The Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Program consists of 136 credits, with 95 required credits in nursing. In order to meet the UNBC graduation requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree, the student must successfully complete the following courses:

Plan of Study Grid

Year One
Fall Semester		Credits
September-December 1
ANTH 102	Intro Social and Cultural Anth	3
BIOL 131	Human Anatomy & Physiology I	3
NURS 101	The Art and Science of Nursing	3
PSYC 101	Introductory Psychology I	3
	Credits	12
Winter Semester
January-April 1
BIOL 132	Human Anatomy & Physiology II	3
NURS 102	Communication Theory and Practice	3
BIOL 133	Applied Microbiology	3
MATH 131	Introduction to Statistics	3
Plus 2 electives 2		6
	Credits	18
Year Two
Fall Semester
September-December 1
BIOL 220	Pathophysiology	3
BIOL 222	Human Nutrition	3
NURS 205	Intro to First Nations Health	3
NURS 201	Intro to Health Assessment	4
Plus 1 elective 2		3
	Credits	16
Winter Semester
January-May 1
BIOL 221	Pharmacology for Nurses	3
NURS 203	Health Promotion in Families	3
NURS 215	Care of the Adult	8
Plus 1 elective 2		3
	Credits	17
Spring/Summer Term
NURS 220	Extended Clinical Practicum I	5
	Credits	5
	Total Credits	68

¹

Schedule subject to change.

²

Check with a CMTN Educational Advisor for elective options.

Years 3 and 4 schedules are determined by UNBC.

Third and fourth year courses will be taken at UNBC, Terrace Campus. Visit UNBC for nursing course descriptions and information about the program’s philosophy and aims.

Qualifications for degree program

Transfer credit may be awarded for course work completed at other recognized institutions.

Individual Nursing (NURS) or Health Sciences (HHSC) courses, or their equivalents, must have been completed within five years prior to the semester of admission to the Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NCBNP) to be eligible for transfer credit. Other course work must be completed within 10 years prior to the semester of admission to be considered for transfer credit.  Course work taken at other institutions after admission may also be eligible for transfer credit (Refer to Letter of Permission in the General Requirements for Nursing). Students are encouraged to consult with an advisor prior to registration for courses completed outside of UNBC.

Students who have completed a Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate or Diploma may be eligible for transfer credit towards the Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program (Refer to Admission Requirements: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Access under the NCBNP).

It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that their degree requirements are met. Graduation requirements are found in the Regulations and Policies section of the UNBC Calendar. To fulfill the requirements of graduation, students must:

• attain a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.33 (C+) on all courses used for credit towards the degree
• attain a minimum passing grade in NURS 220, NURS 328, NURS 329 and NURS 330
• obtain a minimum passing grade of 2.00 (C) in the following courses, or their equivalents
  • Note: Students enrolling in any required course must have completed all prerequisites with a grade of (C) or better, or if NURS 220, NURS 328, NURS 329 or NURS 330 is the prerequisite, a passing grade is required:
    • all NURS courses, including NURS electives
    • all mandatory HHSC courses
    • ANTH 213
    • STAT 240
    • POLS 403
• confirm all transfer credit meets eligibility requirements and has been awarded accordingly;
• complete all outstanding requirements within eight years, starting from the first semester of registration following admission to the NCBNP.

                NCBNP BScN within eight years

                Post-Diploma BScN or RNCP BScN Completion within eight years

                Rural Nursing Certificate Program within six years

Standards of Professional Conduct

In addition to all University, College, and Program expectations, all students are expected to abide by professional standards as set forth in the BCCNP Professional Standards for Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2002). Violation of professional standards may result in suspension or dismissal from the program or the educational institution.

Application Deadline has been extended until June 1 2023

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

Admission requirements

This program is competitive entry and document submission is in alignment with UNBC. The following dates may change year to year:

• Applications must be received by March 31 
• All supporting transcripts are due by April 30
• Interim grades must be provided by the applicant's school by April 30 for students who are still completing prerequisite requirements. Students must have completed at least 50% of each of these courses by April 30
• All prerequisites must be completed by September 1

Students apply at CMTN but must also meet UNBC admission requirements. (See Mature Student and University Transfer requirements below)

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• UNBC admission requirements with a minimum 70% average; and

• completion of the equivalent BC secondary school courses with a minimum 70% in each course:

· one of Foundations of Mathematics 11, Pre-calculus 11, or Principles of Math 11

· Chemistry 11

· one of English Studies 12, English 12 or English First Peoples 12;

• completion of the equivalent of Anatomy and Physiology 12 or Biology 12 with a minimum 73% within five years prior to the semester of admission to the NCBNP.

