How to become a licensed practical nurse in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a licensed practical nurse in British Columbia takes about two years after high school. In Grade 11 and 12 you take English 12, a Grade 11 math and Biology 12 (Anatomy and Physiology). After Grade 12 you enter a Practical Nursing diploma at a school recognized by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). The diploma runs about 16 to 20 months full time and includes classes, lab practice and clinical placements.

After graduating you write the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN). Then you register with BCCNM. With registration you can work in hospitals, care homes, clinics and community health.

Getting in

Schools in our directory include Vancouver Community College, Camosun College, Okanagan College, the College of New Caledonia, Vancouver Island University, Northern Lights College and Selkirk College. Each school sets its own minimum grades in English 12, math and Biology 12. The program page for each school is linked from this page.

Before clinical placements you also need immunizations, a tuberculosis test, current first aid with CPR, and a criminal record check through the province's Criminal Records Review Program.

What it costs and what it pays

In our directory, Camosun College publishes domestic tuition of $17,105 for the full diploma. Tuition for the other schools we list is Not published. Budget as well for textbooks, uniforms, shoes, a stethoscope and the exam fee.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for licensed practical nurses. The median wage is $34.57 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $29.00 per hour and experienced practical nurses earn around $42.00 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $64,144 and forecasts 5,010 job openings in British Columbia between 2025 and 2035.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Mixing up care aide and practical nursing entry rules. Health care assistant programs do not need Biology 12 or a Grade 11 math. Practical nursing programs do. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)
• Choosing a school BCCNM does not recognize. Graduates of unrecognized programs cannot write the REx-PN or register in British Columbia. Check the BCCNM list first. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)
• Starting a four-year degree when you want to move up later. Several British Columbia schools offer bridging programs that credit a practical nursing diploma toward a nursing degree. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)
• Rewriting the exam when you move. Practical nurses registered in another province apply to BCCNM under labour mobility rules instead of rewriting the exam. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)