<p>This program leads to a Red Seal certification. Visit our <a href="/go/plan/trades">Trades page</a>.</p>

The Access to Practical Nursing program prepares you to provide professional nursing care to individuals and families in a range of settings. Graduates of the program can apply to write the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN) for licensure as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPNs are hired in the community, continuing care and acute care hospital settings. The program is designed to build on the Health Care Assistant Certificate (HCA). If you complete or hold an HCA certificate, you may complete the APN program in 16 months rather than the direct entry Practical Nursing (PN) program which is 22 months.

Access to Practical Nursing Diploma

Northern Lights College

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1. High school graduation or equivalent
2. English 12 (C+) or equivalent 
3. Math 11 (C) or equivalent (completed within the past 10 years)
    - Note: If the course requirement is over 10 years old or uncompleted, students can attain Math 11 equivalency by scoring an 11.9 on the numeracy sections of the Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT) (Number Operations and Problem Solving)    
4. Biology 12 (C) or equivalent
5. PNUR 99 Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses (65%) or equivalent   
     - Note: The completion date for PNUR 099 must be within five years of program initiation. Applicants may be granted conditional acceptance prior to completing PNUR 099, however it must be successfully completed before the first day of classes in Semester 1. 

Academic Admission Requirement

1. A certificate in one of the following programs*:  
    - Health Care Assistant (HCA)  
    - Resident Care Assistant (RCA)  
    - Combined Home Support/Resident Care Assistant (HS/RCA)  
        - *Note: 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.  
  
2. Minimum of 600 hours of work experience within the last two years, in a care facility where care is provided to multiple residents/patients. Work experience must be verified by an official employer letter (see sample letter).  
    - Note: Experience in a home care environment where one person is cared for at a time does not meet the requirement.  
  
3. After admission to the Access to Practical Nursing Diploma Program, the following must be completed and documented by the first day of classes in Semester 1:  
    - Current CPR (Basic Life Support) certification      
    - Up-to-date immunizations  
    - Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status 
    - Negative TB test  
    - N95 fit testing certificate  
    - Criminal Record Check (Schedule B) for working with children and vulnerable adults 

Additional Academic Admission Requirement

1. Applicants with English as an additional language who do not have three years of full-time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education where English is the medium of instruction and an official national language must achieve scores in one of the two tests below.* 
    - International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic): Overall 7.0, Speaking 7.0, Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0.  
    - Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN): Speaking 8.0, Listening 10.0, Reading 8.0, Writing 7.0.  
        - *Note: In addition to meeting English language requirements, graduates who speak English as an additional language must be able to demonstrate performance-ready English proficiency. See BCCNM's website for further details.  
  
2. Students must provide the following required supplies/materials: stethoscope, uniforms, lab coats (provided by NLC at cost), WCB approved safety/nursing shoes and a watch with a second hand. Appropriate attire and shoes are necessary for lab, clinical and preceptorship experiences. Standardized program uniforms must be purchased from the NLC Bookstore.  
  
3. Students enrolled in the Access to Practical Nursing Program can apply for the APN Program Education Bursary ($10,000 bursary offered by the BC Government).  
  
4. Students are required to have a computer that meets the minimum NLC computer standards.  
  
5. As clinical learning experiences can occur in a variety of settings, students should be prepared for in-region travel. 

Admission Advice

Qualified applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Early application is recommended.

Verify dates and deadlines directly with NLC. 

Northern Lights College

Access to Practical Nursing Diploma

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