Practical Nursing - 715
OSAP Eligible
Overview
Program Highlights
- Collaborative learning environment where you and your peers will experience simulated and real-life opportunities in state-of-the-art labs.
- Complete the program in 16 consecutive months and have a variety of academic pathways for further education and training.
The PN Program is a hybrid program to support study-life balance, with both online courses and in-person courses. Theory courses each semester are online with mandatory in-person midterm and final exams. Lab-based courses each semester have a 2hr in-person weekly lab on campus. Attendance at in-person lab is mandatory.
Professional practice courses (clinical) are in-person at health care agencies. Shifts may be scheduled during the week or on weekends. Semester 1 is two 7hr shifts per week, Semester 2 and 3 is one 12hr shift per week, and Semester 4 is 40 hrs per week for the final 7 weeks of the Semester (days, nights, weekend shifts).
Students choose their own timetable "block" each Semester, and courses can potentially be scheduled in the morning, afternoon, or evening. See "Program of studies" tab for more details on specific courses in each Semester.
The Practical Nurse Program at Mohawk College is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario. Current graduates from this program are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Practical Nurse in Ontario.
What you'll learn
- Interact with faculty members who provide structure and act as facilitators through consultation, assisting with group collaborative activities and providing feedback.
- Acquire the professional knowledge, skills, accountability and responsibility for nursing practice through curriculum that is grounded in the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) RPN Entry-to-Practice Competencies.
Program Length
Full-time program over 16 calendar months (continuous over 4 semesters).
Important Academic Dates
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Admission
Admission
Equal Consideration Fall: February 1
Equal Consideration Winter: June 1
Equal Consideration Spring: October 1
Academic Requirements
- OSSD or equivalent (Mohawk Academic Upgrading, GED) including:
- Grade 12 English, C or U or equivalent
- Grade 11 or 12 Mathematics, C, M or U level (M or U recommended)
- 2 Grade 11 or 12 Sciences, C or U level in biology, chemistry, or physics
- 85% - 88% recommended cumulative average in the required courses to be competitive
Language Requirements for Internationally Educated Students:
- See below for accepted equivalents for Grade 12 English:
- Successful completion of GAS-EAP (478) Program Level 8
- TOEFL minimum score of 560 (83 Internet based)
- or IELTS Academic minimum score of 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.0
- CAEL 70, no sub-test band score less than 60
- PTE Academic 60 overall with a minimum score of 60 in Writing and Speaking
Options are available for mature applicants.
Questions?
Don't have the necessary requirements?
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and Fees
2024 - 2025 Domestic Tuition and Fees
| Description | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Ancillary Fees | $881.96 | $785.16 | $613.12 |
| Co-op Fees | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Compulsory Program Fees | $355.95 | $121.00 | $92.00 |
| Domestic Tuition | $1,661.81 | $1,661.81 | $1,661.81 |
| Total Domestic Charges Per Semester | $2,899.72 | $2,567.97 | $2,366.93 |
| Total 1st Year Fees | $7,834.62 | ||
Above fees based on full-time September program start date. Contact Student Services to confirm fees for other start dates or semesters.
- Full Cost Breakdown
- Explore payment options
- Book costs for your program can be found through the McMaster Campus Store
- If your program includes a clinical, practicum, or field placement, you may be required to complete Preplacement Non-Academic Requirements (NARs). Full details will be provided in your classes. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks). More information can be found on the Preplacement Services webpage.
- You may also be required to purchase additional items such as uniforms, field trips and/or various training/certification opportunities. Full details will be provided in your classes. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks).
- You will also be required to purchase various supplies to fulfill your program requirements. Full details will be provided in your classes. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks).
2024 - 2025 International Tuition and Fees
| Description | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Tuition & Ancillary Fee | $9,055.00 | $9,055.00 | $9,055.00 |
| Co-op Fees | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Program Compulsory Fees | $355.95 | $121.00 | $92.00 |
| International Tax Recovery | $450.00 | $375.00 | $375.00 |
| Total International Per Semester | $9,860.95 | $9,551.00 | $9,522.00 |
| Total 1st Year Fees | $28,933.95 | ||
If you pay by wire transfer, please note your bank might charge you a fee to transfer money. Make sure your transfer includes the Mohawk payment and the wire transfer fee. This applies to each wire transfer payment you make.
