Practical Nurse

The two-year Practical Nursing diploma program taken face-to-face at the Cranbrook campus is designed to help prepare graduates to give qualified professional care to individuals and families in a variety of settings. Graduates are eligible to apply to write REx-PN exams for licensure as Practical Nurses.

Within this curriculum, caring is viewed as a core concept. Practical Nurses foster client empowerment in care planning and decision making, and are cognizant of their unique biological, psychosocial, spiritual, cultural and environmental complexity. Practical Nurses care for clients across the lifespan, providing safe, knowledgeable and integrated care through critical thinking and clinical judgment.

In order to meet requirements for clinical practica, students may have to travel to regional areas in the East Kootenay.

Upon completion of your second year, you will be eligible to write the Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse. You are then able to apply to be registered with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) in order to become licensed as a Practical Nurse.

Practical Nursing Diploma Requirements:

Level 1

* Note: Students must pass PPNP 101 to continue in Level 1 of the program.

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

View official program outline

Level 1

Level 1 consists of 15 weeks of classroom/lab instruction in Cranbrook and a 3 week Consolidated Practice Experience.

Note:  PPNP 101 must be successfully completed (minimum grade of 65%) for the student to continue in level 1 of the program.

Level 2

Level 2 consists of 12 weeks of classroom/lab instruction in Cranbrook and a 4 week Consolidated Practice Experience 2.

Level 3

Level 3 consists of 11 weeks classroom, lab instruction and practicum work in Cranbrook including Consolidated Practice Experience 3.

Level 4

Level 4 consists of 12 weeks classroom and lab instruction, 7 weeks Consolidated Practice Experience, and 7 weeks Preceptorship.

Academic Requirements:

• Secondary school graduation or equivalent
• Minimum 65% in either English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12, ENGL 090, or equivalent
• Minimum 60% in either Foundations of Math 11, MATH 080, MATH 082, Pre-Calculus 11, or equivalent
• Minimum 60% in either BIOL 090, Anatomy and Physiology 12, or equivalent
• Human Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses with a minimum grade of 65% must be achieved before taking Variations in Health 1, Health Promotion 1, Pharmacology 1, Integrated Nursing Practice 1 and Consolidated Practice 1

Notes for Admission and Progression:

Once you are admitted and begin the program, you must complete Human Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses (PPNP 101) with a minimum grade of 65% before being permitted to progress in to Variations in Health 1, Health Promotion 1, Pharmacology 1, Integrated Nursing Practice 1 and Consolidated Nursing Practice 1.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

• All international student applicants to the PN program are required to provide proof of meeting English Language Proficiency, those not meeting this requirement must achieve scores identified in one of the following:
  1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic with minimum scores of:
     • Speaking: 7.0
     • Listening: 7.5
     • Reading: 6.5
     • Writing: 7.0
     • Overall Band Score: 7.0
  2. Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of:
     • Speaking: 8.0
     • Listening: 10.0
     • Reading: 8.0
     • Writing: 7.0
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange for assessment through Student Services or an Education Advisor at the College.

Additional Admission Requirements:

• Practical Nursing Requisite Skills and Abilities Declaration
• Complete a criminal record check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Records Review Program*
• Notice of Collection, Use and Disclosure Agreement

Practicum Requirements

• CPR for Health Care Providers BLS or HCP or equivalent, to be kept current for the duration of the program. Acceptable CPR courses must include a face-to-face component and may be combined with a first aid course
• BCCDC Immunizations for BC Health Care Workers
• Annual influenza immunization
• COVID-19 vaccination
• Negative TB testing results, must be completed no earlier than 8 months before the beginning of the PN Program

*Details of practicum requirements will be included in your admissions package.

Practicum Information

Where possible, students will complete their requirements for practicum in their own communities. If they are not able to complete practicum requirements in their own communities, students must be prepared to travel elsewhere, and will be responsible for their own transportation as well as any travel and living expenses.    

Immunizations:

Thank you for your interest in applying to be a student in one of our Health and Human Services programs at the College of the Rockies. As a successful applicant, you will receive or have received a request to provide documentation confirming you are current in immunizations and First Aid/CPR.

