• Nursing Education Initiative grants support Nursing education and professional development.
  • The Advanced Clinical Practice Fellowship (ACPF) program provides the opportunity for registered nurses (RN) and nurse practitioners (NP) to develop their skills, knowledge, and expertise while advancing a project that will meet a need or gap in service within their organizations. Learn more on the ACPF program page.

RNAO has several options to help you improve your nursing practice for both members and non-members alike.

Membership with the RNAO is the reason that such programs exist. Through the collaborative work of dedicated, committed professionals belonging to the organization, we have been able to successfully lobby for many of the exciting education funding programs offered.

Nursing Education Initiative grant program

RNs and NPs registered to practise in Ontario and employed in a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) priority area may be eligible for a Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) grant to support their education and professional development.

Priority areas

Priority employment areas

Priority employment areas, as defined by MOHLTC:

Priority Clinical Areas

Priority clinical areas, as defined by MOHLTC:
  • Community care
  • Home care
  • Long-term Care
  • Primary Health Care
  • Mental Health and Addictions
  • Public Health
  • Acute Care
  • Management and Leadership
  • Community Care
  • Complex Continuing Care
  • Critical Care
  • Dialysis
  • Emergency
  • Gerontology
  • Home care
  • Medical/Surgical
  • Mental Health and Addictions
  • Oncology/Cancer Care
  • Palliative Care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Long-term Care
  • Primary Care

Eligible education

  • Core courses of baccalaureate programs in nursing or graduate level courses leading to a master's degree or PhD in nursing or related discipline, and provided by an accredited college or university (must be on OSAP list)
  • Courses that lead to a specialty certificate in a nursing program related to an MOHLTC identified priority clinical specialty, and provided by an accredited college or university (must be on OSAP list)
  • Professional development courses and workshops, delivered in Ontario, in clinical, management or leadership areas identified on the MOHLTC priority clinical specialty list and that are three days or more in duration

Key Information

  • Applications must be completed using the secure online form on myRNAO.ca.
    • You do not need to be an RNAO member to register for a free account on myRNAO.
  • Apply online within 90 days of the last day of education. Please apply on a course by course basis.*

    *funds are limited, and late applications will be considered only if funds are available and the MOH funding year is still open
  • Monitor the status of your application online by logging into your MyRNAO account.
  • The grant amount is calculated based on the tuition paid (yearly maximum $1,500) according to the criteria provided by the MOHLTC.
  • The amount paid in grant(s) is subject to income tax and T4As are issued to recipients for the year in which the grant(s) were paid.
  • Grants are paid through Electronic Funds Transfer. (You you must provide banking information when you apply.)
  • RNs and NPs employed in one of the MOHLTC priority areas are eligible

Other eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants can access a maximum of $1,500 in grants per year.
  • The grant calculation will only consider the tuition paid for the course. Other expenses such as books, course material, salary replacement, student fees, travel, meals, and accommodations are not eligible expenses for the grant.
  • Completed applications must be received within 90 days of the completion of the course.
  • The course must meet the MOHLTC eligibility rules below and is subject to the MOHLTC priorities.
  • Program criteria can change without notice.
  • Applicants must be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario and entitled to practise as RNs or NPs, both at the time of their application and while participating in the education session.

Still have questions?

Take a look at our Frequently asked questions. If your question is not answered there you can also contact us.

Grant calculation method

Grant calculation will be applied according to a pre-set algorithm (please see examples below):

  • The application will be scored according to the MOHLTC criteria.
  • A previous funding adjustment factor will be applied to take into account Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) grants received by the applicant in the previous year.
  • A funds availability factor will be applied to take into account the funds available for the volume of eligible applications received.

Grant calculation examples

The following examples assume that the funds availability factor has been set to 75 per cent due to the funds available in comparison to the volume of applications received.

Example 1
Step Description
Grant application: $700 An applicant submits a grant application with appropriate supporting documents for a $700 grant. The applicant has received a grant smaller than $1,500 in the previous year.
Application scoring: 80% The application receives a score of 80 according to the MOH’s criteria based on employment setting, clinical area of practice, employment status, type of professional development, and type of education provider.
Funding adjustment: 0 The application receives a previous year funding adjustment of 0 because the applicant has received grants in the previous year totalling less than $1,500.
Funds availability factor: 75% The application receives a funds availability factor of 75 due to the fact that funds are available for only 75 per cent of the value of the applications received.
Final calculation: $420 The grant is calculated as follows: $700 x (80% + 0%) x 75% = $420
Example 2
Step Description
Grant application: $700 An applicant submits a grant application with appropriate supporting documents for a $700 grant. The applicant has received a $1,500 grant in the previous year.
Application scoring: 80% The application receives a score of 80 according to the MOH’s criteria based on employment setting, clinical area of practice, employment status, type of professional development, and type of education provider.
Funding adjustment: 0 The application receives a previous year funding adjustment of -10 because the applicant has received a $1,500 grant in the previous year.
Funds availability factor: 75% The application receives a funds availability factor of 75 due to the fact that funds are available for only 75 per cent of the value of the applications received.
Final calculation: $367.50 The grant is calculated as follows: $700 x (80% - 10%) x 75% = $367.50
Example 3
Step Description
Grant application: $700 An applicant submits a grant application with appropriate supporting documents for a $700 grant. The applicant has not received any grants in the previous year.
Application scoring: 80% The application receives a score of 80 according to the MOH’s criteria based on employment setting, clinical area of practice, employment status, type of professional development, and type of education provider.
Funding adjustment: 10 The application receives a previous year funding adjustment of 10 because the applicant has not received a grant in the previous year.
Funds availability factor: 75% The application receives a funds availability factor of 75 due to the fact that funds are available for only 75 per cent of the value of the applications received.
Final calculation: $472.50 The grant is calculated as follows: $700 x (80% + 10%) x 75% = $472.50