Please discuss prerequisite equivalency options with a CMTN Educational Advisor. 

          UNBC requirements for mature student entry:

Each mature student application will be reviewed on its own merits. Mature applicants must:

- be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada have been out of secondary school for at least three years

- be 21 years of age on or before the first day of classes have attempted fewer than 15 post-secondary academic credits

Students must submit transcripts of any post-secondary work that they have completed for the purpose of prerequisite checks, and a résumé of both academic and other activities (employment, service, etc.) for the past three years. The University may exercise its discretion by admitting on a probationary basis.

UNBC requirements for University Transfer

To be considered a transfer student, a minimum of 15 credit hours of acceptable university-level course work from a recognized post-secondary institution must be presented.

For admission, a minimum grade point average (GPA) equivalent of UNBC 2.00 or C (63%) calculated on the most recent 30 credit hours of university-level course work is required. GPA is calculated on the course work completed for students with less than 30 credit hours but equal to or more than 15 credit hours.

Students with in-progress course work at the time of admission are required to maintain an acceptable GPA (as above) on the in progress course work to retain their offer of admission.

Applicants must be in good academic standing at the transferring institution(s). Applicants who have been required to withdraw or have been placed on academic probation by the transferring institution(s) must wait for three full semesters before being admissible to UNBC and outline any work completed or experience gained which would better qualify them to successfully complete work at UNBC.

Failure to declare attendance at any post secondary institution could result in disciplinary action by the University and transfer credit will not be considered for transcripts provided in this manner. Information on falsifications may be shared with the Member Institutions of the Association of Registrars of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Self-identified Aboriginal applicants who meet or exceed the minimum requirements for the program will be given priority for up to twenty percent (20%) of the first-year seats for the Northern Collaborative Nursing Program (NCBNP)

Admission will be offered to the applicants with the highest GPA in the four specific pre-requisite courses. In the event of a tie these courses will be weighted in the following priority: English, Biology, Mathematics, then Chemistry.

Equivalent courses from the Adult Basic Education Articulation Guide, including CMTN Career and College Preparation program, may be used as prerequisites. Equivalent courses have been identified by UNBC.

University transferable courses in English, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics (not statistics) can be used in lieu of the prerequisite courses. Where an applicant has the high school prerequisite courses and more advanced courses, the courses with the higher grades will be used in determining the admission GPA.

Applicants whose first language is not English, regardless of citizenship or country of origin, must submit evidence of English language proficiency prior to admission. For the NCBNP, the following are required for admission:

• fulfillment of the BC Secondary School English 12 requirements

(70%), or equivalent, and;

• either an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic,

or

• a CELBAN (Canadian English Language Assessment for Nurses) with current, valid results and scores as set by the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) for the year of admission .

Transfer credit

CMTN NCBNP operates in collaboration with CNC and UNBC, ensuring transferability of program specific courses between these institutions.   Any credit awarded by CMTN will be assessed and need to meet requirements by the degree granting institution.  

Transfer credit may be awarded for course work completed at other recognized institutions. All transfer credit for course work taken prior to admission to the BScN program will be evaluated at the request of the student. 

The total transfer credit awarded on the basis of acceptable course work completed at

non-collaborative partner institutions may not exceed 60 credit hours. Nursing (NURS) and Health Science (HHSC) courses, or their equivalents, must have been completed within five years prior to the semester of admission to be eligible for transfer credit into the NCBNP.

Admission Requirements: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Access

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who are applying for admission to the NCBNP must

•    meet all Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program admission requirements;

•    be graduates of a Practical Nursing program recognized by the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP) since 1994;

•    have current practicing registration or be eligible for practicing registration with the BCCNP.

LPN applicants are assessed on an individual basis and may be eligible for up to a maximum of 15  transfer credit hours of NCBNP courses.

Applicants who have completed a BC Practical Nursing Certificate prior to 1994, or have completed a certificate or diploma from a program outside of British Columbia, or have graduated from an institution not listed in the BC Transfer Guide, may not be exempt from any of the Year 1 or Year 2 NCBNP courses.

In order to have their documents referred to Nursing faculty members for transfer credit assessment, all successful LPN applicants must meet individually with the Nursing Advisor at the institution to which they are applying. Further criteria may be required in order to receive transfer credit.

Immunization and CPR certification

All students accepted into the NCBNP are sent documentation and information regarding immunization policies. Once accepted into the Program, all students must submit the following:

•      A record of immunization status and any annual vaccination requirements, such as Influenza, based on release date of vaccine.

•      A completed immunization form must be submitted to the institution the student is currently attending prior to Sept 15 in the first year of attendance. Students entering the Program in Year 2 or above must submit the completed immunization form before the first week of classes in September. Failure to do so may result in the student not being allowed to practice in the clinical setting.

