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College Diploma - Practical Nursing

Confederation College · Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada ★ 4.6 #13440 world
✓ PGWP eligible ✓ Co-op / internship ✓ No interview ✓ Loan friendly
Level
2-Year UG Diploma
CIP code
51.3901
Duration
2 year Ontario College Diploma including clinical
Open intake
Off-shoreJan 2027
Field
Nursing and Healthcare Management
Institution
Public College
Offer speed
Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Next deadline
2027-01-01

Program overview

This two year Ontario College Diploma prepares registered practical nurses through anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, nursing theory and practice, health assessment, mental health, and extensive clinical practice recorded inside the two year structure.

Clinical placements run in hospital, long term care and community settings across Thunder Bay, supervised by faculty and practising nurses. The clinical component is substantial, scheduled on health service rosters rather than college timetables, and it limits how much part time work a student can realistically hold.

Per the college PGWP table, this program sits under CIP code 51.3901. A two year credential carries eligibility for a Post Graduation Work Permit of up to three years, decided by IRCC for program code 0619/0649, and meets the two year threshold used by the Thunder Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot for its graduate work experience exemption. Nursing is also a priority shortage field across the region.

Per the portal export, applicants present Grade 12 / High School with 50 percent and meet an English profile of IELTS 6.5 overall with speaking at 6.5 and other bands at 6, recorded against Ontario college program code 0619/0649.5 overall requiring speaking at 6.5 and other bands at 6.0. Recorded tuition is CAD 22,414 for the year, and immunisation, CPR certification and vulnerable sector police checks are required before placement.

Nursing is the strongest employment case in this catalogue and also the most demanding program to complete. Applicants should note the unusual intake pattern recorded in the export, with the next available start being January 2027 rather than September 2026, and a deadline of 3 August 2026. Clinical rosters limit part time work, immunisation and police clearance take time to arrange, and registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario follows graduation. Students who plan those requirements early avoid the delays that catch most international applicants in regulated health programs.

What it costs per year · indicative

Tuition feeC$22,414₹13,67,254
Living cost (est.)C$22,865
Application feeC$125
Scholarship up to− C$1,000
You pay / year  after scholarshipC$44,279₹27,01,019/yr

Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.

Do you qualify?

Minimum education
Class 12th
Minimum marks
50%
Study gap accepted
Up to 2 yrs
Backlogs accepted
Up to 8
Maths in 12th
Not required

These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.

Admission requirements

Who can apply (guide for international students):

  • Education: Grade 12 / High School with a minimum of 50 percent, per the portal export.
  • English (meet any one, per source): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (reading 6, writing 6, speaking 6.5, listening 6); PTE Academic 60 overall (no component below 54); TOEFL iBT 88 total; Duolingo English Test 125.
  • English waiver: No English proficiency exam waiver is offered for this institution per the ASV source.
  • Work permit: PGWP aligned by the college under CIP code 51.3901.
  • Application: Application fee CAD 125, paid online. A tuition deposit is required before the Provincial Attestation Letter is issued; confirm the current amount on the offer letter.
  • Study permit: Confederation College DLI number O19376986752.

English requirements

IELTS
6.5 overall
R 6L 6W 6S 6.5
PTE
60 overall
R 54L 54W 54S 60
TOEFL
88 iBT
R 22L 22W 22S 22
Duolingo
125 overall
R 125L 125W 125S 125

Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours

  • Valid passport (6+ months validity)
  • Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
  • English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP)
  • Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
  • Passport-size photographs
  • Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)

Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.

Career opportunities

Typical first destinations for graduates:

  • Registered Practical Nurse: after registration with the CNO
  • Long Term Care Nurse: the largest employer of RPNs
  • Hospital RPN: medical, surgical and complex care units
  • Community Nursing: home care and clinic settings
  • Correctional or Occupational Health Nurse: specialised settings
  • Charge RPN: with experience in residential care

Reality check: practising as an RPN requires registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario and success in the national examination, and international applicants should confirm their eligibility for that pathway before enrolling rather than after graduating.

About Confederation College

Type
College
Ownership
Public
Rating
★ 4.6
World rank
#13440
Reference No.
O19376986752

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C$22,414 tuition / yr
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