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

Entrance requirements

The following are requirements for program 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 to arrange program advising.

• English Language Proficiency: Specialty Nursing courses are taught in the English language and require adequate English skills. To review BCIT’s requirements on English Language proficiency, please visit BCIT’s Admission and Registration page on English Requirements.

• Work Experience: RNs or undergraduate students currently registered in an accredited RN or BSN program may start their Specialty Nursing Certificate by taking entry level theory courses. Applicants to the more advanced Specialty Nursing Certificate courses may require a minimum of 6 months to 1 year of relevant work experience in an acute care setting and a resume of work experience may be required to progress in the program. If you have questions about whether your work experience qualifies, please contact the program head.

If you are a long term or residential care nurse or an RN lacking current (within the last 2 years) acute care experience, Kwantlen College offers a Competency Assessment and Enhancement for Nurses course that provides a refresher in acute care principles.

This assessment involves an individual self assessment, multiple choice exam and practice simulation. This course may be required for admission in the Specialty Nursing programs. For more information on Kwantlen's offering please visit:

• Competency Assessment & Enhancement for Nursing Program (CAEN) PNCA 1000

Once you have been assessed, you may be required to complete a tailored curriculum designed to meet BCIT's need for familiarity with acute care principles. This curriculum may include some of the following courses:

• Kwantlen Health Sciences Professional Studies

Clinical requirements

• Proof of your influenza immunization or agree to wear a mask at all times prior to being placed in your clinical studies.

• Basic Cardiac Life Support Certification: All students participating in clinical courses must have current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Level C or Level Health Care Provider (HCP). The original certificate must be presented upon application to the clinical courses.

• BCCNP Registration: As well as providing this information at the time of admission, BCIT requires students to provide proof of BCCNP 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

Recommended for success

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

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.