clear information about registration requirements, processes, timelines and fees
• make registration decisions, and provide written reasons for those decisions, within a reasonable time
• offer an internal review or appeal, including an opportunity for applicants to submit arguments and supporting documents
• inform applicants of any rights they have to request a further review or appeal of the registration decision
• conduct assessments in a way that is transparent, objective, impartial and fair, and take reasonable measures to ensure external assessors conduct their own assessments in the same way
• ensure adequate training of all individuals who assess qualifications or make registration decisions.
• grant applicants, upon written request and within certain legal limitations, access to records related to their application.

Every year, the College conducts a review of its registration practices and submits a Fair Registration Practices Report to the Office of the Fairness Commissioner. In turn, the Office creates a list of recommendations for the College to put into practice.