Diploma in Practical Nurse is a diploma in Nursing programme taught at Aurora College in Fort Smith, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years. Tuition for international students is CAD 7,560 per semester (CAD 2,640 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Nursing
Duration: 2 years
Local tuition: CAD 2,640 / semester
International tuition: CAD 7,560 / semester
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Practical Nurse program is a two-year diploma at Aurora College, running across fall, winter, and spring semesters in both years, with some courses offered online and others through distance delivery in addition to study at the Yellowknife North Slave Campus. Coursework covers health and nursing concepts, basic microbiology, human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, human growth and development, and nursing theory, with Indigenous knowledge and health practices integrated throughout. Instruction combines classroom study, laboratory work, and mandatory clinical practicum placements, which may require working days, evenings, nights, weekends, and statutory holidays, and students may need to relocate for some clinical experiences. On completion, graduates are eligible to write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam and apply for licensure with the College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The program suits students prepared for an academically demanding course of study leading to a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse, with particular attention to the healthcare needs of northern communities.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Entry requires a minimum final grade of 60% in English 30-2, Math 20-2 and Biology 30, or, via Aurora College's UCAP Nursing Pathway, 60% in Aurora College English 150, Aurora College Math 145 and Biology 30; equivalent post-secondary coursework may also be considered. Applicants who have already completed nursing courses elsewhere may be eligible for transfer credit under the Previous Nursing Education Pathway. No English-language proficiency test score is published for this programme. All applicants must submit official high school and post-secondary transcripts, a reference letter from a work or school contact addressing their readiness for an academically challenging program, a satisfactory Criminal Records and Vulnerable Sector Check, and proof of compliance with the NWT Immunization Schedule including tuberculosis screening. The pass mark for every course is 60%, and the diploma must be completed within five years of starting the program.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Priority admission for Indigenous applicants, NWT long-term residents, and UCAP/Nursing Career Pathway graduates requires a complete application before 1 April 2027 for Fall 2027 entry; later applications are processed without priority.
