New transition to practice course helps internationally educated nurses prepare for a nursing career in Ontario
July 25, 2025
Starting a new life in a new country can be both exciting and challenging – especially for internationally educated nurses (IENs) eager to return to the profession they love, but who find their existing skillset doesn’t fully align with the requirements of nursing practice in Ontario.
Mae Jane Sanchez, a registered nurse and nurse educator from the Philippines, is bridging gaps in her knowledge and skills and developing familiarity with systems and vernacular used in the Canadian health care system with the help of Georgian’s new Internationally Educated Nurses Transition to Practice (TTP) course.
We spoke with Mae Jane to find out how the TTP course is preparing her to meet the College of Nurses of Ontario’s (CNO) registration requirements and step confidently into Ontario’s health care workforce.
How has the Transition to Practice course helped you continue your nursing career in Canada?
I worked as a nurse educator in my home country of the Philippines before moving to Canada. In addition to being a registered nurse, I was a nurse educator focused on teaching and developing other nursing professionals. I wanted to continue my career as a nurse in Ontario but needed to learn more about the Canadian health care system.
Once I arrived in Canada, I needed to learn how to successfully integrate my skillset into Ontario’s nursing workforce. The Transition to Practice course requirement helps IENs like me gain the necessary competencies and experiences to provide safe and effective care in Canadian health care.
How has the course helped you understand nursing practice in Ontario?
The course helped me understand the professional standards, ethics and legal aspects of nursing in Ontario more clearly. It’s also helped me improve my assessment skills and deepened my understanding of a nurse’s scope of practice in Canada.
I also wanted to improve my clinical judgment, and this course helped by giving me opportunities to practice critical thinking and apply theory to practice, particularly through virtual simulations, case studies, and online discussion forums.
Do you feel more confident in your readiness to meet the requirements for registration for the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) after taking this course?
I feel more confident since this course is my last requirement before registering with the CNO. The curriculum was fulsome and sharing experiences with fellow nurses from different cultural backgrounds through the course discussion forums helped me feel more connected and supported.
This course has positively shaped my perspective of the Canadian health care system and the role of nurses in Ontario. It’s been a great experience, and I highly recommend Georgian’s Transition to Practice course to other internationally educated nurses who want to practice in Canada.
What are your next steps after completing this course?
Once I have completed the course, I will apply for registration with the CNO. After that, I plan to apply for nursing positions in hospitals or long-term care facilities.
What to know about the transition to practice requirement
All internationally educated nurses applying to become a registered nurse (RN) in Ontario must show evidence of meeting the “transition to practice” requirement to meet the College of Nurses of Ontario’s (CNO) registration requirements.
Georgian is one of only seven colleges in Ontario approved to offer the course. Applicants who successfully complete the course will meet CNO’s ninth requirement to support their application for registration.
The self-directed, online course consists of four modules and resources to support preparation for the NCLEX registration exam.