Practical Nursing, Diploma

Program at a glance

Credential

Diploma

Work experience

Clinical/fieldwork placement

Study options

Full-time

Open to International

Yes

Area of study

Health Sciences

Length

20 months

Info sessions

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Start in September

In the Practical Nursing Program, you will��study from the��same body of nursing knowledge as registered nurses (RNs)��and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) with a more focused approach to foundational knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical judgment appropriate to the role of a practical nurse. This program will provide you with the knowledge, skills, judgment, and��abilities to��contribute to��all phases of care��from prevention to acute treatment and management, to long term and palliative care.

Competent

Practical nurses integrate knowledge, skills, behaviours, attitudes, critical thinking and clinical judgment expected of an entry-level practical nurse to provide safe, competent, and ethical care. Working in��collaboration with other health care team members, you will provide direct nursing care and in acute care hospitals as well as complex care and community care settings.

Professional

Practical nurses are health care professionals who��care for a wide range of clients��at all stages of life. As a professional nurse, you will work within your own scope of practice, standards of practice and code of ethics.��Practical nurses are frontline nurses��involved in the assessment, planning implementation and evaluation of nursing care and are valuable members of the health care team.

After graduation

After successful completion of the program, you will be eligible to write the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nursing (REx-PN) to apply for licensure to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in British Columbia.

Indigenous priority admissions��

For a limited time each year, 91�� offers priority seating for qualified��Indigenous students in��all��Health Sciences and Human Services programs.

The��Indigenous Limited Priority Admissions��process is approved by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.

How to apply for an��Indigenous priority seat.

What you'll learn

Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in��.

Program outline

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the academic calendar.

Program outline

What you'll learn

This full time diploma program��will provide you with the knowledge, skills, judgements and attitudes required to practice as a practical nurse within a variety of health care settings. The program will prepare you to care for individuals and families at multiple life stages in acute, complex, and community care settings. Graduates of the program are eligible to write the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nursing (REx-PN)��to apply for licensure to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in British Columbia.

What to expect

The Practical Nursing Program is delivered over 20 consecutive months at 91��’s Interurban campus. In each of the four theory terms you will take 5-6 courses each term. Class time and nursing practice hours are scheduled for a maximum of 25 hours per week. You will be expected to spend at least 3 to 4 hours on preparation, review, and studying per day.

Clinical placement locations and hours vary, but most are located within Greater Victoria and may include evenings and weekends.

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PN program handbooks

Find current student information in the��School of Health Sciences and Human Services��and PN program��handbooks.

Tuition and fees

Effective from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025

Estimated tuition

Tuition estimates are for the entire program.

Practical Nursing, Diploma

$16,453 (domestic)
$39,725 (international)

Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.

For International students visit: International Tuition & Fees.

Student fees

In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to:��Student Fees.

Financial assistance

You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.

Financial Aid & Awards��

Admission requirements

One of:

C+ in English 12��
C in 91�� Alternative��

One of:

C in Math 11��
C in 91�� Alternative

And all of:

C+ in PNUR 101��* or equivalent
Grade 12 graduation or equivalent

* Note: a C or higher in Anatomy and Physiology��12 is a pre-requisite for PNUR 101. 91�� courses BIOL 150��and BIOL 151, or BIOL 152��and BIOL 153, or BIOL 143��and BIOL 144��may be used as alternatives to PNUR 101.

English Language Competency Requirements

As English is the language of study in BC, students must meet English language proficiency at an appropriate level to be accepted into the provincial Practical Nursing program. These requirements can be satisfied through three years of full-time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction and is also one of the country's official languages. English as a Second Language/Additional Language courses are not included in this three-year calculation. Those not meeting this requirement must achieve scores identified in one of the two tests below:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with minimum scores of:
- Speaking: 7.0
- Listening: 7.5
- Reading: 6.5
- Writing: 7.0
- Overall Band Score: 7.0
Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of:
- Speaking: 8.0
- Listening: 10.0
- Reading: 8.0
- Writing: 7.0

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, students who are unable to complete an IELTS or CELBAN assessment may demonstrate English-language proficiency for the purpose of satisfying the entrance requirements for PN programs by achieving the following scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test: Home Edition (TOEFL Home):

Speaking: 23
Listening: 27
Reading: 19
Writing: 27
Overall Band Score: 96��

When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the program admission requirements listed above. Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar: Loading...