Become a Practical Nurse in a Year and a Half

Diploma Program

Total Program Hours:

2005 Hours

Full-Time Program Length:

75 Weeks

(Includes holidays and professional days)
Program content is subject to change.

Sprott Shaw College is one of the largest providers of Practical Nursing training in BC

Online and On-Campus Delivery Options may be available!

The Practical Nursing program equips students with the knowledge, judgment, and skills to provide safe, competent, and ethical care.

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) provide nursing services to patients and their families in a variety of hospital, community, residential, and home care environments in collaboration with doctors, physicians, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses.

Practical Nursing Learning Objectives

The Sprott Shaw College (SSC) Practical Nursing program curriculum is based on the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) Standards of Practice Framework. These include the Scope of Practice Standards, Professional Standards, and the Practice Standards as set out by BCCNM.

On completion of this program graduates will:

Apply the Entry to Practice Competencies for Licensed Practical Nurses to provide safe, competent and ethical nursing care to clients across the lifespan
Practice within current legislation, Scope of Practice Standards, Practice Standards, and Professional Standards for Licensed Practical Nurses
Value and engage in continuous learning to maintain and enhance competence
Practice in collaboration with other members of the health care team to meet the collective needs of their clients
Participate in interprofessional problem solving and decision-making processes
Advocate for and facilitate change reflecting an evidence-informed practice
Make practice decisions that are client-specific and consider client acuity, complexity, variability, and available resources
Use critical thinking, clinical judgment and knowledge of assessment to plan, implement, and evaluate the agreed-upon care of plan
Develop a collaborative relationship with clients by connecting, sharing, and exploring with them in a caring environment
Provide culturally safe, person-centered care across the lifespan that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual and is sensitive to cultural safety and diversity
Provide leadership, direction, assignment, and supervision of unregulated care providers as appropriate
Identify own values, biases and assumptions and the influence of these on interactions with clients and other members of the health care team

Why Take Practical Nursing at Sprott Shaw?

Licensing exam preparation and study guides for the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration (CPNRE) exam at no additional charge
Career and professional development success courses to help create a career development marketing plan, learn the cardinal rules of professionalism, and identify the target markets and employment resources for the nursing industry
Preparation and orientation courses to teach you how to find credible research, write papers, create proper citation formats including APA, and study effectively for exams
Prerequisite certificates including First-Aid Basic Life Support (BLS), FoodSafe, and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI)
All-inclusive program costs where what you see is what you pay. Our costs include registration fees, assessment fees, tuition, textbooks, supplies, course materials, uniforms, certificates, graduation fees, clinical and practicum fees, and much more
Access to dedicated Employment Services Specialists (ESS) who can help you with resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, and the overall job search after graduation
Multiple start dates so you can start your education when you want to without the wait
Preceptorship, clinical, and practicum opportunities with health authorities across BC including Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health Authority, Island Health, Northern Health, and Interior Health Authority
Grant and scholarship opportunities are available to help you save on tuition. Up to $4000 in scholarships and grants are open to recent high school graduates, Sprott Shaw alumni, military veterans, and more! Click here to browse our full list of grants and scholarships.

Where Are Sprott Shaw Graduates Working?

In addition to health authorities across the province, our Practical Nursing graduates are working at recognized hospitals like Vancouver General Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Chilliwack General Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, and more.

Practical Nursing students have received acute, complex care, and long-term experiences at various recognized organizations including BC Cancer Agency, North Shore Hospice, Correctional Health Services, Good Samaritan Society, and Revera Living Incorporated where they have been placed in one of 175 homes and residencies across Canada.

Success Stories

“The supportive environment at Sprott Shaw drove me through the nursing program and inspired me to strive for educational excellence.” – Kylie M.
“It was really easy and quick to get in and make an appointment with the advisor who was really helpful throughout the process, explaining step-by-step what I needed to do.” – Natasha C.
“Aside from a better quality of education, Sprott Shaw College treats everyone like a family. They’re here to help, comfort, and guide you through your successes.” – Kirby O.

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Admission Requirements:

Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent (General Education Development, Adult Basic Education), or mature student status (Age 19 and one year out of school).
All transcripts must be true certified copies or originals.
Applicants must successfully complete the admissions interview, a Coordinator/Director interview and meet the requirements as set by the BCCNM.
For more information on English Language requirements and equivalencies please click here.

Proof of meeting English Language and Math Requirements:

English 12 with a minimum grade of 65% OR English 12 First Peoples with a minimum grade of 65% OR English for Healthcare with a minimum grade of 76%

OR Equivalent

Math 11 Foundations with a minimum grade of 60% OR SSC
Math for Healthcare with a minimum grade of 64% OR
BC Curriculum Anatomy and Physiology 12 (formerly known as Biology 12) with a minimum grade of 60% OR SSC Biology Basics with a minimum grade of 60% OR Equivalent.

Applicants with English as a Second/Additional Language must meet the language requirements set by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and be successful in one of the following: (subject to change, consistent with BCCNM requirements) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic Version, Canadian English Language Benchmarks Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN).

As English is the language of study in BC, students must meet English language proficiency at an appropriate level to be accepted into the provincial PN program. These requirements can be satisfied through 3 years of full-time, face-to-face secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction and is also one of the country’s official languages. English as a Second Language/Additional Language courses are not included in this 3-year calculation. Those not meeting this requirement must achieve scores identified in one of the two tests listed below:

IELTS (Academic) with minimum scores of:

Speaking: 7.0
Listening: 7.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 7.0
Overall band score: 7.0

CELBAN with minimum scores of:

Speaking: 8.0
Listening: 10.0
Reading: 8.0
Writing: 7.0

Other Requirements:

Portfolio containing: English Essay, Resume, Two letters of Reference.
Provide evidence of clear TB testing prior to acceptance (all must be done no more than three months before the start of the program).
Provide evidence of up-to-date Immunizations: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, Chicken Pox, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Pertussis.
Influenza and others as required by clinical sites.
Must adhere to the requirements of the BC Practice Education Guidelines.
Cleared Criminal Record Check (Public Safety & Solicitor General Schedule B) – Must be submitted within 3 months of Practicum/Clinical start date.
Health Declaration.

Diploma Requirements:

Graduation from this program is based on: A passing grade in all theory courses; successful completion of all practice experiences, including demonstration of mastery of all the clinical competencies; each student must attain the entry level competencies for an LPN in BC as set by the BCCNM.

Note: Successful graduation of this program does not guarantee a license to practice. Such license is issued by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) after successful completion of the mandatory national examination. For more information on this process please visit: http://www.bccnm.ca.

Note: Standard First Aid And CPR-C OR Basic Life Support, FoodSafe and WHMIS will be completed during the program.

Other Specifications:

Basic word processing and computer skills are required; a caring attitude and a sincere interest in the well-being of people are essential; foundational courses in Mathematics, Biology, Psychology and Sociology are an asset; flexible and adaptable work/life schedule to accommodate for clinical experience shift work; healthcare related work/volunteer experience strongly recommended.

Has the following required skills and abilities described in Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse in Canada Requisite Skills and Abilities:

Cognitive skills that demonstrate thinking capacity.
Communication ability to express and receive written, verbal and non-verbal language, and the ability to interact with others in a respectful and professional manner.
Ability to create positive relationships.
Ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner.
Ability to accurately perceive using sight, hearing, smell and touch to provide safe care and actively participate in nursing activities.
Ability to physically participate in providing safe client care and educational activities.
Ability to provide safe client care in commonly encountered and unavoidable environmental factors.

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* Practical Nursing was reviewed and approved by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.