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The Pediatric Nursing Specialty, Standard Option, is dedicated to the health and care of young people, ranging from babies to teenagers. Children, as patients, have unique healthcare needs that require specialized knowledge and expertise in their growth, illness, and injury. You will eligible to write the Specialty Nursing exam for Pediatric Nursing through the CNA Certification Program. CNA views certification as a method of validating nurses’ competence in an area of specialization within the field of nursing.  Specialty Nursing graduates can receive a credit of up to 1,000 hours towards their initial certification.

Pediatric Nursing Specialty (Standard Option): Advanced Certificate (Part-Time)

British Columbia Institute of Technology

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Note: In alignment with public health orders, this program requires that students be vaccinated for a number of communicable diseases – including COVID-19.

The following are requirements for entry into Specialty Nursing certificate and degree courses. Enforcement or waiving of any or all entry requirements is at the discretion of the program head.

If you have any questions about your experience or qualifications, please contact the program head.

English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
English Studies 12 (73%) or
English First Peoples 12 (73%) or
Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
ENGL 1177 -  Writing (73%) or
3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (73%) from a recognized institution

Post-secondary education: diploma in nursing

Current practicing registration with one of the following:
BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) or
Canadian provincial equivalent or
Registered Nurse (RN) license number (if practicing outside Canada)

Work Experience: minimum six months work experience in an acute care setting

Submit a resume of work experience with your application.

Exceptions may be granted for undergraduate students taking entry-level theory courses or new graduates. A resume is required for placement in the program. If you have questions about whether your work experience qualifies, please contact the program head.

Interested nurses from international practice, residential, or other areas of care lacking recent (within two years) acute care experience may be required to complete a refresher course. BCIT recommends the following programs:

Douglas College
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Thompson Rivers University

Please contact one of the institutions above, as well as the program head, to determine an appropriate preparatory course of study.

International applicants

This part-time distance/online program is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid work permit in Canada that will be valid for the duration of clinical training.

International applicants accepted into this program are not eligible for a study permit.

Program declaration

Please contact the program assistant to declare this program.

Academic Admission Requirement

Clinical requirements

Proof of your influenza immunization or agree to wear a mask at all times prior to being placed in clinical studies.
Basic Cardiac Life Support Certification
BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) registration: As well as providing this information at the time of admission, BCIT requires students to provide proof of CRNBC membership (or Canadian provincial equivalent) for each clinical course they enroll in. Without proper provincial registration, you will not be permitted to continue in the course.

Face Respirator Fit Testing

Additional Academic Admission Requirement



Prior experience with children and families is an asset. This experience takes a variety of forms, including: a senior preceptorship in nursing school in a pediatric, perinatal or neonatal area; volunteer work with childbearing families; and employment in a pediatric, perinatal or neonatal area.

If you are considering pediatric nursing and have not had previous exposure to the profession, you can benefit from a day spent in a hospital pediatric unit, and from talking to pediatric nurses about the specialty and their practice.

Admission Advice

Part-time Studies applications accepted throughout the year for intakes in January, April and September.

Application Deadline Advice

URL for Pediatric Nursing Specialty (Standard Option): Advanced Certificate (Part-Time) at BCIT

British Columbia Institute of Technology

Pediatric Nursing Specialty (Standard Option): Advanced Certificate (Part-Time)

Overview

Work experience

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