Practical Nurse Diploma

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

Already trained? Fast-track your future.
If you’re an internationally educated nurse, a trained healthcare professional, or a Canadian with a recent credential, this accelerated pathway helps you to complete the Practical Nurse program at an accelerated pace.

How it works:
If you’ve earned a credential in the last 10 years, you can apply to the PNPL Cohort. You’ll complete assessments and provide documentation to show what you already know to get credit for the Year One courses and jump straight into Year Two.

Successful applicants will get an individual course registration plan based on PLAR results. If you don’t pass an assessment, you can still take the course at regular tuition rates.

How to apply
When applying to the Practical Nurse program, check the box that says you want to be considered for the Prior Learning Accelerated Pathway. The registrar’s office will follow up with the next steps.

Prior Learning Assessments

Assessments may include a combination of;

• Lab Skill Assessments & Simulations
• Oral and/or Written Exams & Assignments
• Presentations & Video Assessments
• Oral and/or Written Assignments
• Case Studies

Note: Students must complete ENGL 219 unless awarded Transfer Credit.

Prior learning assessments 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 if 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

Applicants must have either a MAC or a PC laptop that meets the following minimum requirements. 

Apple Laptop 

• MacBook Air with 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 GB solid-state storage, 4 GB memory
• Web camera (built-in or plug-in)
• Microphone

Windows Laptop

• Laptop with 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 GB storage, 4 GB memory and Windows 10
• Web camera (built-in or plug-in)
• Microphone

 Software

• Adobe Flash (Latest Version)
• Google Chrome browser
• Microsoft Word
  • Students can either purchase and install Microsoft Word or access Office 365 provided with student accounts.

Other

• USB memory stick (Flash drive)
• 2 Micro SD cards and SD card reader

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide one of the following:

• Graduation from a high school in Canada with three consecutive first-language English courses/credits; or
• An undergraduate degree from a university in Canada, whose instruction was provided in English; or
• Completion of an approved English Proficiency Test
  • Duolingo English Test: 130
  • IELTS Academic – International English Language Testing System: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 on each band score
  • Oxford ELLT: 8 overall, with at least 7 on each band score
  • TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language: 92 iBT or 580 PBT

Students with Study Permits who are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in the health service field must complete their Medical Authorization, as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, one month before the start of classes.

While every effort is made to consider student preferences for practicum locations, placements are arranged based on site availability.

This program actively utilizes rural and regional health care settings across Alberta, meaning travel may be required. Students will be 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.

As a student in a health program in clinical and practicum placements, you are also required to meet these standards of practice.

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

Red Deer Polytechnic recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners.

To increase participation of Indigenous Peoples, RDP will waive the application fee and remove the tuition deposit requirement for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

The Practical Nurse Diploma program has designated five (5) seats per campus for applicants who are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. After June 1 for the Fall term, October 1 for the Winter term, and February 1 for the Spring term (if applicable), unallocated seats will be released 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 the Waivers or 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, the 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.