Okanagan College (OC), in partnership with the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus (UBCO) offers Years one and two of the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program offered at UBCO. Both programs are recognized by the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM).
OC students who successfully complete all courses in Years 1 and 2, according to the requirements listed below, will be granted admission to the BSN program at UBCO to complete the final two years of the program.
Admission to the Nursing program at UBCO cannot be guaranteed for students who take a leave after completing the first two years of the program at Okanagan College.
OC applicants are advised to consult the admissions section of the Academic Calendar for UBC and the program specific admission requirements.
Requirements for transfer to UBCO are:
It is important for students to note that the curriculum of the nursing program at OC and UBCO is different than the curriculum of the nursing program at UBC's Vancouver Campus. The partnership between OC and UBCO does not provide for direct transfer to UBC's Vancouver Campus.
Following successful completion of the four-year BSN program, graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) - RN and to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse with the BCCNM.
Upon graduation and application to be a registered nurse, graduates are required to meet the Competencies in the Context of Entry-Level Registered Nurse Practice in British Columbia and the Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses in British Columbia. For students to obtain the Competencies for Entry Level Registered Nursing Practice certain basic skills and abilities are required and it is important that students are aware of these prior to applying for admission to the nursing program. The requirements are called the Requisite Skills and Abilities and can be viewed at Requisite skills and abilities (bccnm.ca).
Learning outcomes within each course in the BSN program are achieved by the interaction among students, clients, faculty, and practice partners in a process of lifelong learning. At completion of the nursing program, graduates will:
The BSN Program, Years 1 and 2, at Okanagan College offers the same courses as the first two years of the BSN program at UBCO.
Each year has two semesters, during which the student takes classroom, lab and practice courses. The courses focus on Nursing, Biology, and English. Practice experiences are an integral part of the nursing program and may be offered at various sites (e.g. hospitals, residential care facilities, and community agencies) throughout the Okanagan Valley. Students are responsible for transportation to various practice sites.
A program outline for BSN Years 1 and 2 is listed below. There are 66 required credits in Years 1 and 2 at OC. The 64 credits required in Years 3 and 4 at UBCO must be taken at UBCO to meet residency requirements. To view an outline of Years 3 and 4 of the program, please see the UBCO Calendar. http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/okanagan/index.cfm?tree=18,288,1076,0
Math requirement:
A minimum of 50% in any of:
Courses taught in French can be used for admission, but Francais 12 cannot be used in place of English 12.
Official transcripts (interim and final) must be submitted by February 28. All secondary school courses must be completed by June 30. All upgrading courses must be completed by June 30.
Applicants applying to the program with post-secondary course work
Applicants with prior post-secondary work should present three credits of English, Mathematics and Chemistry and six credits of Biology. An example of this credit at OC which meets these requirements are:
A minimum grade average of 65% in the post-secondary academic courses is required to be considered for admission.
If an applicant has not fulfilled these requirements at the post-secondary level, the program prerequisites must be satisfied at the high school level. For example, if an applicant submits English and Mathematics post-secondary course work, they will need to provide Chemistry and Biology course work at the Grade 11 and 12 level.
Okanagan College reserves the right to determine if post-secondary academic courses will be considered for the purpose of meeting the admission requirements. Post-secondary courses that were taken more than 10 years ago may be accepted for admission, but cannot be used for transfer credits within the BSN program. Okanagan College reserves the right to make the assessment.
All post-secondary courses must be completed by April 30.
Regardless of the number of credits earned, students with unsatisfactory standing or who have been required to withdraw from another post-secondary institution will only be considered for admission upon approval of the Dean and the Registrar.
Applicants to the OC BSN program, Years 1 and 2, with prior post-secondary credits transferable to UBCO, may not be able to apply these credits towards their nursing degree at UBCO due to UBC's residency requirements. Applicants with transfer credit are advised to consult with Academic Advising at UBCO.
Admission requirements to be submitted as part of the admissions process:
Program pre-practice requirements:
The following information will be collected on the first day of class by the instructor:
There may be additional fees associated with admissions and program pre-practice requirements. These requirements are usually completed outside of regular class time. Students are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation by the due dates provided. The admissions office and/or department chair will provide further instructions. Students may proceed into clinical practice education experiences only after successful completion of ALL the program pre-practice requirements.
Once the general admission requirements are met by submitting official transcripts of final grades or proof of enrolment and expected completion by the deadline dates, high school applicants and transfer applicants are ranked in separate categories according to grade average(s).
For students with less than 24 transferable credits, the high school averages will include (click here for additional information under the High School course section):
Overall Average: all Grade 11 and 12 courses except: applied design, skills, and technologies courses; career education courses; physical and health education courses; and faith-based courses.
Core Average: All courses used to meet the admission requirements plus Grade 11 and 12 mathematics, computation, science and language arts courses.
Advanced placement courses may be weighted more heavily. Interim grades may be used if available.
Depending on the amount of transferable* courses the student has completed, the admission average is calculated as follows:
Transferable post-secondary courses in mathematics, computation, science and languages will be weighted more heavily.
* Transferable courses are those that have transfer credit to at least one B.C. research university (Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia Vancouver or Okanagan, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria). Okanagan College reserves the right to make the assessment of transferability and to determine if post-secondary academic courses will be considered including but not limited to courses taken over 10 years ago and courses not listed on the BC Transfer Guide.
Seats are offered to applicants in rank order beginning with those that have the highest average from each category. The class will have the same proportion of regular and transfer students as the qualified applicant pool.
If a conditionally admitted student’s average drops significantly once all grades are received, the College may rescind the offer of admission.
Program Area:
Health and Social Development
Campus (Intake):
Credential:
Other
Delivery:
Cost:
2022-23: $13,136.28 (Total for the two year program)
Notes:
Applications open the first business day in October for the following fall and close on January 15, 2022.
This program is student loan eligible.
Okanagan College Calendar: Printed 07/06/2022