Advance your health care career to a nursing role
The Personal Support Worker (PSW) to Practical Nurse (PN) courses are designed as a pathway for working PSWs to continue their studies toward qualifying to practice in Ontario as an Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).
These courses offer flexible study options and are built around the core components of the pathway to Practical Nursing programs offered at Ontario's public colleges. A new career with a wide range of job opportunities is waiting for you. Creation of these courses was funded through the Ontario government's Nursing Program Transformation in Ontario's Colleges initiative.
Admission Requirements to Practical Nursing through PSW to PN Pathway
- Completion of a Personal Support Worker program in Ontario that meets the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities program standards with a 65% overall average.
- Currently employed as a PSW in Ontario on a regular basis (full-time or part-time).
- Completion of all required PSW to PN pathway courses with a minimum grade of 80% in Math for Practical Nurses and 60% in the 5 other pathway courses.
Applicants enrolled in the PSW to PN Pathway who wish to apply to PN advanced standing must apply through ontariocolleges.ca. Applicants must select 0491 Practical Nursing level 2 entry. To select level 2 entry, applicants must declare their post-secondary education on their OCAS application. Only applications that are complete will be considered. Applicants must provide the following:
- Letter of employment as a PSW (submit letter by clicking here);
- Official transcripts (must be requested through OCAS application);
- Proof of enrolment in PSW to PN pathway courses.
PATHWAY HIGHLIGHTs
Upon successfully completing six online and asynchronous pathway courses, PSWs will be eligible for advanced entry into a public college's four-semester Practical Nursing (PN) programs. Graduates of approved PN programs are eligible to apply to the College of Nurses Ontario to write the registration exam to practice in Ontario as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).
Courses
- CSSL 1000 Nursing Theory Bridge
- CSSL 1001 Nursing Professionalism
- CSNC1000 Anatomy & Physiology
- CSDU1002 Math for Practical Nurses
- CSNC1001 Health Assessment
- CSDU1003 Transition to Practical Nursing
PSW to PN Pathway courses FAQ
These courses are intended to provide eligible PSWs with a pathway to enter the 2nd semester of a PN program. The courses are available online with no scheduled meeting times (except for a 7-hour in-person lab for the Transition to Practical Nursing course), allowing you the flexibility to continue working and to study part-time, in the comfort of your own home.
Advanced standing means that you can use these courses to apply for admission to the PN program. By taking these courses you may be considered for acceptance into the second semester of the program.
You may apply to a PN program through OCAS. When completing your OCAS application indicate you are applying to enter into the second semester of the program.
Once you have started your last one or two courses you should apply for advanced standing entry into our program through this Link.
This is a competitive program. A limited number of dedicated seats are available at each St. Lawrence College campus for Pathway participants. Once you have started your last one or two courses you should apply for advanced standing entry into our program through OCAS. Opportunities may increase if you are willing to attend the program at other campuses.
Cornwall Campus – Winter and spring intakes for second semester PN program.
Kingston & Brockville Campuses – Winter intake for second semester PN program.
You must apply for a PN program within 3 years of starting your first PSW to PN pathway course.
There is no limit to how many courses you can take at one time.
Six Pathway courses are available. You must take these five courses:
|
Required Courses |
Minimum grade requirement |
Delivery |
|
CSSL 1000 Nursing Theory Bridge |
60 |
Online |
|
CSSL 1001 Nursing Professionalism |
60 |
Online |
|
CSNC1000 Anatomy & Physiology |
60 |
Online |
|
CSDU1002 Math for Practical Nurses |
80 |
Online |
|
CSDU1003 Transition to Practical Nursing |
60 |
Online with 7 hour in-person lab NOTE: this should be one of the last courses you take in this pathway |
|
Optional Course |
Minimum grade requirement |
Delivery |
|
CSNC1001 Health Assessment |
60 |
Online NOTE: You can either take this course through the pathway or as part of the PN semester 2 courses. |
When you enter the 2nd semester of the program, you will have a reduced course load. If you take the Health Assessment course in the pathway, this means you will have 3 courses plus lab and clinical in your second term. If you do not take the Health Assessment course in the pathway, you will have 4 courses, plus lab and clinical.
Semesters 3 and 4 you will be attending as a full-time student to complete the PN program.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Personal Support Worker
- Campus: This program is available in our Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall campuses)
- Credential: Certificate
- Program length: 1 year
Highlights
- The SLC PSW Program has well over 400 hours of clinical placement.
- Students will have placements in a variety of clinical settings.
- Assist individuals from all ages of the lifespan with home management, facilitating social and recreational activities
Practical Nursing
- Campus: This program is available in our Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall campuses
- Credential: Ontario College Diploma
- Program length: 2 extended years
Highlights:
- Placements in a variety of health care settings including a 400-hour clinical consolidation placement in semester 5.
- Hands-on simulated learning experiences in a simulation lab.
- Graduates are eligible to write the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Registration Exam.
