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Practical Nursing Certificate

Northern Lights College

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Intake
  • Fall
Study Options
  • Work
    Experience
  • Program Start Date
    October
  • Campuses
    Dawson Creek

    Resources

    Need more information about Dawson Creek?

    City of Dawson Creek
  • Length
    70 to 80 weeks
  • Tuition Estimate
    (domestic students)
    $5,300 (Year One); See NIC's Tuition Guide for full details
  • Book & Supplies Cost Estimates
    $4,100 (Year One); See NIC's Tuition Guide for full details
  • Credential Granted
    Certificate
  • Learning Method Options
    • Face-to-Face
    • Off-site

    Dawson Creek (classroom + Lab); clinical learning experiences may occur in a variety of locations

Learning Method Option:

  • Face-to-Face: Program is fully delivered in class with face-to-face interaction
  • Online: Program is fully delivered online
  • Blended (Face-to-Face + Online): Program is delivered using a combination of face-to-face and online learning
  • Off-site: All or part of program is delivered in a physical location away from regular classroom/campus

Looking for ways to fund your education? Check out NLC's financial aid and awards page.

Application Deadline Advice

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

Verify dates and deadlines directly with NLC. 

Application Fee: $25 (domestic students); $100 (international students)

1) Program Admission Requirements

Academic (minimum grade needed in brackets)

1. One of:

  • High school graduation or equivalent
  • Mature student status (be at least 19 years of age and been out of school for at least one year)

2. English

One of:

  • English 12 (C+)
  • English Studies 12 (C+)
  • English Literature 12 (C+)
  • English First Peoples 12 (C+)
  • ENGL 050 (C+)
  • ENGL 099 (C+)
  • Successful completion of a NLC Writing Assessment (ie - recommendation for entry into English 100)
  • Equivalent

3. Math (completed within the past 10 years)*

One of:

  • Foundations of Math 11 (C)
  • Pre-Calculus 11 (C)
  • MATH 040 (C)
  • Equivalent 

Note(*): If your Math requirement is over 10 years old, NLC requires an 11.9 score on the numeracy sections of the CAAT (Number Operations and Problem Solving).

4. Biology (completed within the past 10 years)

One of:

  • Anatomy and Physiology 12 (C)
  • Biology 12 (C)
  • BIOL 050 (C)
  • equivalent

5. PNUR 099 Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses, or equivalent (C+), must be completed within 5 years before program start.

Non-Academic

1. After acceptance, the following must be completed at least one month before the first day of classes:

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR Level C)
  • Criminal Record Search (from the Ministry of Justice) for working with children and vulnerable adults. This process can take up to six weeks, so it's important to start early
  • Up-to-date immunizations
  • Annual flu shot
  • Negative TB test (must submit this documentation in October/November of each year)

Admission Advice

1. If you do not have at least three years of full-time, face-to-face, secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the medium of instruction, you will be required to scores in one of the following two tests* to demonstrate performance-ready English proficiency (as a condition for registration and practice set by BCCNM):

a) International English Language Testing System IELTS = at least an overall score of 7.0, with Speaking: 7.0; Listening: 7.5; Reading: 6.5; Writing: 7.0)

b) Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) = Speaking: 8.0; Listening: 10.0; Reading: 8.0; Writing: 7.0

2. Applicants may be granted conditional acceptance into the Practical Nursing Diploma program prior to completing PNUR 099 or equivalent. However, the PNUR 099 requirement must be successfully completed prior to the first day of classes in Semester One.

3. Qualified applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on admission, including English proficiency requirement for non-native English speakers, please see program website. 

4. If you do not meet the above admission requirements, you have the options of completing the appropriate assessments and/or upgrading courses. Feedback on the Assessments will be provided to help you make informed decisions about appropriate selection of upgrading courses. For more details, please contact a NLC academic advisor.


 

2) Institution Admission Requirements

Applicants also have to satisfy NLC's institution admission requirements as listed below.

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English Language Requirements

Each program has its own admission prerequisites and English language requirements. Program-specific English language requirements for NLC's programs are detailed separately in each program profile in the EducationPlannerBC Program Search Database.

