Practical Nurse Diploma is a diploma in Nursing programme taught at Portage College in Lac La Biche, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered in a hybrid format. Tuition for international students is CAD 17,758 per year (CAD 5,919 per year for local students).
This two-year diploma prepares students to practise as licensed practical nurses, combining nursing theory, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, health assessment and communication skills with supervised clinical practice. The program is delivered in a hybrid format, combining online coursework with in-person labs and exams, and runs at the Cold Lake, Lac La Biche and St. Paul campuses. The first year builds foundational nursing knowledge alongside a continuing-care practicum, while the second year covers specialized areas including medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, mental-health and community nursing, with acute-care practicums and a preceptorship placement in a clinical setting. The program suits students who want to work across rural and urban healthcare settings and who value a collaborative, family-centred approach to patient care. Graduates become eligible to write the national licensing examination required to practise as a licensed practical nurse in Alberta, and can work in acute-care hospitals, continuing-care facilities and community health settings.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission requires English Language Arts 30-1 at 60% or English Language Arts 30-2 at 70%, Math 20-2 at 60%, and Biology 30 at 60%; Chemistry 30 is strongly recommended though not mandatory. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit one of IELTS Academic (Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0, Speaking 7.0), TOEFL iBT (Listening 23, Reading 21, Writing 25, Speaking 22), or CELBAN (Listening 10, Reading 8, Writing 7, Speaking 7), tested within the two years before application. Admitted students must be 18 before their first practicum, hold current Heart & Stroke BLS for Healthcare Providers certification through their first clinical placement, submit a signed immunization record and Health Status Questionnaire, and clear a Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Search within 90 days of the start date. Because the programme has an enrolment limit, Portage College applies an academic rating scale to rank applicants; those who meet the minimum requirements but not the competitive threshold may be waitlisted.
Application Details
Start Date:August
Application Deadline:No fixed deadline: listed as 'open until seats are filled,' competitive GPA-based admission when oversubscribed. Year 1 of the 2027-2029 cohort begins August 30, 2027.
