Diploma in Practical Nurse is a diploma in Nursing programme taught at Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 21,053 per year (CAD 6,579 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Nursing
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 6,579 / year
International tuition: CAD 21,053 / year
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This diploma program at Medicine Hat College prepares students for practice as licensed practical nurses. Using a Concept of Caring framework centred on the nursing process and health assessment, the curriculum covers anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, maternal and newborn care, pediatric nursing, mental health, and community health, alongside the development of critical thinking and clinical judgement. Instruction combines classroom, laboratory, and clinical components delivered on-site, with clinical experiences that may require travel within the region and scheduling at various hours, including evenings, nights, and weekends. The primary program runs over two years across five semesters at the Brooks campus, with a fall intake; a 20-month, non-traditionally scheduled option is also offered at the Medicine Hat campus with a winter intake open to domestic applicants only. Admission is competitive, and international applicants may apply to the Brooks campus. Graduates become eligible to work as Licensed Practical Nurses in hospitals, continuing care, community settings, clinics, and industry.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: High-school and mature-student applicants need ELA 30-1 at a minimum of 60% (or ELA 30-2 at 70%), Math 20-1 at 60% (or Math 20-2 at 70%), and Biology 30 at 60% (or Bow Valley College ANAT 1101 at 60%). International applicants must present an IELTS Academic overall band score of 7.0 with no band below 7.0, matching the college's Advanced English Language Proficiency tier, which also accepts TOEFL iBT 92 with no sub-score below 23, PTE Academic 64, or Duolingo English Test 120. The diploma is competitive entry: meeting the published admission averages does not guarantee a seat. Admitted students must submit a Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Search and Intervention Record Check dated within three months of entry, proof of required immunizations, current CPR certification with a Health Care Provider component, and pass N-95 fit testing before clinical placements begin. Intake runs Fall at the Brooks campus and Winter (January) at the Medicine Hat campus.
Application Details
Start Date:September (Brooks campus) and January (Medicine Hat campus)
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants to Medicine Hat College apply through ApplyAlberta: for the Fall 2026 intake (September) applications opened October 1, 2025 and the domestic deadline was September 2, 2026; Winter 2026 (January) closed December 19, 2025, and Spring 2026 (May/June) closed May 1, 2026. International applicants face earlier fixed deadlines for the same intakes: June 1, 2026 for Fall 2026, October 1, 2025 for Winter 2026, and February 2, 2026 for Spring 2026. Several competitive programs, including the Paramedic degree and Social Work diploma, close ahead of the general deadline. MHC had not yet published Winter, Spring, or Fall 2027 dates as of this check; admission is not described as rolling. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
