At North Island College in Courtenay, Canada, Foundation in Access to Practical Nursing Pathway is offered as a foundation in Health Sciences programme. The programme runs for 16 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition is CAD 4,500 per total for local students.
At a glance
Degree:Foundation
Field:Health Sciences
Duration: 16 months
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 4,500 / total
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Access to the Practical Nursing program provides health care assistants with the bridging courses and training to enter the second year of NIC’s Practical Nursing program. Upon completion, you will begin level 3 of the Practical Nursing program. You will be able to earn their diploma in Practical Nursing in under 16 months.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants need Grade 12 graduation or equivalent, a C+ in English Studies 12, Provincial English 12, English First Peoples 12, ENG 096/098, or paired ESL 092 and ESL 095 (or a successful assessment), a C in Foundations of Math 11 or Pre-Calculus 11 or a college equivalent (or assessment), a C in Anatomy and Physiology 12, Biology 12, or BIO 060, and a C+ in BIO 159 completed within the last 10 years. Applicants must sign a Declaration of English Language Competency Requirements for Practical Nursing and a Requisite Skills and Abilities Program Bulletin, and must hold a BC Health Care Assistant, Resident Care Attendant, or Home Support/Resident Care Attendant certificate (or current BC Care Aide Registry number) plus 600 hours of paid HCA/RCA/HS-RCA work experience within the last two years. Before classes start, students must complete a criminal record check, current CPR certification, WHMIS training, immunization documentation, provincial violence-prevention training, and respiratory fit testing.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall and Winter
Application Deadline:This is a limited-entry program at NIC: for the 2026/27 cycle the application deadline is the last Monday of August for a September start, the third Friday of December for a January start, or five days before the start date for a mid-term intake; seats go by date of a complete, qualifying application.
