Practical Nurse Diploma is a diploma in Nursing programme taught at Red Deer Polytechnic in Red Deer, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 30,135 per year (CAD 8,610 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Diploma
Field:Nursing
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 8,610 / year
International tuition: CAD 30,135 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Practical Nurse Diploma at Red Deer Polytechnic is completed over two or three years, with a winter intake option starting in 2027. Coursework covers nursing foundations, pharmacology, health assessment, gerontology, mental health nursing, and maternity and pediatric nursing, alongside patient care basics, vital signs assessment, medication knowledge, and identification of health concerns. At the Red Deer campus, most theory classes are delivered in person, with labs and clinicals always face-to-face; at Campus Alberta Central locations, theory classes are online while labs are held in person. The program includes three hands-on clinical placements across a range of healthcare settings, culminating in a final preceptorship experience, and students are required to arrange their own transportation to placements. It suits students seeking a flexible-length diploma with a mix of in-person and online delivery depending on campus location. On completion, graduates are eligible to take the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam to obtain Licensed Practical Nurse licensure, with further career paths including crisis counsellor, health educator, surgical nurse, and critical care nurse.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Direct entry requires 60% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 70% in ELA 30-2, 50% in Mathematics 30-1, Math 30-2 or Math 30 Applied (or 60% in Math 20-1/70% in Math 20-2), and 60% in Biology 30, with equivalent courses accepted. Applicants whose first language is not English must show Canadian high-school graduation with three consecutive first-language English courses, an English-medium Canadian undergraduate degree, or one of: IELTS Academic 7.0 overall (6.5 per band), TOEFL 92 iBT/580 PBT, Duolingo 130, or Oxford ELLT 8 overall (7 per band) — the college's higher, health-programme scale. A prior-learning assessment route is available for qualified healthcare professionals trained within the past ten years. Accepted students must meet immunisation and health-certification standards for clinical placement, arrange their own transport to practicum sites across Alberta, and, if on a Study Permit, complete medical authorization one month before classes begin.
Application Details
Start Date:Winter
Application Deadline:Offered at five sites (Red Deer, Drumheller, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Ponoka); Fall 2026 is closed at every site. Winter 2027 (2-Year Red Deer) is waitlisted, domestic window 1 Mar - 15 Dec 2026, international 1 Mar - 1 Sep 2026 -- also waitlisted.
