Education · 1 of 5
The path
A two-year college diploma, one exam, then register.
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High school
Grades 11 and 12
Grade 12 English, biology and a math. Chemistry helps.
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Practical nursing diploma
2 to 2.5 years
Usually 2 years at a public college, with clinical placements in hospitals and long-term care. A few Ontario programs take 5 terms, about 2.5 years.
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Registration exam
After graduation
Most provinces use the CPNRE (Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination). Ontario and BC (British Columbia) use a newer computer exam called REx-PN (Regulatory Exam, Practical Nurse).
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Register with your provincial college
A few weeks
In Ontario that is the College of Nurses of Ontario and the title is RPN (registered practical nurse). Everywhere else the title is LPN (licensed practical nurse).