Nursing Programs in Canada
If you are thinking of starting a nursing career abroad, there are a lot of nursing programs in Canada that you can pick from and start your nursing journey.
These programs are accredited by the Canadian Nursing Body and are offered by the various nursing schools and colleges located within the country.
These nursing programs are available for domestic and educated foreign nurses who want to study at any of the schools in Canada.
The nursing programs are both for undergraduate and postgraduate study in the nursing profession.
Upon completion of any undergraduate nursing programs, you will be issued a nursing certificate which gives you access to register for an NCLEX-RN exam.
When you successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you will be issued a license that automatically qualifies you to become a Registered Nurse.
Before choosing any of the nursing programs to study in Canada, you must carry out thorough research to know its cost, program requirements, and curriculum standards.
This will enable you to become fully informed and prepared before seeking admission to study your desired program at any of the nursing schools in the country.
To find out about the available nursing programs offered by various nursing schools in Canada, ensure you read this content till the end.
List of Nursing Programs in Canada
The following is the list of Nursing programs in Canada.
LPN or LVN Program
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) training programs are completed within one year. An LPN/LVN works under the guidance and supervision of a registered nurse.
LPN/LPN provides basic patient care such as monitoring patients and taking vital signs.
The following nursing colleges in Canada offer the LPN/LVN program
- St Lawrence College
- George Brown College
- Kenyans College
- NorQuest College
- Confederation College
- Sheridan College
- Conestoga College
- Fanshawe College
- Georgian College
- Fleming College
- Mohawk College
- College of New Caledonia
BSN Program
The Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) program is a four-year program offered at many universities and nursing colleges in Canada.
It is a three-year full-time program which is delivered three times per year. Successful completion of this program leads to a nursing degree which qualifies you to write the NCLEX exams.
The BSN program is popular among international students because it offers you job placement and a good salary after graduation. There is a high demand for BSN certificate holders in the healthcare industry in Canada.
Notable Universities and colleges in Canada offering the BSN program include:
- University of Toronto
- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Calgary
- Dalhousie University
- Western University
- Queen’s University
- University of Ottawa
- Centennial College
Accelerated BSN Program
This program is also known as a second-degree program and is generally meant for students who have received a prior degree.
The Accelerated BSN program offers you the quickest route to becoming a registered Nurse and runs between 12-18 months. The program is specifically meant for those who want to change careers or advance quickly.
This program is competitively driven and is fast-paced and many international students enjoy taking this path.
Universities and colleges in Canada offering the BSN program include:
- University of Prince Edward Island
- University of New Brunswick
- University of Saskatchewan
- McMaster University
- Northern Arizona University
- University of Saint Mary
- Western University
RN to BSN Program
The RN-to-BSN Nursing program is designed for a registered nurse (RN) who has graduated from an accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program (ADN) as well as for those students who have been accepted and are currently enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and wish to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
The RN-to-BSN program in Canada is majorly done online and includes courses that cover clinical patient care, healthcare management, supervision and delegation, professional nursing practice, and leadership.
Universities and colleges in Canada offering the BSN program include:
- Ottawa University
- Grand Canyon University
- Liberty University
- Walden University
MSN Program
The MSN program prepares graduates to be leaders and opens new horizons for nurses in education, advanced practice, policy implementation, healthcare management, and nursing knowledge development.
For you to get admitted into the MSN program, you must be a registered nurse who has already your BSN degree from any of the accredited nursing schools in Canada.
The MSN program is available in more than 20 universities in Canada and the cost of undergoing the program in Canada for international students ranges from 10,000-30,000 CAD per annum.
Some of the top universities offering the MSN program include
- University of Toronto
- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Calgary
- Dalhousie University
- Western University
- Queen’s University
- University of Ottawa
- Centennial College
CRNA Program
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program usually lasts for a period of one to two years.
CRNA students get exposed to learning anesthesia techniques, test theory, and how they can apply their knowledge to solving clinical problems.
There are only a few schools offering this program and they include
- Samuel Merritt University
- Northeastern University
Final Thought
Choosing to study in Canada is a great advantage as it offers you an opportunity to study and gain a lot of nursing experience from top nursing colleges in the world.
The aforementioned nursing programs are the ones available and offered by the nursing schools in Canada. Undergoing any of these programs is very affordable and provides financial aid.
These programs are paired with cutting-edge research and up-to-date practices and are globally recognized and enable you to work anywhere in the world.
Most of these nursing programs are offered online by some nursing schools thereby making it possible for you to study at your own pace.
Each of these programs has its admission requirements and cost of admission/study, it differs by university, you are to apply for admission to an accredited nursing university that offers your nursing program.
At the end of your nursing program as a foreign nurse, you can decide to look for a nursing job through any of the available recruitment agencies in Canada and start working.