Immunization services in BC are in flux as Public Health Departments must regularly reprioritize resource distribution. Public Health agencies will do their best to accommodate College of the Rockies student immunizations by individual appointment. Immunizations are also available through local pharmacists and Travel Clinics. We recommend that students continue to pursue obtaining required immunizations to complete program admission and practicum placement requirements as soon as available.

It is the responsibility of the student to continue to actively seek to obtain and complete these requirements.

Obtaining and completing these admission requirements can be more difficult, your admission into the Health and Human Services programs will not be held up while you wait to complete these requirements.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter

First Aid/CPR:

In accordance with provincial/territorial public health authorities, in-person training options are now available in certain jurisdictions. Red Cross Training Partners will adopt safe classroom protocols to promote the safety of all participants. Please check for blended delivery options as well to support your training needs. College of the Rockies accepts blended format CPR certifications (online theory supported by face-to-face practical application), but does not accept certifications obtained exclusively online. Students are expected to continue to seek CPR recertification, as courses come available, and to update their certification as soon as possible.

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C or a higher level of CPR certification, current for the duration of the program. Certificate must indicate the level of CPR and when it expires. Acceptable CPR courses must include a face-to-face component and may be combined with a first aid course. Please check with the course provider prior to enroling, and ensure that the course is CPR Level C. CPR Level A and Level B are not accepted.
• One of the following first aid certifications:

_{*Practicum based learning is an essential component of this program. A criminal record may reduce an applicant’s access to the program and/or to required practicum opportunities. Applicants disclosing a criminal record are guided to explore other options. Depending on the nature of the offense, options may include applying for a pardon. Any associated cost is the responsibility of the student.}

For the 2025/26 academic year (2025/SU, 2025/FA, 2026/WI, 2026/SP)

Year 1

Year 2

_{*Tuition and Fees for domestic students are estimates and are subject to change. Depending on course electives there may be additional lab fees. Tuition and Fees do not include textbook costs or supplies. Tuition fees include student technology fees, student activity fees, and alumni fees. For more information, visit: Tuition and Fees.}

Additional Costs:

Travel within the Program

Practice experiences are essential in the Practical Nursing program. It may not be possible to arrange practice experiences in the location and at the time preferred by students. Students must arrange their own transportation. Travel and accommodation arrangements and costs associated with practice experiences are the responsibility of the student.

Computer

In the Practical Nursing program, teaching and learning strategies incorporate the use of technology through various platforms such as online learning and communication. Students must have access to a computer in order to engage in this learning.

Books and Supplies

In addition to tuition and other fees, students can expect to purchase books and supplies. Visit our bookstore for textbook information and costs.

For the 2025/26 academic year (2025/SU, 2025/FA, 2026/WI, 2026/SP)

Year 1

Year 2

Additional Costs:

Travel within the Program

Practice experiences are essential in the Practical Nursing program. It may not be possible to arrange practice experiences in the location and at the time preferred by students. Students must arrange their own transportation. Travel and accommodation arrangements and costs associated with practice experiences are the responsibility of the student.

Computer

In the Practical Nursing program, teaching and learning strategies incorporate the use of technology through various platforms such as online learning and communication. Students must have access to a computer in order to engage in this learning.

Books and Supplies

In addition to tuition and other fees, students can expect to purchase books and supplies. Visit our bookstore for textbook information and costs.

Our rapidly growing population will require more health services, ensuring a need for Licensed Practical Nurses.

With further education and/or experience, additional opportunities may include:

• Operating room technicians
• Specializing in:
  • Emergency care
  • Intensive care
  • Maternity
  • Pediatrics
  • Community Health

Gain insights into job expectations, career prospects, salary, and additional information through WorkBC.

Loan Forgiveness for Practical Nursing student graduates staying in BC and working in an under serviced community:

Graduates from eligible schools in nursing (including practical nursing, nurse practitioners, registered psychiatric nurses and registered nurses) will have all outstanding BC Student Loan debt forgiven at a rate of 20 percent per year of practice in an underserved community.  They must agree to fill a vacancy at a publicly funded facility in a full-time, part-time or casual-on-call capacity.

Students in Nursing programs are eligible for up to a $2,000 bursary if they apply for a BC student loan.  They will automatically be assessed when they apply. This is based on financial need.

For more information on loan forgiveness visit the StudentAid BC website.