Practical Nursing Diploma

Gain skills, attitudes and judgment needed to perform in a career in health care, with learning experiences that are integrated, professional, collaborative and culturally sensitive.

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Campus

  • Kelowna
  • Vernon
  • Penticton
  • Salmon Arm
View schedule and campus details
Legend:
  • Full program offered
  • Partial program offered

Credential

Diploma

Delivery options

Full-Time

Tuition and fees

2023-24: $13,027.48 (Kelowna, Penticton and Salmon Arm) $13,455.29 (Vernon)

  • Fees include all mandatory fees: Activity fee, Health & Dental, Student Association fee, Education Technology fee, Development fee.

  • All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.

  • Detailed domestic tuition and fees information

Program details

The practical nursing program is designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, judgments, and attitudes to perform the full range of competencies as identified by the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals. The program provides a learning experience that is integrated, professional, collaborative and culturally sensitive with an aim to prepare graduates to care for individuals and families at multiple life stages and in a variety of practice settings.

Throughout the program, students will engage in learning activities that will further their development as practicing professionals and leaders. The program focuses on person-centered care, advocacy and critical thinking in preparation for a career in healthcare. Students will progress through a combination of courses and clinical placements to prepare them for subsequent work as a Practical Nurse. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to write the Regulatory Exam-Practical Nurse (REx-PN), required for licensure in B.C. Graduates of the program may obtain employment in community, continuing care, residential care or acute care settings.

There will be four program intakes per year: Each January at the Kelowna and Penticton campus and each September at the Kelowna and Vernon/Salmon Arm campus. Vernon and Salmon Arm alternate hosting the program each September. The overall length of the program is 70 weeks including built in program breaks; the length of instruction including preceptorship is 62 weeks.

Licensed practical nurses can specialize in one or more areas, such as: acute care, palliative care, community care, and health promotion and education. Nurses often work with other members of health-care teams, at walk-in clinics, hospitals, health centres and home environments.

August Intakes: Applications will be accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. on the first business day in October and ending no later than 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in February. Students who apply by the last business day in February will be considered in the ranking process. Students can apply after February 28 and may be considered if seats are not filled by applicants who applied by the last business day in February.

January Intakes: Applications will be accepted starting at 9 a.m. on the first business day in April and ending no later than 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in July. Students who apply by the last business day in July will be considered in the ranking process. Students can apply after the last business day in July and may be considered if seats are not filled by applicants who applied by the last business day in July.

Regional delivery of studies can differ according to the campus location, this program is offered every August and January in Kelowna, and alternating years in Vernon and Salmon Arm. 

On campus theory and lab components 30 hours a week. Monday-Friday 6 hour days, times vary. Off campus practicum experiences 30 hours a week. Days and times vary. Ability to travel to practicum sites required.

For more information, book an appointment with an Education Advisor.

Campus Start date Schedule
Kelowna Jan. 02, 2024
Kelowna Aug. 19, 2024
Vernon Aug. 19, 2024
Penticton Jan. 2025
Salmon Arm Sep. 2025

Admission requirements

Academic Admission Requirements

  • B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent (ABE, GED), or mature student status

English Requirement:

  • A minimum grade of 70% in one of: English 12 or equivalent, English First Peoples 12, or an equivalent Provincial Level Adult Basic Education English course.

English Language Requirement:

  1. Three years of full-time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the medium 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

In addition to meeting English language requirements for the Practical Nursing program, graduates must be able to demonstrate a level of proficiency required to be performance ready as a condition for registration and practice in British Columbia. See BCCNM's website for details.


Mathematics Requirement:

A minimum of 67% in any of:

    • Pre-Calculus Grade 11
    • Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11
    • Principles of Mathematics 11
    • Adult Basic Education MATH 011

Or a minimum grade of 70% in one of:

    • Adult Basic Education IALG 011
    • Both Math 084 and MATH 085

Biology Requirement:
Both:

  • A minimum grade of 67% in a Grade 12 Biology course which includes human anatomy and physiology or Anatomy and Physiology 12 or an equivalent Provincial level Adult Basic Education Biology course.
  • A minimum grade of 70% in Pre-Practical Nursing Anatomy and Physiology (PNUR 113) course. Please note that Biology 12 is a prerequisite for PNUR 113.

