Access to Practical Nursing Diploma

• A BC certificate in one of the following programs: Health Care Assistant (HCA), Resident Care Attendant (RCA) or Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (HS/RCA) or a current BC Care Aide Registry Number

• 600 hours of work experience as an HCA or RCA or an HS/RCA within the last two years, in a hospital or long term care facility where care is provided to a group of clients

  • Work experience must include providing care to multiple patients/residents at one time where prioritizing and critical thinking are required
  • Work experience must be verified by an official employer letter
  • Note that working in a home care environment where one person is care for at a time will not meet this 600 hour requirement
• B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent (ABE, GED), or mature student status.
• English Requirement:
  • A minimum grade of 65% in one of: English 12 or equivalent, English First Peoples 12, or an equivalent Provincial Level Adult Basic Education English course.
• 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 languages. English as a Second Language/Additional Language courses are not included in this three-year calculation. Those not meeting this requirement must achieve scores identified in one of the two tests below:

    Area of Proficiency	IELTS Academic	CELBAN
    Reading	6.5	8
    Listening	7.0	9
    Writing	6.5	7
    Speaking	7.0	8
    Overall	7.0

  • In addition to meeting English language requirements for the Practical Nursing program, 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.
• Mathematics Requirement:
  • A minimum grade of 60% in any of:
    • Pre-Calculus Grade 11
    • Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11
    • Principles of Mathematics 11
    • Adult Basic Education MATH 011
  • Or a minimum grade of 60% in one of:
    • Adult Basic Education IALG 011
    • Both Math 084 and MATH 085
• Biology Requirement:
  • Both a minimum grade of 60% in a Grade 12 Biology course which includes human anatomy and physiology or Anatomy and Physiology 12 or an equivalent Provincial level Adult Basic Education Biology course and
  • And, a minimum grade of 65% in Pre-Practical Nursing Anatomy and Physiology (PNUR 113) course. Please note that Biology 12 is a prerequisite for PNUR 113.

Other Requirements:

• A criminal record check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office. Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to provide a clearance letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.

Program Pre-practice Requirements:

• CPR level 'C'
• Current immunizations as required by clinical partner sites and recommended by BC Centre for Disease Control (2009): diptheria and tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), varicella and influenza
• Negative Tuberculosis skin test or chest x-ray no more than 6 months before the date of application or adequate follow up in the case of a positive test
• Successful completion of all the BC Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) including 8 hour in person classroom course. If previously completed, proof of completion along with annual refresher

There may be additional fees associated with other admission and program pre-practice requirements. These requirements are usually completed outside of regular class time. Students are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation by the due dates provided. The admissions office and/or department chair will provide further instructions.

Student Transportation and Accommodation:

• 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.

Selection Process 2026:

• Applicants who satisfy the admission requirements will be offered admission in chronological order, based on the date of application.

Selection Process 2027:

• This program admits on a First Qualified, First Accepted basis. Once an applicant meets all admission requirements, or show they are enrolled in the required courses, and their application is complete, offers are made in the order files are qualified until the program is full.