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Ministry-approved title: Practical Nursing
The Practical Nursing program option for internationally educated nurses is designed for applicants with nursing credentials from outside of Canada. It provides a pathway to apply existing nursing academic knowledge and skills gained at colleges and universities in other countries to the Ontario health-care system. Successful graduates who become registered practical nurses (RPNs) combine knowledge, skills and good judgment to provide safe, competent and ethical nursing care that meets the needs of patients throughout the continuum of care.
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Please contact the international office.
Approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), the Practical Nursing full-time program teaches the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to practice as a safe, competent and professional practical nurse, within the province of Ontario, Canada.
Applying the concept of caring as the basis of nursing, students develop knowledge, skills and judgment in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care across the lifespan while experiencing various health challenges. A particular focus is placed on the ability to communicate in a caring and therapeutic manner.
With a strong emphasis on practical experience, students apply theory gained in the classroom and simulated lab practice to environments including:
Upon completion of the program, graduates must successfully complete the Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse (REx-PN) to become a registered practical nurse (RPN) in Ontario and a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).
Please note: in Ontario the following conditions are laid out by the Nursing Act to be registered as a practical nurse. These conditions may impact graduates’ ability to register with the CNO as an RPN after graduation.
To register as an RPN in Ontario, graduates must meet the CNO requirements.
In accordance with the mandate of the CNO to communicate Practical Nursing program approval status with current and prospective students please note that:
The Practical Nurse Program at Durham College is approved by the Practical Nursing (PN) Programs (cno.org). Current graduates from this program are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario.
The Practical Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses program is designed to meet the needs of:
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Practicum allows students to apply their learning with a variety of clinically supervised practicum experiences that are designed to prepare you to function as a graduate in diverse settings. Placements are located at various local hospitals and agencies throughout Durham Region and at times, in the immediate surrounding areas. Please note that hospital placement may begin as early as 6 a.m. Placements may take place on weekdays and on Saturdays or Sundays in 12-hour shifts with the exception of Semester 5 Professional Practice V (consolidation), where students are expected to be available to follow the preceptor’s schedule. Students are responsible for their transportation to and from their practicum placement.
Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:
It is required that students have completed the ERV with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. Students must (at their expense) provide:
Students will be placed on a Practicum Schedule following the Practical Nursing Program or the Practical Nursing Flex Program. Once determined, please refer to the appropriate program practicum page:
Qualified graduates can apply to Durham College’s:
Qualified graduates could also apply to the Ontario Tech University’s (Ontario Tech) Bachelor of Allied Health Sciences or Registered Practical Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs.
Graduates may also be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
A laptop is required for this program. Most students tend to use Windows-based computers. Some prefer to use an Apple (Mac) device. Either platform can work within the Faculty of Health Sciences Practical Nursing program.
Here are suggested minimum hardware specifications recommended for your DC related computer activities like DC Connect and the Virtual Classroom:
App Store
Google Play