Access to Practical Nursing Diploma is a diploma in Health Sciences programme taught at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek, Canada. The programme runs for 16 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 15,547 per year (CAD 3,135 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Health Sciences
Duration: 16 months
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 3,135 / year
International tuition: CAD 15,547 / year
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Access to Practical Nursing program prepares you to provide professional nursing care to individuals and families in a range of settings. Graduates of the program can apply to write the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN) for licensure as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). LPNs are hired in the community, continuing care and acute care hospital settings. The program is designed to build on the Health Care Assistant Certificate (HCA). If you complete or hold an HCA certificate, you may complete the APN program in 16 months rather than the direct entry Practical Nursing (PN) program which is 22 months.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Grade 12 graduation or equivalent, plus, for applicants whose first language is English, English 12 (C+ or higher) or English First Peoples 12 (C+ or higher); applicants with English as an Additional Language must present Academic IELTS 7.0 overall with Speaking 7.0, Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0, or CELBAN with Speaking 8.0, Listening 10.0, Reading 8.0, Writing 7.0; Foundations of Mathematics 11 (min. C) or Pre-Calculus 11 (min. C); Anatomy and Physiology 12 (min. C) or Biology 12 (min. C); and PNUR 099 - Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses (min. 65%) or an equivalent course. Applicants must also hold a Health Care Assistant (HCA), Resident Care Attendant (RCA) or combined HS/RCA certificate, and have a minimum of 600 hours of care-facility work experience with multiple patients/residents within the last two years. Cohort intake.
Application Details
Start Date:February (Dawson Creek and Fort St John)
Application Deadline:Northern Lights College uses one admissions calendar for domestic and international applicants alike, applying through EducationPlannerBC or in person. Applications open about eleven months before each intake: 1 October for the following Fall, 1 February for the following Winter, and 1 June for the following Spring. For the 2027 cycle the priority deadline is 30 September 2026 for Winter 2027 entry, 31 January 2027 for Spring 2027 entry, and 31 May 2027 for Fall 2027 entry (dual-credit applicants get until 24 October 2026 and 23 June 2027 respectively), with a tuition deposit due about a month after each priority date. NLC states international applicants already in Canada on a valid visa follow the same domestic deadlines; after the priority date, seats remain open, on a rolling basis, until each term's add/drop date. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
