Practical Nurse Diploma

Nursing courses from other programs will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for prior learning. Students who are transferring into the program or students who have been out of the clinical area for an extended period of time may be required to pass a competency screen prior to admission to the program. 

Prior Learning Accelerated Pathway

The program pathway is designed for internationally educated nurses or internationally trained healthcare professionals and Canadian healthcare professionals interested in completing the Practical Nurse program at an accelerated pace. Applicants who have an international or domestic credential (certificate and diploma programs are typically not eligible) completed within the last ten (10) years you are eligible to apply. Applicants’ competency will be assessed on a course-by-course basis and prior learning credit (PL) will be granted towards Year One program requirements. Students will receive an individual course registration plan after completion of the prior learning assessments in Year One of the program. Program costs will depend on successful completion of assessments.1 Students will be required to complete additional course work at regular tuition and fee rates if unsuccessful in the prior learning assessment. 

To apply to the program - Applicants should choose Practical Nurse program for Fall 2025 and on the application, you will be asked: If the program you selected is Practical Nurse, indicate if you like to be considered for the Prior Learning Accelerated Pathway. If you would like to be considered for the Practical Nurse Prior Learning Cohort, please check that box and the registrar’s office will connect with you. 

1. Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident Applicants 

2. International Applicants 

Recognition of Prior Learning  

Students will complete individual assessments to determine competency in LPN courses. Students must complete ENGL 219 unless awarded Transfer Credit. Assessments may include a combination of any of the following: 

• Lab Skill Assessments 

• Oral and/or Written Exams 

• Presentations 

• Oral and/or Written Assignments 

• Case Studies 

• Simulation 

• Video Assessments 

Prior learning assessments, except for ENGL 219, are available for the following Year One courses: 

• PN 1052 - Nursing Foundations I
• INTP 1104 – Interprofessional Communication
• PN 1078 – Role and Scope of the Practical Nurse
• INTP 1083 - Anatomy and Physiology
• PN 1080 – Pathophysiology
• PN 1077 - Pharmacology I
• PN 1059 – Health Assessment
• PN 1060 - Gerontology Nursing 

Note: If Students do not receive credit (PL) for all Year One courses a modified course registration plan will be required and will extend program duration and increase costs.  

Beginning in Spring 2026, Students will register in the following courses providing prior learning credit (PL) was earned in the above mentioned courses.

• PN1082 - Mental Health Nursing
• PN1081 - Nursing Foundations II
• ENGL 219 - Essay Composition and Critical Reading
• PN 1063 – Residential Care Clinical
• PN 2065 - Nursing Foundations III 
• PN 2067 - Pharmacology III
• Elective
• PN 2068 - Acute Care Clinical
• PN 2070 - Maternity and Pediatric Nursing
• PN 2071 – Community Nursing
• PN 2079 - Interprofessional Leadership 
• PN 2075 - Comprehensive Practicum 

Program Course Sequencing

The Practical Nurse program offers two different streams of program delivery: a 2 year stream and a new 3 year stream.

Please note that both streams of the Practical Nurse program utilize the Spring/Summer term for course delivery. Practical Nurse Learners should be prepared to attend classes, lab, clinicals during this term.

Applicants are required to have either a MAC or a PC laptop that meet the following specifications: 

Laptop requirements: 

Apple Laptop 

Minimum requirement 

• MacBook Air with 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 Gb storage solid state, 4 Gb memory 

• Web camera (built in or as peripheral) 

• Microphone 

Windows Laptop 

Minimum requirement 

• Laptop with 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 Gb storage, 4 Gb memory and Windows 10 operating system 

• Web camera (built in or as peripheral) 

• Microphone 

 Software 

• Latest version of Adobe Flash 

• Google Chrome browser 

• Microsoft Word * 

Other 

• USB memory stick (Flash drive) 

• 2 Micro SD cards and SD card reader 

 * Microsoft Word is used for several purposes. Students can either purchase and install the Microsoft Word application or install the free software client to use a Red Deer Polytechnic virtual desktop with the full Microsoft Office Suite of applications. 

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) for admission to credit programs by providing official documentation to the Office of the Registrar after an online application has been submitted. All ELP tests must have been obtained within two years of the date their program starts. ELP requirements are in addition to the other admission requirements noted above.  

Students with Study Permits that are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in childcare, primary/secondary school teaching or health service field occupations must complete their Medical Authorization as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada one month prior to the start of classes. 

While every effort is made to consider student preferences for practicum location, due to availability, students may be required to travel to locations outside of their preferences. These locations are throughout the province of Alberta and students are required to provide their own transportation.

Note: Practicum refers to either clinical or preceptorship courses.

Health workers are responsible to attain and maintain required health and safety certifications and maintain recommended immunization standards. 

For clinical and practicum placements, as a student of a Health program, you also are required to meet these standards of practice. 

These health and safety requirements do not need to be submitted as part of your application. However, failure to submit the required documents will affect your progression in your chosen program. 

View details about health & safety requirements for work-integrated learning (clinical or practicum) placements, including document submission deadlines.  

The Practical Nurse program offers two different streams of program delivery: a two year stream and a new three year stream.

Please note that both streams of the Practical Nurse program utilize the Spring/Summer term for course delivery. You should be prepared to attend classes, lab, clinicals during this term.

The Practical Nurse Diploma program at Red Deer Polytechnic recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners. To increase greater participation of Indigenous learners the program has designated five (5) seats per campus for applicants who are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. Should no Indigenous applicants apply and meet the admission requirements for the designated seats, they will be released after June 1 for the Fall (September) term and October 1 for the Winter (January) term of each year to qualified applicants on the waitlist if one exists for the program. 

Indigenous applicants must meet the admission requirements for the program as outlined in the Academic Calendar and qualify for a designated seat by: 

• Self-identifying as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission.
• Providing proof of Indigenous ancestry

 Proof of Indigenous ancestry (one of the following): 

• Certified copy of a Status or Treaty card, Métis membership card, Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities.
• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, band list of an individual band, or the Inuit roll.
• Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
• Statutory Declaration by an applicant attesting to Aboriginal ancestry with supporting documentation. 

Other forms of proof may also be considered at the discretion of the Registrar. 

If you have questions or want help with the process, please connect with Indigenous Student Services.