How to become a registered nurse in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a registered nurse in British Columbia takes about four years after high school. In Grade 11 and 12 you take English 12, a Grade 12 math, Biology 12 (Anatomy and Physiology) and Chemistry 11. After Grade 12 you enter a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at a school recognized by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). The degree mixes classes with hundreds of hours of clinical placements in hospitals, care homes and community clinics.

After graduating you write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), a computer exam on clinical judgment and patient safety. Then you register with BCCNM. Only after registration can you work as a registered nurse.

Getting in

Nursing seats are limited and most schools receive far more applications than they can take. Schools in our directory include the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Douglas College, UBC, the University of Victoria, the University of the Fraser Valley, Thompson Rivers University and the University of Northern British Columbia. Each school sets its own required grades in English 12, math, Biology 12 and Chemistry 11. The program page for each school is linked from this page.

Before clinical placements you also need up-to-date 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, tuition for the nursing degrees we list is Not published. Budget as well for a stethoscope, scrubs, shoes and the fee to write the licensing exam.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. The median wage is $47.58 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $35.00 per hour and experienced nurses earn around $57.00 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $87,230.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Skipping Chemistry 11 or Biology 12. Without them you spend extra months in adult upgrading before you can apply. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)
• Starting from zero when you already have university credits. Some schools, such as BCIT, run shorter nursing tracks for people with prior university courses. Check the entry rules before applying to a four-year program. (Source: British Columbia Institute of Technology)
• Working before registration. Passing the exam is not enough. You need an active BCCNM registration before you can practise. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)
• Rewriting the exam when you move. Nurses registered in another province do not rewrite the NCLEX-RN to work in British Columbia. They apply to BCCNM under labour mobility rules. (Source: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives)