- Level
- 2-Year UG Diploma
- CIP code
- 51.3901
- Duration
- 24 Months
- Field
- Nursing and Healthcare Management
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A two year diploma preparing graduates for licensed practical nursing, covering anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, health assessment, care planning across the lifespan and extensive supervised clinical placements.
Diploma in Practical Nurse sets the highest academic bar in this catalogue at 70 percent with 70 percent in both mathematics and English, and the September 2026 intake is recorded as open only to onshore students already holding a study permit.
Diploma in Practical Nurse is delivered by Medicine Hat College, a designated learning institution in Alberta. Because Diploma in Practical Nurse is a two year diploma rather than a degree, the Canadian field of study requirement applies, which means the Post-Graduation Work Permit depends on this programme sitting inside an eligible field at the moment you apply. The source records Diploma in Practical Nurse as PGWP eligible, but that list is revised, so confirm it in writing before you pay a deposit. A Provincial Attestation Letter is also required.
Entry to Diploma in Practical Nurse is Grade 12 or Class 12 at 70 percent or above. Grade 12 Mathematics and English Language Arts are each required at 70 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 7.0 with no band below 7.0, and tuition for Diploma in Practical Nurse is recorded at CAD 18,972 a year with a CAD 125 application fee. No scholarship is recorded. The only entry point listed is September 2027. Apply Study Visa manages the Diploma in Practical Nurse application, the deposit, the letter of acceptance and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
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?
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 or Class 12 at 70 percent or above, including Grade 12 Mathematics at 70 percent and Grade 12 English Language Arts at 70 percent.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 7.0 with no band below 7.0; TOEFL iBT 5.0 with no band below 4.5 on the scale in force from 21 January 2026, or 92 with 23 in each section on the earlier scale; or the Duolingo English Test at 120. PTE Academic 64 is accepted ONLY alongside a second exam that carries a spoken language requirement, so PTE on its own is not enough for this programme. CAEL is not accepted at this level. TOEFL scoring changed on 21 January 2026. Scores from tests taken on or after that date are read on the new scale; a result from an earlier test is read on the old one.
- Application and deposit: An application fee of CAD 125 applies. The cross check source records an initial deposit of CAD 15,000, which is far larger than the deposit most Canadian colleges ask for and should be confirmed in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded for this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Additional requirement: The September 2026 intake is recorded as open only to onshore students holding a valid study permit. Immunisation and criminal record clearance are normally required before clinical placement.
- Work permit: Diploma in Practical Nurse is a two year diploma, not a degree, so the field of study test applies and PGWP eligibility must be confirmed in writing for your intake before you commit. A Provincial Attestation Letter is required. No spousal open work permit arises from this programme.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa handles the provincial attestation letter, the study permit application and the biometrics appointment with you.
English requirements
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 destinations for graduates:
- Licensed Practical Nurse: subject to provincial licensure
- Long Term Care Nurse: residential facilities
- Community Health Nurse: home care programmes
- Clinic Nurse: primary care settings
- Charge Nurse: after licensure and experience
- Further Study: bridging routes toward registered nursing
Reality check: licensure as a practical nurse in Alberta requires passing the national examination and registering with the provincial college, and completing the diploma does not by itself grant the right to practise.
About Medicine Hat College
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- World rank
- #18392
- Reference No.
- O18795445892
