If you’re interested in pursuing a career in nursing, Canada is home to some of the best nursing programs in the world. From diploma programs to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, there are plenty of options to choose from, each fully broken down in the blog post below.
These nursing programs can be broken down into three main categories:
- Practical Nursing (PN) Programs
- Baccalaureate Nursing (RN) Programs
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Practical Nursing Programs
Practical nursing programs are designed to prepare individuals for a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Common courses include basic medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, nutrition and health assessment. Practical Nursing programs can be completed in 1-2 years and are available at most community colleges across Canada. As a result of the shorter duration, practical nurses often perform entry-level nursing duties, such as patient care and comfort.
The following schools offer Practical Nursing Programs in Canada, including:
- Practical Nurse Diploma: For students applying straight out of high school
- Practical Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses: For students who are internationally trained as practical nurses
| SCHOOL | NURSING PROGRAM | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Algonquin College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Practical Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses | Ottawa, Ontario | |
| Cambrian College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Sudbury, Ontario |
| Canadore College | Practical Nurse Diploma | North Bay, Ontario |
| Centennial College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Toronto, Ontario |
| Practical Nursing for Internationally Educated Nurses | Scarborough, Ontario | |
| Collège Boréal | Practical Nurse Diploma | Sudbury, Ontario |
| Collège La Cité | Practical Nurse Diploma | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Confederation College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| Conestoga College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Kitchener and Cambridge, Ontario |
| Durham College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Oshawa, Ontario |
| Fanshawe College | Practical Nurse Diploma | London, Ontario |
| Fleming College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Peterborough and Lindsay, Ontario |
| George Brown College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Toronto, Ontario |
| Georgian College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Barrie and Orillia, Ontario |
| Humber College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Toronto and Etobicoke, Ontario |
| Lambton College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Sarnia and Mississauga First Nation Territory in Point Edward, Ontario |
| Loyalist College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Belleville and Bancroft, Ontario |
| Mohawk College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Niagara College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland, Ontario |
| Northern College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Ontario |
| Sault College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Ontario |
| Seneca College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Ontario |
| Sheridan College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Ontario |
| St. Clair College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Windsor, Ontario |
| St. Lawrence College | Practical Nurse Diploma | Brockville, Ontario |
Baccalaureate Nursing Programs
Baccalaureate nursing programs prepare individuals for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN). These programs typically require 4-5 years of study, depending on the program and province. Courses range from clinical nursing practice to health sciences, ethics and leadership. RNs will typically be prepared to work in a variety of medical settings and perform more complex nursing duties than an LPN.
The following schools offer Baccalaureate Nursing Programs in Canada of various sorts, including:
- Regular Nursing Program: For students applying straight out of high school
- Second Entry Nursing Program: For students who are completing or have completed an undergraduate degree. Students typically get their nursing baccalaureate quicker than in the regular nursing program.