- Explore payment options
- Book costs for your program can be found through the McMaster Campus Store
- If your program includes a clinical, practicum, or field placement, you may be required to complete Preplacement Non-Academic Requirements (NARs). Full details will be provided in your classes. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks). More information can be found on the Preplacement Services webpage.
- You may also be required to purchase additional items such as uniforms, field trips and/or various training/certification opportunities. Full details will be provided in your classes. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks).
- You will also be required to purchase various supplies to fulfill your program requirements. Full details will be provided in your classes. This is an additional cost (above tuition/ancillary fees and textbooks).
Additional Information
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
When it comes to paying for your education, investing in your future can be more affordable than you think. A Mohawk education is one of the most cost-effective means of acquiring the skills and knowledge you need to have a prosperous and rewarding career.
As you start on your chosen career path, it's important to have a realistic set of expectations regarding the expenses associated with attending college. In addition to your tuition fees, you will also need to budget for books, supplies, housing, and other related living expenses. You may be able to supplement your income and savings with scholarships, bursaries, or loans. It pays to do some research into what types of financial assistance you may qualify for.
Available Financial Assistance Resources:
- OSAP Eligible. Learn about Ontario Student Assistance Program - OSAP (domestic students only)
- Working on Campus
- Additional Sources of Funding
- Financial Assistance Home Page
Apply for Awards:
By submitting a Scholarships and Bursaries Application every semester, students have access to over $3 million in Mohawk College scholarships, bursaries and Ministry-partnered funding to help meet their financial needs.
Financial Literacy:
Whether saving for school, sticking to a budget, or planning for a major purchase, financial literacy affects us all. That's why Mohawk College is dedicated to helping students improve their financial literacy and become more confident in managing their money.
- Complete the free online Money Matters Module to earn Co-Curricular Credit!
- Financial Resources and Calculators
Program of Studies
Course Overview & Descriptions
Click on the course title for a course description.
Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning
How you'll gain skills
- Apply concepts from nursing and related disciplines to your experiences in the classroom, laboratory and clinical placement.
- Through simulation using both high-tech equipment and standardized patients.
- Foster social responsibility and leadership through a Service Learning opportunity.
Pre-clinical requirements
All accepted applicants are required to complete certain requirements prior to clinical placement and are responsible for the associated costs. Details about pre-placement requirements will be emailed to you once you accept your offer of admission.
Please note: If a student is unable to meet the Non-Academic Requirements for clinical placements, including immunization requirements, regardless of the reason, the placement setting may decline the request for placement as a result of the incomplete requirements. If there is an inability to complete the placement requirements of the program, progression in the program is not possible. For further details on specific requirements, please contact Preplacement Services at preplacementservices [at] mohawkcollege.ca (preplacementservices[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca).
Professional Practice placements
Clinical placements may occur at locations that are not accessible by public transit. Students should expect to either have access to a car or the ability to supply their own transportation when attending clinical placements in our catchment area that includes Hamilton, Brantford, Halton, Niagara, Norfolk, Haldimand, Dunnville, Peel, Wellington, and surrounding areas.
Placements are assigned using randomization software based on placement options and students indicating preferences. Unfortunately, not everyone gets placed where they want as it is not logistically possible. We do not move students after the randomization process has been completed.
Students are responsible for their own travel and costs to clinical placements.
Students who miss the first 2 weeks of clinical placement (for any reason) will be removed from placement and the co-requisite courses. There are mandatory onboarding sessions during weeks 1 and 2 of clinical placement that cannot be rescheduled if missed.
For more information regarding the Practical Nursing clinical placement, please contact the diana.powell [at] mohawkcollege.ca (clinical placement specialist).
Successful completion of Professional Practice
Successful completion of Professional Practice clinical placement is a requirement for graduation from the Practical Nursing program. Professional Practice is an academic requirement across all semesters of the program. Agencies that provide placement opportunities require you to have a clear Police Records Check for Service with the Vulnerable Sector (PRCSVS). As such, to be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of a clear PRCSVS, which will be retained on your departmental file and used only for purposes related to your placement.
If you register in the program without a clear PRCSVS, and, as a result, are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to progress in the program. A Clear PRCVS, completed within last 6 months and valid for full upcoming semester is required.
Preclearance requirements:
Please note that all requirements below must be valid for the full upcoming semester in order to start your clinical placement.
