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

The Practical Nurse (PN) Diploma provides you with the theory and skills required to practice safe, competent and ethical nursing care that contributes to the comfort and well-being of others. You'll gain the theory and skills required to practice as a Practical Nurse within acute care, extended care, intermediate care, and community care settings. The two-year program includes four consolidated practice experiences and one preceptorship.

Practical Nursing Diploma

Vancouver Island University

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Option A and B.
1. One of:

    - High school graduation or equivalent
    - A university degree
    - Be a visiting student from a college or university (a “Letter of Permission” from home institution required)
    - Be a transfer student from a college or university with at least 24 university transfer credits
    - Mature student status (be at least 21 years old in your first semester)

2. English 12 (C+) or equivalent
3. Pre-calculus 11 (C), Foundations of Math 11 (C), or equivalent
4. Anatomy and Physiology 12 (C) or equivalent
5. HHPN 001 - (Human Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses) (C+)

Option B.
1. 600 hours of work experience as a Health Care Assistant or Resident Care Attendant or a Home Support/Residential Care Aide within the last two years 


Academic Admission Requirement

(For both options)
1. A recent writing skills course is recommended
2. Volunteer experience in a health care setting is recommended


Additional Academic Admission Requirement

1. Upon acceptance into the program, you must provide the following for the first day of classes:

    - Criminal Record Check (prior to practicum placement; instructions will be provided by VIU)
    - A completed Immunization Requirements Form
    - CPR Level C Certificate (presumed to include 1 person, 2 persons, infant CPR and choking victim)
    - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) training

2. Indigenous students can apply for reserve seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous Students form.

3. Enrollment in this program is limited. Meeting or exceeding the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. Admission is determined by:

    - meeting admission requirements
    - grade point average (GPA) scores ranking

4. If English is not your first-language, you must meet the language requirements set by the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM), and be successful in one of the following tests:

    - IELTS (minimum 7.5 overall, with at least 7.5 in speaking, 8 in listening, 7 in reading, 7.5 in writing) or
    - Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of 8 in Speaking, 10 in Listening, 8 in Reading, 7 in Writing.

5. This program is currently not available to international students.


Admission Advice

Nanaimo Campus: applications are accepted for September entry until March 31, and applications are accepted for May entry laso until March 31 of the same year.

Cowichan Campus: applications are accepted for January entry every other year on odd-number years (i.e. Spring 2025, Spring 2027), and applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.


Practical Nursing Diploma

Vancouver Island University

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