- Nurse Bridging Program: For current practical nurses who are looking to expand their skills and become registered nurses
| INSTITUTION | NURSING PROGRAM | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Brock University | Regular Nursing Program | Brock University Loyalist College |
| Concurrent Bachelor of Nursing (BN) /Master of Nursing (MN) program | Brock University | |
| Cambrian College | Regular Nursing Program | |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | ||
| Nurse Bridging Program | ||
| Canadore College | Regular Nursing Program | Canadore College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Canadore College | |
| Collège Boréal | Regular Nursing Program (French) | |
| Confederation College | Regular Nursing Program | |
| Nurse Bridging Program | ||
| Georgian College | Regular Nursing Program | Georgian College |
| Humber College | Regular Nursing Program | Humber College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | Humber College | |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Humber College | |
| La Cité le Collège D’Arts Appliqués et de Technologie | Regular Nursing Program (French) | |
| Lakehead University | Regular Nursing Program | Confederation College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | Lakehead University | |
| Lambton College | Regular Nursing Program | |
| Laurentian University | Regular Nursing Program (French) | Laurentian University |
| Regular Nursing Program (English) | St. Lawrence College Cambrian College Northern College Sault College Laurentian University | |
| Nurse Bridging Program | ||
| Loyalist College | Regular Nursing Program | Loyalist College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Loyalist College | |
| McMaster University | Regular Nursing Program | McMaster University Conestoga College Mohawk College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | McMaster University | |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Conestoga College Mohawk College | |
| Nipissing University | Regular Nursing Program (With or without Canadore College) | Nipissing University Canadore College |
| Nurse Bridging Program (With or without Canadore College) | Nipissing University Canadore College | |
| Ontario Tech University | Regular Nursing Program | Durham College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Durham College Georgian College | |
| Queens University | Regular Nursing Program | Queens University |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | Queens University | |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | Regular Nursing Program | Toronto Metropolitan University Centennial College George Brown College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | Toronto Metropolitan University | |
| Sault College | Regular Nursing Program | Sault College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Sault College | |
| Seneca College | Regular Nursing Program | Seneca College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Seneca College | |
| St. Lawrence College | Regular Nursing Program | St. Lawrence College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | ||
| Trent Fleming School of Nursing | Regular Nursing Program | Fleming College Trent University |
| Nurse Bridging Program | George Brown College | |
| University of New Brunswick at Humber College | Regular Nursing Program | Humber College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | Humber College | |
| Nurse Bridging Program | Humber College | |
| University of Toronto | Regular Nursing Program | University of Toronto |
| University of Ottawa | Regular Nursing Program (English) | University of Ottawa Algonquin College |
| Regular Nursing Program (French) | La Cité Collégiale | |
| Nurse Bridging Program (English) | Algonquin College | |
| Nurse Bridging Program (French) | La Cité Collégiale | |
| Second Entry Nursing Program (English) | University of Ottawa | |
| Second Entry Nursing Program (French) | La Cité Collégiale | |
| University of Windsor | Regular Nursing Program | University of Windsor St. Clair College Lambton College |
| Nurse Bridging Program | University of Windsor | |
| Western University | Regular Nursing Program | Western University Fanshawe College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | Western University | |
| York University | Regular Nursing Program | Seneca College Georgian College |
| Second Entry Nursing Program | York University | |
| Post RN for Internationally Educated Nurses Program | York University |
Nurse Practitioner Programs
Nurse Practitioner Programs are advanced master’s courses offered to students who are already Registered Nurses (RNs). These programs offer advanced training in various areas, such as family practice, adult health, pediatric care, mental health/psychiatric nursing or gerontology. Courses include population health promotion, evidence-based practice and advanced pharmacology. Nurse practitioner programs are available at universities across Canada and typically require 2-3 years of study.
Nurse Practitioner Programs Include:
| School | Nursing Program |
|---|---|
| Lakehead University | Primary Health Nurse Care Practitioner (Masters) |
| Primary Health Nurse Practitioner (Post-Masters) | |
| Laurentian University | Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) – French | |
| McMaster University | Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Graduate Diploma (Post Masters) | |
| Queen’s University | Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Diploma (Post Masters) | |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | MN/Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post Masters) | |
| University of Ottawa | Master of Science Nursing/ Diploma Primary Healthcare for Nurse Practitioner |
| Master of Science Nursing/ Diploma Primary Healthcare for Nurse Practitioner (French) | |
| Diploma Primary Health Care for Nurse Practitioner (Post Masters) | |
| Diploma Primary Health Care for Nurse Practitioner (Post Masters-French) | |
| University of Windsor | Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) |
| Graduate Diploma and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Post Masters) | |
| Western University | Master of Nursing/Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post Masters) | |
| York University | Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Masters) |
| University of Toronto | Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner – Global Health (Masters) |
| Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Diploma – Global Health (Post Masters) | |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner – Adult (Masters) | |
| Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Diploma – Adult (Post Masters) | |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner – Paediatrics (Masters) | |
| Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Diploma – Paediatrics (Post Masters) |
Conclusion
No matter which program you decide to pursue, make sure that it is accredited by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), as this will ensure quality standards for your training. With the right education and dedication, you can be on your way to a rewarding career in nursing. Good luck!