Selection Process

Fall Intakes


  • Applications will be accepted starting at 8:30 a.m. on the first business day in October and ending no later than 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in February. Applicants will be ranked based on the grade average of the courses satisfying the Grade 11 Math, Grade 12 English, and Grade 12 Biology admission requirements.
  • Applicants enrolled in Grade 12 or Grade 12 upgrading are required to submit final or interim grades by 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in February.
  • The ranking of applications will take place in March and successful applicants will be notified by early April. Once the ranking has been completed, the limited number of seats in the program will be filled by offers of admission and all others will be put on a waitlist in order of their ranking. Students offered admission will be given a deadline to accept the offer by payment of the Admissions deposit. Those who do not accept their offer by the deadline specified will be cancelled and the seat offered to the next ranked person on the list.

Winter Intakes

  • Applications will be accepted starting at 9 a.m. on the first business day in April and ending no later than 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in July. Applicants will be ranked based on the grade average of the courses satisfying the Grade 11 Math, Grade 12 English, and Grade 12 Biology admission requirements.
  • Applicants enrolled in Grade 12 or Grade 12 upgrading are required to submit final or interim grades by 4:30 p.m. on the last business day in July.
  • The ranking of applications will take place in August and successful applicants will be notified by early September. Once the ranking has been completed, the limited number of seats in the program will be filled by offers of admission and all others will be put on a waitlist in order of their ranking. Students offered admission will be given a deadline to accept the offer by payment of the Admissions deposit. Those who do not accept their offer by the deadline specified will be cancelled and the seat offered to the next ranked person on the list.

Other Admission Requirements:

  • CPR level "C"
  • Either Red Cross Standard First Aid or St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid.
  • A criminal record check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office. Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to provide a clearance letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.
  • Negative TB skin test or chest x-ray no more than 6 months before the date of application or adequate follow-up in the case of a positive test

Program Pre-practice Requirements:

  • Current immunization as required by clinical partner sites and recommended by BC Centre for Disease Control (2009): diphtheria and tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), varicella, and influenza.
  • Successful completion of all the B.C. Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) including the 8-hour in-person classroom course.

There may be additional fees associated with other admission and program pre-practice requirements. These requirements are usually completed outside of regular class time. Students are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation by the due dates provided. The admissions office and/or department chair will provide further instructions. Students may proceed into clinical practice education experiences only after successful completion of ALL the program pre-practice requirements.

Program outline

Semester 1

PNSG 111 - Health Promotion I
PNSG 112 - Professional Practice I
PNSG 113 - Variations in Health I
PNSG 114 - Pharmacology I
PNSG 115 - Professional Communication I
PNSG 116 - Integrated Nursing Practice I
PNSG 117 - Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) I

Semester 2

PNSG 211 - Health Promotion II
PNSG 212 - Professional Practice II
PNSG 213 - Variations in Health II
PNSG 214 - Pharmacology II
PNSG 215 - Professional Communication II
PNSG 216 - Integrated Nursing Practice II
PNSG 217 - Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) II

Semester 3

PNSG 311 - Health Promotion III
PNSG 312 - Professional Practice III
PNSG 313 - Variations in Health III
PNSG 315 - Professional Communication III
PNSG 316 - Integrated Nursing Practice III
PNSG 317 - Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) III

Semester 4

PNSG 411 - Health Promotion IV
PNSG 412 - Professional Practice IV
PNSG 413 - Variations in Health IV
PNSG 415 - Professional Communication IV
PNSG 416 - Integrated Nursing Practice IV
PNSG 417 - Consolidated Practice Experience (CPE) IV
PNSG 511 - Transition to Preceptorship
PNSG 512 - Preceptorship

A pass in each Consolidated Practice Experience course and Preceptorship and a minimum of 70 in each other course.

Additional information

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