Many internationally educated nurses hoping to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry assume that their Certificate of Registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) qualifies them for bonus CRS points under the “certificate of qualification” category. This assumption is understandable—but unfortunately, it’s incorrect.
In this blog, we clarify what counts as a certificate of qualification under Express Entry, how it affects CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scoring, and why Registered Nurses must take a different approach when seeking permanent residency.
Understanding the “Certificate of Qualification” in Express Entry
Under Canada’s Express Entry system, 50 additional CRS points may be awarded to candidates under the Skill Transferability Factors if they:
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Score CLB 9 or higher in all four language abilities, and
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Have a certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a province (as defined in Section 25 of the Ministerial Instructions)
This provision is often confused with regulatory or professional registration, which is common in skilled professions like nursing. However, there is a critical distinction.
“A certificate of qualification is only issued to individuals working in trade occupations, which is restricted to occupations belonging to Skill Level B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Registered nurses (NOC 3012) fall under Skill Level A.”
— IRCC Internal Memo, REP-2015-2002IMMRepI
Why a CNO Certificate Does Not Qualify
A CNO Certificate of Registration—even if “unconditional”—is not equivalent to a trade certification. It does not make you eligible for the additional 50 CRS points awarded for possessing a certificate of qualification in a designated Red Seal trade.
In other words:
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Nurses are regulated, not certified in a trade.
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NOC 3012 (Registered Nurse) falls under Skill Level A, not B.
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Therefore, no trade points can be awarded for your CNO credential.
This also applies to conditional certificates issued while awaiting a work permit or licensure—these too are ineligible for certificate-related CRS boosts.
Can Nurses Still Score High in CRS?
Yes. Many RN candidates may still qualify for high CRS scores through other pathways:
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Education: If you have two or more post-secondary credentials, and one is a 3-year program or longer, that can earn up to 50 CRS points.
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Foreign Work Experience: If you have 3+ years of foreign experience, that may add another 50 points if combined with CLB 9 or higher.
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Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Many provinces actively recruit nurses through PNPs, which award 600 points for a provincial nomination.
So while the certificate of qualification route isn’t applicable, nurses are still highly competitive candidates—especially when properly advised.
The Bottom Line for Nurses Applying via Express Entry
If you’re a Registered Nurse aiming for permanent residency in Canada:
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Do not list your CNO registration as a “certificate of qualification” in your Express Entry profile.
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Focus on other CRS categories: language, education, work experience, and PNP.
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Avoid misrepresentation—providing inaccurate information could result in a five-year ban.
How Visaserve Can Help
At Visaserve Immigration Law P.C., we regularly guide healthcare professionals through the Express Entry system. Our legal team ensures that your NOC code, language scores, and credential evaluations are aligned to maximize your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) without risking refusal or misrepresentation.
This blog post is based in part on internal correspondence obtained through an Access to Information request filed by immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens. We thank him for making these materials publicly accessible. Source: https://meurrensonimmigration.com/express-entry-imm-rep-qa/
