Durham College offers Diploma in Practical Nursing (PSW-PN bridge), a diploma in Nursing programme in Oshawa, Canada. The programme runs for 4 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 16,777 per year (CAD 4,064 per year for local students).
This bridge pathway is for students who complete the required PSW-to-PN bridge courses, with successful candidates granted advanced standing into semester two of the Practical Nursing program. The wider Practical Nursing program aims to prepare graduates for the expanding, evolving role nursing now plays in today's healthcare system, drawing on clinical knowledge, applied skills and professional judgement to deliver safe, ethical and competent nursing care that addresses patients' needs across the full continuum of care.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:65.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Three things are required together: graduation at a 65 per cent cumulative average from an Ontario Personal Support Worker program meeting the provincial Ministry of Colleges and Universities standards (public colleges, private career colleges and district school boards all count); regular recent work as a PSW in Ontario, within the last five years; and every PSW to PN Bridge course passed at 60 per cent or better, with 80 per cent required in Math for Practical Nurses. The bridge is highly competitive - Durham decides on the completion date of the final bridging course, giving priority to applicants who applied and met requirements ahead of the equal-consideration dates (1 February for the May and September intakes; 1 October for January). Finishing the bridging courses does not secure a seat in the next intake, so Durham advises applying to every intake open on OCAS.
Application Details
Start Date:Three intakes a year - September, January and May. Current cycle class starts: 8 September 2026, 11 January 2027 and 3 May 2027.
Application Deadline:Domestic (apply at ontariocolleges.ca): equal-consideration date 1 February 2026 for September 2026 entry, 1 October 2026 for January 2027 entry and 1 February 2027 for May 2027 entry - Durham's standing rule is 1 February for a September start, 1 October for a January start and 1 February for a May start. Applications completed after the equal-consideration date are still accepted and assessed while seats remain. International: apply through Durham College's own international application, not ontariocolleges.ca; Durham publishes no general international closing date and directs applicants to the Intakes and Availability table on the program page. This program is on Durham's list of programs anticipated to be highly competitive: qualified applicants complete by the equal-consideration date are ranked on the average of four senior-level (Grade 11 or 12, C, M or U) prerequisite subjects. The program page states the bridge's own equal-consideration dates as 1 February for the May and September intakes and 1 October for the January intake, and admission decisions are based on the completion date of the final bridging course.
