<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 Diploma will allow you to 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.

Access to Practical Nursing Diploma

Okanagan College

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1. B.C. certificate in one of:
   * Health Care Assistant (HCA)
   * Resident Care Attendant (RCA)
   * Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (HS/RCA)
   * Current BC Care Aide Registry Number
2. High school graduation or equivalent
3. English 12 (70%) or equivalent
4. English Language Requirement\*
   * 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 language. English as a second language/additional language are not included in this calculation.
     * \*Note: In addition to meeting English Language Requirements, 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.
5. Biology 12 (67%) or equivalent
6. PNUR 113 - Pre-Practical Nursing Anatomy and Physiology course (70%)
7. Math 11

* One of (67%):
  * Pre-Calculus Grade 11
  * Foundations of Mathematics 11
  * Principles of Mathematics 11
  * Adult Basic Education MATH 011

or 

* One of (70%):
  * Adult Basic Education IALG011
  * Both MATH084 and MATH085

Academic Admission Requirement

1. CPR level C
2. Criminal record check
3. One of: 
    - Red Cross Standard First Aid
    - St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid
4. Negative TB skin test or chest x-ray

Additional Academic Admission Requirement

1. Student practicum placement sites are throughout North, Central and South Okanagan. Students must arrange their own transportation to and from practicum sites. In most cases, a driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle is required. While student preferences will be considered for the location of clinical experiences, Okanagan College reserves the right to assign and change a student's practicum placement. Travel and accommodation expenses are the student's responsibility.
2. Applicants who satisfy the admission requirements will be offered admission in chronological order, based on the date of application.
3. 1. If you do not meet the English Language Requirement, you must achieve scores identified in one of the two tests below: 
    - International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Overall band score 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. 

Admission Advice

Applications for the Fall semester will be open October 1. Applications for the Winter semester will be accepted April 1. Early application is strongly recommended. For details, see okanagan.bc.ca/apply.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Access to Practical Nursing Diploma

Okanagan College

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