Diploma Programme
Practical Nursing
A two-year diploma that prepares students to become Registered Practical Nurses in Ontario. Students study anatomy, nutrition, pharmacology and communication, practise in simulation labs and complete supervised clinical placements in acute, community and long-term care. Graduates can write the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination and then apply to register with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
University
Fanshawe College
Country
Canada
Level
Diploma
Field
Nursing
Duration
2 years (5 levels, 63 weeks)
Language
English
Campus
London, Simcoe or Woodstock
Degree
Ontario College Diploma
Intake
September
Application Deadline
International applicants: Fanshawe has no fixed international deadline. When a program has more eligible applicants than seats, Fanshawe gives preference to Ontario permanent residents, then to applications received by February 1; after that date, applicants are considered first-come, first-served until the program is full, and programs may not be open in all regions. Admitted students must send proof of study permit approval and of meeting their offer conditions by the term's document deadline (December 9 and 15, 2026 for Winter 2027; 2027/28 dates aren't posted yet), so apply early. Canadian applicants: apply through ontariocolleges.ca by February 1 for priority; later applications are first-come, first-served
Tuition Information
Fanshawe's approximate total program cost at London, based on 2026/27 fees: Canadian students CAD 9,884.53; international students CAD 46,337.62 (international Level 1: CAD 10,899.36 for the term). Totals include tuition and ancillary fees but not the health and dental plan, bus pass or general expenses such as books; fees for 2027/28 aren't posted yet and are subject to change.
Admission Requirements
- Apply: international applicants apply online through Fanshawe's Virtual Admission System (VAS) and pay a CAD 100 application fee (Fanshawe's tuition page describes it as a deposit applied to tuition once classes start). A tuition deposit may be required before, or within 30 days of, the Letter of Admission: CAD 2,300, one semester of fees or a full year of fees, depending on citizenship. Fanshawe issues the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) only after that deposit is paid. Canadian applicants apply through ontariocolleges.ca
- Academic: OSSD or equivalent (or mature applicant status) with at least 65% in each of Grade 12 English (C or U), Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U), Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U) and Grade 11 Math (U or M) or Grade 12 Math (C or U); MCT4C is recommended over MAP4C. This is a highly competitive program
- International applicants must first graduate from Fanshawe's Pre-Health Sciences program before they're considered for Practical Nursing
- Clinical placements: supervised clinical practice in acute, community and long-term care settings. Before starting, students need Standard First Aid and BLS for Health Care Providers CPR certificates, evidence of good health including immunizations, a Police Vulnerable Sector Check and a placement agreement
- International applicants attach high school transcripts (and any college or university transcripts) to the online application; each program page lists country-by-country admission equivalencies
- English proficiency (Fanshawe's health career programs tier, which includes Practical Nursing): TOEFL iBT 5.5 with at least 5 in reading and listening and 5.5 in writing and speaking (2026 scale), or 92 with 22 writing, 26 speaking, 20 reading and 20 listening (pre-2026 scale); IELTS Academic 7.0 with at least 6.5 in reading and listening and 7.0 in writing and speaking; CAEL 70 in writing, reading and speaking and 80 in listening; PTE Academic 65; Cambridge 185 with no skill below 176 and 185 in listening; Duolingo 135 (literacy 130, other subscores 125); LanguageCert Academic 75 with at least 70 in reading and listening and 75 in writing and speaking; or 80% in Fanshawe ESL4/GAP5 Level 10. For health programs, the Canadian-credit waiver needs college- or university-level English in Grades 9 to 12 in Canada. Test results must be within the last two years
- International availability on the program page (2027/2028 view, checked October 5, 2026): 2026 September (London): closed; 2026 September (Simcoe): closed; 2026 September (Woodstock): closed; 2027 September (London): open; 2027 September (Simcoe): open; 2027 September (Woodstock): open
- PGWP: Fanshawe lists this program on its international PGWP-aligned programs page (CIP code 51.3901)