Access to Practical Nursing Diploma

Career Prospects

Licensed Practical Nurses work with other interprofessional, health care team members in a variety of settings and play an increasingly wide role in primary health care focusing on health promotion, illness and injury prevention, and health protection and restoration.

Details

Still have questions?

Contact:

• info@nlc.bc.ca if you are in Canada
• info@international.nlc.bc.ca if you are outside of Canada
• healthscienceoffice@nlc.bc.ca if you are currently an NLC student

Admission Requirements

The following admission requirements reflect provincial standards mandated by the Practical Nursing Program Provincial Curriculum Guide Supplement.

Complete all requirements: 

1. High school graduation requirement
   • ​Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent. 
2. English requirement
   One of the following:
   • For applicants with English as a first language, one of the following*:
     • English 12 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent
     • English First Peoples 12 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent
   • For applicants with English as an Additional Language*, one of the following:
     • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) result with an overall score of 7.0 or higher and:
       • Speaking band of 7.0 or higher
       • Listening band of 7.5 or higher
       • Reading band of 6.5 or higher
       • Writing band of 7.0 or higher
     • Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of:
       • Speaking: 8.0
       • Listening: 10.0
       • Reading: 8.0
       • Writing: 7.0 
3. Math requirement
   One of the following:
   • Foundations of Mathematics 11 with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent
   • Pre-Calculus 11 with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent
   • If course requirement is over ten years old or absent, complete the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (Number Operations and Problem Solving) with a minimum score of 11.9
4. Biology requirement
   ​One of the following:
   • Anatomy and Physiology 12 with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent
   • Biology 12 with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent
5. A&P requirement
   One of the following:
   • ​​PNUR 099 - Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses ** with a minimum grade of 65%, or
   • An equivalent course from another institution (see the BC Transfer Guide)
6. Certificate requirement
   One of the following:
   • Health Care Assistant (HCA)
   • Resident Care Attendant (RCA)
   • Combined Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (HS/RCA)
   • Those entering with an education other than from a BC public post-secondary institution (HCA; RCA or HS/RCA Certificate) must provide active registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry and will be assessed on a case by case basis.
7. Work experience requirement
   All of:
   • Minimum 600 hours of work experience
   • Completed within the last two years; and
   • In a care facility where care is provided to a multiple patients/residents***
   • Work experience must be verified by an official employer letter (sample )

Notes

* Applicants with English as an Additional Language are defined as those who do not have three years of full-time, face-to-face, secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the medium of instruction in a country where English is also an official national language. English as a Second Language/Additional Language courses are not included in this three-year calculation.  In addition to meeting English language admission requirements for the Provincial Practical Nursing Program, graduates who speak English as an additional language must be able to demonstrate performance-ready English proficiency as a condition for registration and practice in British Columbia. See BCCNM’s website for further details.

** The completion date for PNUR 099 or equivalent must be within five years of program initiation. Applicants may be granted conditional acceptance prior to completing PNUR 099 or its equivalent.  However, the PNUR 099 requirement must be successfully completed prior to the first day of classes in Semester One.

*** Working in a home care home care environment where one person is cared for at a time does note meet the requirement.

Important Notes

1. The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit Student Aid BC(opens in a new tab) to apply for financial assistance online.

2. Students must provide their own supplies/equipment (stethoscope, uniforms*, lab coats*, WCB approved safety/nursing shoes, and a watch with a second hand).  Students are required to have a computer (laptop or other mobile device) with minimum computer requirements. Appropriate attire and shoes are required for lab courses and for clinical and preceptorship experiences.; students must purchase standardized program uniforms from the NLC Bookstore.

3. The program is affiliated with Northern Health and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.

4. Clinical learning experiences may occur in a variety of settings and communities.  Efforts will be made to place students in convenient clinical locations, but all students should be prepared for in-region travel. Transportation, meals, and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. After a clinical or preceptorship site is assigned by the Program Chair and instructor, no changes are permitted. 

Program Requirements

Credential

Diploma in Practical Nursing