Nursing courses in Canada are competitive worldwide when it comes to global ranking and quality of education. With any post-secondary international education, one of the main considerations would be the cost associated with the programs. Know our top five (5) most affordable schools offering Practical Nursing or Nursing courses in Canada that you may want to consider if you are after affordability, practicality, and quality.

The healthcare industry has always been in demand. With the effects of the pandemic, the need for healthcare workers in communities globally has spiked tremendously. With the massive pressure of Covid-19, the spotlight for the value of the health care workers has never gained more and longer attention than now. Aside from great demand for the profession, the Canadian government had shown its interest and recognition of this service when it allocated a specific immigration pathway for Temporary Foreign Workers in May 2021. Although this was a temporary and limited pathway, it was enough to trigger the interest of international students to study medicine or nursing in Canada.

In this light, the interest to study nursing in Canada has been at its peak once again. With nursing being a licensed profession in Canada, foreign-trained nurses are also asking a common question: How to move to Canada and practice nursing? The straightforward answer to that is to get the necessary licenses in Canada. However, there is a pathway that some experienced nurses are considering entering Canada and gaining the necessary credentials to practice. That is to study in a Canadian institution.

Canada is known as one of the top international education destinations in the world. Nursing courses in Canada are competitive worldwide when it comes to global ranking and quality of education. With any post-secondary international education, one of the main considerations would be the cost associated with the programs.

Here are our top five (5) most affordable schools offering Practical Nursing or Nursing courses in Canada that you may want to consider if you are after affordability, practicality, and quality. These are all public schools and are listed under the Designated Learning Institutions by the Canadian Government. This means that these schools are eligible to offer Post-Graduation Work Permit for certain programs. Read more about the Post-Graduation Work Permit here. For the details below, note that the figures shown do not include the cost of living as well as other additional fees dictated by the schools. These may also change without notice depending on the school’s most recent updates.

#5  NorQuest College

• Program: Diploma in Practical Nursing
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition for first year: C$21,332.63
• Tuition for whole program: $42,665.25
• Location: Edmonton, Alberta

One of NorQuest College’s flagship programs is its Practical Nursing program. Being one of the reputable institutions delivering nursing courses in Canada, the college has consistently produced quality graduates who eventually help meet the demand for licensed practical nurses both on the provincial and national levels.

Focused on the experiential side of its education, this program offers four practicums which means that the student will gain 680 hours of experience of what nursing in Canada is like. This experience would be advantageous for the graduates once they begin their professional careers. Since the practicums would give the students a preview of what the actual work would be like, students should expect to work on weekends, shifting schedules, and travel to their assigned facilities as they would when they start working.

#4  Humber College

• Program: Diploma in Practical Nursing | Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Duration: 2 years | 4 years
• Tuition for first year: C$15,994.00
• Tuition for whole program: C$31,988.00
• Location: Toronto, Ontario

Humber College offers two Nursing courses: Diploma in Practical Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Whether you are looking for a quick way to get into the workforce through the two-year program in Practical Nursing or pursue the full four-year degree in Nursing, Humber College offers you the options to achieve your goals.

The institution is proud of its quality education both in theoretical and applied methods. The college has connections to community centers and laboratories exposing its students to optimal hands-on experience. The classes are maintained to be small of 35-40 students ensuring the students that they receive ample attention in every step of their studies. They also offer several scholarships and financial aids for both domestic and international students!

Located in one of the largest cities in Canada, Humber College opens opportunities to its students with greater chances of employment in the Greater Toronto Area. With the network of partner clinics, laboratories, and other medical facilities in the area, the students will definitely have the advantage to have first-hand experience of nursing in Canada.

#3  University of Prince Edward Island

• Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Duration: 4 years
• Tuition for first year: C$7,320
• Tuition for whole program: C$29,280
• Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward

Located in the center of Prince Edward Island, the University of Prince Edward Island is one of the prestigious institutions in the region. The university is a center of excellence for research and home to world-renowned educators. Despite the high quality of education it offers, the university offers its Nursing program as one of the most affordable in the country for a four-year program.

The university’s Nursing program is based on Primary Health Care concepts and principles. This intends to produce graduates to be practitioners of Primary Health Care in the community and the country. Students will be honed to be health advocates, educators, and health leaders in their respective communities.

The university acknowledges the cost of education and also offers its domestic and international students several scholarships to aid the students in the financial aspect of their journey. Some students may even qualify for scholarships and awards for up to C$3,000!

#2 Holland College

• Program: Diploma in Practical Nursing
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition for first year: C$11,344
• Tuition for whole program: C$23434.00

The runner-up of the most affordable institutions for practical nursing in Canada is Holland College. Offered in its Prince of Wales Campus, the Practical Nursing program is highly competitive in this institution. The program is also considered the most affordable for a two-year program. This program allows the students to undergo theoretical and hands-on training through practicums. This prepares the students for real-world scenarios. Graduates are also expected to be equipped with sufficient knowledge to pass the initial licensure for them to practice this profession.

#1 Vancouver Community College

• Program: Diploma in Practical Nursing
• Duration: 16 months
• Tuition for first year: C$11,610.75
• Tuition for whole program: C$15,481
• Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

At the top of the list as the most affordable school for the nursing-related or practical nursing courses in Canada is Vancouver Community College gives its students the knowledge and necessary experience to practice ethical, competent, and safe principles of practical nursing. Students are educated in accordance with the provincial legislation ensuring that what they learn in the institution is relevant to their community.

Despite being one of the shortest programs, the program is on a full-time basis, highly participative, and experiential. It is structured to ensure that students are prepared before they graduate. The program is delivered in four levels where students are to be tested in each level to proceed to the next.