The Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program is designed to build on the Health Care Assistant Certificate (HCA). Students who complete or hold an HCA certificate* may complete the APN program in 16 months rather than the direct entry Practical Nursing (PN) program which is 22 months.
The APN program prepares graduates 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 NLC APN program meets or exceeds all of the Provincial education competencies required for Licensed Practical Nurse graduates.
This 16-month Diploma program is full-time study divided into three levels:
- The Access level provides the balance of training from a combination of Levels 1 and 2 of the revised 2011 Practical Nursing Provincial Curriculum (2017), giving prior learning credits for knowledge and skills acquired in the HCA, RCA, HS/RCA certificate programs.
- The next two levels are the same as Levels three and four of the revised 2011 Practical Nursing Provincial Curriculum (2017).
The APN program enables students to begin their health career education at NLC by completing a Health Care Assistant Certificate in 33-36 weeks. HCA graduates are required to obtain 600 hours of work experience as HCAs before bridging into the APN program, where after an additional 16 months of study they will graduate with their diploma in practical nursing.
* Resident Care Attendants (RCA) or those with a combination of Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (HS/RCA) may also be recognized. Those entering with an education other than from a BC public post-secondary institution (HCA; RCA or HS/RCA Certificate) will need to provide active registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry and will be assessed on a case by case basis.
The information on this program page is a summary of the official Program Information and Completion Guide approved by NLC’s Education Council.
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
Intakes
All theory courses are delivered via videoconference on Dawson Creek and Fort St John campuses. Beginning September 2026 the laboratory component of courses will be delivered in both Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.
- Access Level lab classes are approximately two days per week for 16 weeks.
- Level Three lab classes are approximately one day per week for 2 weeks.
- Level Four lab classes are approximately three days per week for 10 weeks.
Length
1550 hours.
This is a 16 month program, with a short break between the Access Level and Level Three.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Practical Nursing Diploma
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 2,986.20 | $ 84.98 | $ 621.66 | $ 3,692.84 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 5,585.30 | $ 166.46 | $ 0.00 | $ 5,751.76 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 10,832.40 | $ 90.21 | $ 677.59 | $ 289.90* | $ 11,890.10 |
| Year 2 (estimated) | $ 20,260.60 | $ 176.92 | $ 20,437.52 |
*Per four months
Students enrolled in the APN Program can apply for the APN Program Education Incentive Bursary(opens in a new tab).
This is a $10,000 bursary offered by the BC Government.
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:
- High school graduation requirement
- Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent.
- 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
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) result with an overall score of 7.0 or higher and:
- For applicants with English as a first language, one of the following*:
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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.
- 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)
- Applicants without the full 600 hours or who have worked in a home care environment, will be assessed by the Dean on a case-by-case basis
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.
Post-Admission Requirements
The following post-admission requirements must be submitted to Admissions prior to the first day of classes:
- Current CPR (Basic Life Support) certification1
- Immunizations2
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination2
- Negative TB test indicating the absence of active tuberculosis2
- N95 fit testing certification
- Clearance letter from the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP), for a Schedule “B” Criminal Record Check (CRC), WORKS WITH Children and Vulnerable Adults3
1 as outlined in the Health Sciences Placement Network Practice Education Guidelines – Orientation – Students.
2 as outlined in the Health Sciences Placement Network Practice Education Guidelines – Communicable Disease Prevention. Please make an appointment with public health nurse immediately to complete the Immunization Checklist. The immunization process can take anywhere from one to three months, sometimes longer, so verifying immunization status is critical.
3 No student will be permitted to begin a workplace practicum until the CRC has been received by NLC. Failure to do so and may result in program withdrawal. For information and regulations, see Criminal Records Checks.
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit Student Aid BC to apply for financial assistance online.
- 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.
- The program is affiliated with Northern Health and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.
- 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
| Residency Requirement | 25% of total program hours must be completed at Northern Lights College |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | •A minimum of 100% on all Pharmacology Math exams. A maximum of two rewrites are available for each Pharmacology Math exam (applies to APNP 134) •A minimum of 80% (A-) on the theory portion of the Pharmacology courses (applies to APNP134). •A minimum of 80% is required to pass Integrated Lab Assessments or Skill Assessments in the Integrated Nursing Practice courses (applies to APNP 135 and PNUR 235, 245). Should a mark of 80% not be achieved, a student will be allowed one retest for each Skills Assessment •A minimum of 75% on the theory portion of the Integrated Nursing Practice courses (applies to APNP 135 and PNUR 235, 245) •A minimum of 68% (B-) on all other theory nursing courses (APNP 130, 131, 132, 133 and PNUR 230, 231, 232, 233, 240, 241, 242, 243) |
| Continuance Requirements | Program progression/continuation requirements are assessed by instructors and program chair. Students who don’t meet program progression requirements are withdrawn from program.In ALL cases, when a second test is necessary, the student and instructor will meet to discuss remedial strategies before the retest is attempted. Sufficient time for practice and improvement will be provided (minimum of two days).In total, a maximum of two rewrites of a final exam are permitted for the theory portions of the Practical Nursing curriculum in a given academic year. No more than one supplemental exam can be written per theory course. |
Access Level
All of:
- APNP 130 – Professional Communication A (45 contact hours)
- APNP 131 – Professional Practice A (45 contact hours)
- APNP 132 – Health Promotion A (30 contact hours)
- APNP 133 – Variations In Health A (60 contact hours)
- APNP 134 – Pharmacology A (60 contact hours)
- APNP 135 – Integrated Nursing Practice A (180 contact hours)
- APNP 136 – Consolidated Practice Experience A (120 contact hours)
Level Three
All of:
- PNUR 230 – Professional Communication 3 (20 contact hours)
- PNUR 231 – Professional Practice 3 (20 contact hours)
- PNUR 232 – Health Promotion 3 (36 contact hours)
- PNUR 233 – Variations in Health 3 (45 contact hours)
- PNUR 235 – Integrated Nursing Practice 3 (120 contact hours)
- PNUR 236 – Consolidated Practice Experience 3 (65 contact hours)
Level Four
All of:
- PNUR 240 – Professional Communication 4 (20 contact hours)
- PNUR 241 – Professional Practice 4 (20 contact hours)
- PNUR 242 – Health Promotion 4 (24 contact hours)
- PNUR 243 – Variations In Health 4 (50 contact hours)
- PNUR 245 – Integrated Nursing Practice 4 (180 contact hours)
- PNUR 246 – Consolidated Practice Experience 4 (200 contact hours)
- PNUR 247 – Transition to Preceptorship (30 contact hours)
- PNUR 248 – Final Practice Experience (180 contact hours)
Credential
Diploma in Practical Nursing