Becoming a Practical Nurse in British Columbia- Requisite Skills and Abilities 

Admission requirements

Students are accepted into the program once all Step 1 documentation has been received, on a first come –first serve basis and will be invited to register. Prior to the first day of classes, students are expected to submit all Step 2 documents. Step 2 documentation is required for practice education experiences; students who fail to submit any Step 2 documentation will be prohibited from attending practice education experiences.

Step 1: Required for admission and registration

• BC Grade 12 or equivalent
• Foundations of Math 11, Pre-Calculus 11 or Principles of Mathematics 11 with a minimum grade of 60% or equivalent;
• Biology 12, Anatomy and Physiology 12, or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60%;
• English Studies 12 or First Peoples English 12 or equivalent with a grade of minimum grade of 65%; International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as per the BCCNP with minimum scores of: Speaking: 7.0, Listening: 7.5, Reading: 6.5, Writing: 7.0, Overall Band Score: 7.0; Second language applicants who have taken an upgrading English course must also demonstrate 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;
• PNUR 103 Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses or equivalent with a grade of 65% or better, taken within the last 5 years;
• A certificate in one of the following programs: Health Care Assistant (HCA) or Resident Care Attendant (RCA) or a combined Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (HS/RCA).
• Minimum 600 Hours of work experience, within the last two years, in a care facility where care is provided to a group of Gerontology clients. Work experience must be verified by an official employer letter. Individualized home care experience is not acceptable.

Step 2: Required for practice education experiences. Students who fail to submit any Step 2 documentation will be prohibited from attending practice education experiences.

• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate as outlined in the Practice Education Guidelines (http://hspcanada.net/docs/PEG/1_6_Orientation_Students.pdf).
• Criminal record check (including advanced vulnerable populations) under the Criminal Records Review Act and the Ministry of Justice process for educational institutions. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions.
  • Criminal Record Check steps for students
  • Consent to Criminal Record Check form
• Immunizations as outlined in the Practice Education Guidelines and recommended by the BC Centre for Disease Control (2009): diphtheria and tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), varicella and influenza. 
• Negative TB skin test or chest x-ray  

• *Students who do not meet the immunization requirements may be prohibited from attending practice education experiences.

  • Information for Immunization 

  • Health program immunization declaration**

    **Must be submitted with Immunization Record from Health Authority

Residency requirements 

Students must complete a minimum of 50% of the program hours at Coast Mountain College.

Graduation requirements 

Students must achieve a minimum accumulative GPA of 2.67 and a CR in each Consolidated Practice Experience and Preceptorship to graduate from the Access to Practical Nursing Program. Students who receive a grade of less than 70% in any course may be placed on a learning contract.

Program fees