- Clear PRCVS, completed within last 6 months and valid for full upcoming semester
- Immunizations - Tdap, Varicella, Hep B, MMR
- Tuberculin skin test
- Flu (Recommended, mandatory in some clinical settings)
- COVID-19 Vaccine (third vaccination dose mandatory in some clinical settings)
- Standard first aid and CPR-Level BLS/HCP
- Mask fit
- WSIB Consent Links
- Fire safety
- WHMIS
- AODA
- Workplace violence and workplace harassment
- Worker health and safety awareness in 4 steps - BILL 18
- Student consent and waiver for clinical placements
To learn more, please visit the Centre for Experiential Learning.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes, often referred to as ‘Program Standards', set out the essential learning that a student must achieve before being deemed ready to graduate.
In many cases these program learning outcomes were developed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) in consultation with employers and educators who are experts in the program field. To ensure the outcomes remain current and in line with industry needs, we invite our employers, graduates working in the field and current students to re-examine and update them during regular, ongoing program review focus groups.
Career Opportunities
Career Opportunities
Your future career options
- Registered Practical Nurse
Where you could work includes:
- Hospitals, Physicians’ Offices, Retirement Homes, Community Agencies, and Long-Term Care Homes
- Research and Policy, Occupational Health
- Business and Industry: Corrections/Forensics, Laser and Cosmetic Clinics, Pharmaceuticals for Health Care Products
- Foot Care, and Private Duty Nurse
Opportunities for grads
- Upon graduation and successful completion of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) licensing exams, you will become a member of this regulated profession.
- Membership with the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO).
Educational Pathways
Educational Pathways
Pathways to Mohawk
If you've successfully taken a course at another post-secondary institution, you may be able to earn course exemptions toward your credential here at Mohawk.
If you have successfully completed one of the following programs at Mohawk, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit in this program. To start a new program at Mohawk, you must apply via ontariocolleges.ca.
Transfer from
You can transfer to the Practical Nursing - 715 from the following programs:
Personal Support Worker
Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees
Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas
Receiving Program
Practical Nursing
Transfer to
You can transfer from the Practical Nursing - 715 to the following programs:
Diploma RPN to BScN Degree
Credit transfer agreements have been arranged to make it easier for students to move from Mohawk to another institution.
Transfer From Practical Nursing To
Thompson Rivers University
805 TRU Way
Kamloops BC V2C 0C8
Canada
Bachelor of Health Sciences
805 TRU Way
Kamloops BC V2C 0C8
Canada
Mohawk College makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of each transfer opportunity. Please note that changes may occur in program offerings, admission requirements, and transfer credits granted by the receiving institutions. We advise all students to check with the receiving institution directly for the most up-to-date information.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search ONTransfer.ca for more pathways with Ontario public colleges and universities.
Mohawk College makes no warranty or endorsement of material contained within links to external websites, nor does the College assume any responsibility for the linked website or its contents.
Tech Requirements
Tech requirements
Technical requirements for courses in the PN Program
Minimum technical and software requirements for Online Learning courses.
Computer and Internet Connection:
You will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection. High speed broadband access (LAN, Cable or DSL) is highly recommended for the optimal learning experience. Some courses have more advanced system requirements.
Software:
Individual courses may have additional software requirements. This may include video or audio playing software or a specific software application.
- Most courses require word processing software.
- In some instances, it may be necessary for some users to upgrade their Flash or Java versions.
The following items are also be required for some courses:
- Speakers/Headphones.
- Web Camera and Microphone.
Additional Information
Additional Information
- In preparation to pursue a nursing career, we encourage all prospective nursing students to carefully consider the requisite skills and abilities for nursing practice in Ontario outlined by the College of Nurses of Ontario
- The waitlist for SNP is integrated with the IAHS campus waitlist
- Effective January 2005, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) requires all applicants for registration or reinstatement from within Canada to provide a recent Police Criminal Record Check (PCRC) as part of the registration process
- Good working knowledge of computers including Microsoft Office applications recommended
- This program may require students to bring their own mobile computer devices (BYOD) to classes
- The Practical Nursing program is not offered on a part-time basis
- Is Nursing For You? (Opens PDF, 176 kb)
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Phone: 1-905-575-2254
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*Not all programs are international eligible. Please see our programs available for international students.
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The Institute for Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) is located in West Hamilton on the McMaster campus. The IAHS campus is where the majority (but not all) of our health programs are taught. Learn more about the IAHS:
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Please note: in-person, virtual, and hybrid classes vary according to the program and some programs may be in-person only. Refer to the Program Overview for more information.
