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
• 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.
• B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent (ABE, GED), or mature student status.
• English Requirement:
  • A minimum grade of 70% 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:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with minimum scores of:
    • Speaking: 7.0
    • Listening: 7.5
    • Reading: 6.5
    • Writing: 7.0
    • Overall Band Score: 7.0
  • Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) with minimum scores of:
    • Speaking: 8.0
    • Listening: 10.0
    • Reading: 8.0
    • Writing: 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 of 67% 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 70% in one of:
    • Adult Basic Education IALG 011
    • Both Math 084 and MATH 085
• Biology Requirement:
  • Both a minimum grade of 67% 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, a minimum grade of 70% in Pre-Practical Nursing Anatomy and Physiology (PNUR 113) course. Please note that Biology 12 is a prerequisite for PNUR 113.

Other Requirements:

• CPR level "C"
• 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.
• Either Red Cross Standard First Aid or St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid.
• Negative TB 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

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:

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