Internationally Educated Nurses

Unity Health Toronto, in partnership with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and Ontario Health, is participating in the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership (SPEP) program. By providing paid, supervised (preceptored) work placements for Internationally Educated Nursing (IEN) Interns, this program offers eligible applicants the option to demonstrate current nursing knowledge, skill and judgement and language proficiency skills. By participating in the program, applicants will have an opportunity to meet the following requirements to enter practice as a nurse in Ontario:

• Evidence of Practice, or
• Evidence of Practice and Language Proficiency

At Unity Health, the program requires IEN Interns to complete 335 hours of supervised practice, inclusive of orientation, to be completed over a 3 month period. Our program includes a comprehensive orientation, competitive salary, a dedicated preceptor and professional practice supports – all designed to set candidates up for a successful transition to a staff nurse role.

SPEP candidates may be seeking registration as a Registered Nurse (RN), or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN). The Supervised Practice Experience Partnership program is an opportunity for the IEN Intern to demonstrate/consolidate entry to practice nursing competencies and become familiar with the Ontario practice environment and culture in a supportive, learner capacity.

For full Program requirements, please visit the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) website at www.cno.org.

The Unity Health Toronto Clinical Externship program was established to support health care teams as part of the pandemic staffing strategy and to provide opportunities for clinical learners to develop clinical competency, gain increased confidence and readiness for practice.

Unity Health Toronto has onboarded several hundred Clinical Externs (CEs) to support clinical teams across the network. The CE role is an unregulated health care provider (UCP) and is a part of the interprofessional health care team under the supervision of a registered nursing professional.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) announced continued funding support for the Clinical Extern program and approved the expansion of the program to include additional clinical learners until March 31, 2024. The program will continue to support the following clinical learners:

• Nursing students – between 2nd and 4th year of a CNO approved Baccalaureate Nursing (BScN or BN) Program, or in their final year of a CNO approved Practical Nursing (PN) program,
• Paramedic students – enrolled in the 2nd year of an approved Paramedic Program
• Respiratory Therapy students – enrolled in 3rd year of a training program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Respiratory Therapy Education
• Occupational Therapy students – enrolled in the second year of study in a training program accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT).
• Physiotherapy students – enrolled in the second year of study of a training program accredited by Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC).
• Undergraduate medical students – enrolled in their final year of a program of medical education leading to the MD degree at an accredited Canadian medical school.
• Recent graduates from an accredited Canadian medical school who are awaiting the start of an accredited residency program.
• Internationally Educated Nurses who have initiated registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), have received a CNO letter of direction and meet one of the following:
  • Are in any year of study in a CNO approved program, such as a BScN-IEN program, PN-IEN program or
  • Are completing a micro-credential plan with a curriculum to meet the CNO requirements for registration (e.g. Standards of Practice for nursing, Entry-to-Practice Competencies, Evidence of Safe Practice, Evidence of English Language Proficiency) or

  • Have completed their educational requirements (e.g. BScN-IEN/PN-IEN program or micro-credentialing) and are waiting to write their registration exam.

Please note: Job opportunities are posted on our website when openings are available. If no postings are available for the roles listed below, please check back again at another time.

The Temporary Class is an option for RN or RPN applicants to practice nursing while they are completing their education or NCLEX registration requirements for the General Class.  Temporary Class registrants are permitted to practice nursing (with terms, conditions and limitations) while completing outstanding education or while waiting for their examination results. They are eligible to join the General Class when they successfully complete the registration exam and meet all other requirements for registration. Temporary Class Registration requires a job offer from an approved Ontario healthcare organization. Unity Health Toronto is an approved organization and welcomes Temporary Class applicants to any of our nursing job postings.