Domestic students (and students from English-speaking countries) applying to NLC's undergraduate-level programs must meet one of the following:

  • English 12 (B)
  • English Studies 12 (B)
  • English Literature (B)
  • English First Peoples 12 (B)
  • English 050 (B)
  • English 099 (B)
  • one university-level English course (C)
  • complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement
For international students applying to NLC's undergraduate-level programs , including students who received their secondary education in another language other than English, must meet one of the following:
  • IELTS = overall score of 6.0 or higher, with no band less than 6.0*
  • TOEFL iBT = overall score of 78
  • Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL) = 60 overall band
  • Canadian Language Benchmark Assessment (CLBA) = 8 in each section
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) = 57
  • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) = 76
  • CambridgeMichigan Language Assessment (CaMLA) = 69
  • NLC's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 060-level Certificate
  • An English course at the post-secondary level (C)
  • completion of a post-secondary credential that is assessed as equivalent to a similar program from a reputable Canadian institution with its own appropriate English Language requirement
  • complete the NLC Writing Assessment for appropriate course placement
Note (*): If you meet the English proficiency requirement using an IELTS score and have a writing band of 6.0 or less, you are required to complete NLC English 099 with at least a "B" grade in your first semester at NLC.

Verify with NLC directly

General Admission Requirements (All Students)

Admission into all programs at NLC is based on the order in which applicants successfully complete all admission requirements for the individual program. The program-specific admission requirements are detailed within each program profile for Northern Lights College (NLC) in EducationPlannerBC's Program Search Database.

Many programs have a maximum number of seats available therefore, you are encouraged to apply early and complete any requirements.

BC Secondary School (or equivalent)

Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who are applying for admission to Northern Lights College must meet one of the following:

Academic and Career Programs - You must have one of the following:

  • Completion BC secondary school or equivalent
  • Be lacking no more than two courses from BC secondary school graduation (if available, these must be completed while attending the college)
  • Be accepted by special arrangement in view of your experience, maturity or ability

Academic Upgrading Programs - one of the following:

  • Be at least 17 years old and have been out of school for at least one year
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Receive special admission for entry

Vocational and Dual Credit Programs - You must:

  • Completion of Grade 10 is required for most programs. However, some programs require Grade 11 or 12 with specific prerequisite courses (detailed in the program profiles for NLC in EducationPlannerBC's Program Search Database)
Verify details with NLC directly.

Out-of-Province

Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who are applying for admission to Northern Lights College must meet one of the following:

Academic and Career Programs - You must have one of the following:

  • Completion BC secondary school or equivalent
  • Be lacking no more than two courses from BC secondary school graduation (if available, these must be completed while attending the college)
  • Be accepted by special arrangement in view of your experience, maturity or ability

Academic Upgrading Programs - one of the following:

  • Be at least 17 years old and have been out of school for at least one year
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Receive special admission for entry

Vocational and Dual Credit Programs - You must:

  • Completion of Grade 10 is required for most programs. However, some programs require Grade 11 or 12 with specific prerequisite courses (detailed in the program profiles for NLC in EducationPlannerBC's Program Search Database)

Verify details with NLC directly.

BC Transfer Student

If you have completed some post-secondary studies at another institution, you can possibly earn transfer credits toward your program at Northern Lights College (NLC). The BC Transfer Guide allows you to check on the transferability of your courses taken at another BC post-secondary institution.

Transfer credit is not done automatically. Students are responsible for initiating the transfer credit process. To receive transfer credit, you must submit an official transcript with your Application for Admission or Readmission along with a Transfer Credit Application Form. A detailed course description/outline may also be required before credit can be evaluated. For more details, please contact a NLC academic advisor.

Out-of-Province Transfer Student

If you have completed some post-secondary studies at another institution, you can possibly earn transfer credits toward your program at Northern Lights College (NLC). 

Transfer credit is not done automatically. Students are responsible for initiating the transfer credit process. To receive transfer credit, you must submit an official transcript with your Application for Admission or Readmission along with a Transfer Credit Application Form. A detailed course description/outline may also be required before credit can be evaluated. For more details, please contact a NLC academic advisor.

Mature Student

For admission purposes, a mature student is one who is over the age of 19 years, and who has been out of school for at least one year. Adults are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet specified admission prerequisites, given that other factors (such as maturity and work experience) may be considered.

If you do not meet minimum educational requirements for a desired program, you may enter Career and College Preparation (Upgrading) programs to upgrade your skills for the program of your choice. Students must provide official secondary school or post-secondary transcripts to indicate successful completion of admission prerequisites for programs.

International Student

For details on International Student admission, please check here.

Other Student (including Special Consideration)

Not Applicable

 

How to Apply

For details on applying to Northern Lights College, please check here.

Training in a program like this one can lead to different careers. Related occupations are presented to show potential career options, not definite outcomes.

Follow the links to learn more about these careers on WorkBC's career profiles.