Education · 1 of 5

The path

A two-year college diploma, one exam, then register.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Grade 12 English, biology and a math. Chemistry helps.

2. 2

   Practical nursing diploma

   2 years

   2 years at a public college, 4 semesters, with clinical placements in hospitals and long-term care. Some colleges run compressed versions.

3. 3

   Registration exam

   After graduation

   Most provinces use the CPNRE (Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination). Ontario and BC use a newer computer exam called REx-PN (Regulatory Exam, Practical Nurse).

4. 4

   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).