•      Documentation of one of the following CPR certifications, which must be successfully maintained throughout the program: CPR-C or Basic Life Support (BLS). BLS is highly recommended. Online CPR courses that do not include face-to-face practice components are not acceptable.

•      Proof of CPR certification (and re-certification) must be submitted annually prior to commencement of classes.

•      Annual re-certification of CPR is required regardless of expiry date on the card.

• Negative TB skin test six months prior to first practice experience, subject to UNBC senate approval                                                

Effective date:  September 2020

Criminal records search

Students are required to undergo a Criminal Records Search prior to being admitted to year 1. A subsequent criminal records search will be required prior to the start of year 3.

Under the requirements of the Criminal Records Review Act (1996), CMTN requires, as part of the application process, criminal records searches for applicants to program areas that involve working with children or other vulnerable persons. The cost of this search is the responsibility of the student.

Criminal Records Search forms will be sent to applicants to the program. Results which identify relevant criminal convictions may disqualify an applicant from admission into a program. Submission of a Criminal Records Search at the point of admission does not preclude either the program or provincial certification bodies from requesting a subsequent Criminal Records Search prior to field placement or professional registration. Please speak with the Dean, Health and Human Services if you have any concerns.

For more information on CRC please visit: http://www.cmtn.bc.ca/admissions/applying-cmtn/criminal-record-check-crc

Nursing BScN - year 1 program fees

Fees Academic Programs Only Domestic Enrollment

Fees	Full-time domestic
Full-time:	30 Credits
Tuition:	$3,146.70
Student Union Fees:	$131.32
Extended Health and Dental*:	$285.00
Mandatory Fees: (includes Lab Fees)1	$397.50
Tuition Total:	$3,938.48
Additional Costs:
Books:2	$2,200.00
Supplies/Clothing:2	$800.00
Total Program Costs:3	$6,938.48

Fees are effective as of August 1, 2024 for the 2024/25 academic year. 

¹

Lab Fee Note: This fee is for the mandatory courses (BIOL 131/BIOL 132/BIOL 133). Lab fees are mandatory and cannot be waived. These non-refundable fees also apply to students with lab exemptions. For any additional elective courses that have a lab component the fees are $17.16 per credit. 

²

These fees are term based and may vary due to the length of the program.

³

Please note that these are approximate costs and may vary depending on courses taken.

Vaccine costs depend on the needs of the student and are the responsibility of the student.

* The Coast Mountain Students Union (CMSU) is pleased to offer Extended Health and Dental Insurance to all qualifying members. The plan is mandatory for all students enrolled in 6 or more credits or a trades program of 26 weeks or longer. Some students, including those studying overseas and those with existing extended health coverage, are eligible to opt out. Visit https://cmsu.studenthealthbc.ca/ to learn more about the plan or request to opt out. You will also receive a detailed introductory email no later than 6 weeks after your semester starts. For any inquiries about the plan, please contact the Students’ Union Organiser : Golnoosh Namazi, organiser@mycmsu.ca

Nursing BScN-year 2 program fees

Fees Academic Programs Only Domestic Enrollment

Fees	Full-time domestic
Full-time:	38 Credits
Tuition:	$3,907.54
Student Union Fees:	$155.85
Extended Health and Dental*:	$275.00
Mandatory Fees: (includes Lab Fees):1	$453.50
Tuition Total:	$4,791.89
Additional Costs:
Books:2	$2,200.00
Supplies/Clothing:2	$800.00
Fieldwork/Practicum:2	$975.00
Required Computer Software:2,3	$650.00
Total Program Costs:3	$9,416.89

 Fees are effective as of August 1, 2023 for the 2023/24 academic year.

¹

Lab Fee Note: This fee is for the mandatory courses. Lab fees are mandatory and cannot be waived. These non-refundable fees also apply to students with lab exemptions. For any additional elective courses that have a lab component the fees are $17.16 per credit. 

²

These fees are term based and may vary due to the length of the program.

³

Please note that these are approximate costs and may vary depending on courses taken.

* The Coast Mountain Students Union (CMSU) is pleased to offer Extended Health and Dental Insurance to all qualifying members. The plan is mandatory for all students enrolled in 6 or more credits or a trades program of 26 weeks or longer. Some students, including those studying overseas and those with existing extended health coverage, are eligible to opt out. Visit https://cmsu.studenthealthbc.ca/ to learn more about the plan or request to opt out. You will also receive a detailed introductory email no later than 6 weeks after your semester starts. For any inquiries about the plan, please contact the Students’ Union Organiser : Golnoosh Namazi, organiser@mycmsu.ca