The Nursing Transformation: Registered Practical Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pathway is a new, flexible online bridge approved by the College of Nurses (CNO).
This pathway consists of a series of courses available for Registered Practical Nurses who are interested in completing a BScN program at a participating Ontario college. The pathway enables eligible graduates of a CNO-approved Practical Nursing diploma program to earn credits towards the degree on their own schedule.
Students must be accepted into the pathway by a designated receiving college* prior to registering for pathway courses. Those who successfully complete the pathway courses will be eligible to apply to enter semester 5 (Year 3) of that college’s eight-semester (4-year) degree program. Graduates of an approved BScN program will be eligible to apply to CNO to write the registration exam to qualify for practice as an RN.
If you have any general questions about the Nursing Transformation: RPN to BScN bridging pathway, or need support with navigating the process, please send an email to the Nursing Transformation Career Readiness Service at info@nursingpathways.ca
* A designated receiving college is a college that has received approval from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities of Ontario and the CNO to offer the pathway as a bridge into semester 5 (year 3) of the receiving college’s four-year BScN program.
Applying for This Pathway
- Step 1 – Review the eligibility criteria listed below to determine if you meet the admissions requirements.
- Step 2 – Through ontariocolleges.ca, apply to one of the colleges participating in the pathway (known as pathway receiving colleges) for admission into the Nursing Transformation: RPN to BScN pathway.
The following colleges are Nursing Transformation: RPN to BScN pathway receiving colleges:- Cambrian College
- Loyalist College
- Seneca Polytechnic
- St. Lawrence College
- Step 3 – Upon acceptance by a receiving college, that college will reach out to you with instructions on how you can complete the registration process for the pathway courses. Note: You are required to complete the pathway within a two-year window and are encouraged to take a minimum of two courses at a time to support your timely progression through the pathway.
- Step 4 – Apply for advanced standing into the BScN program.
Eligibility
RPNS who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply to take the Nursing Transformation: RPN to BScN Pathway courses:
- Have Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent resident status or appropriate authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) that permits an individual to engage in the practice of nursing in Ontario.
- Graduated from a two-year Practical Nursing diploma program approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario with a 65 percent or higher cumulative program GPA.
- Are registered in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Practical Nurse.
- And have worked as an RPN in Ontario within the past five years on at least a part-time or casual basis.
If you do not meet these criteria and are interested in exploring options for becoming a registered nurse, please contact an Ontario college offering a baccalaureate Nursing degree program.
The Nursing Transformation: RPN to BScN pathway consists of six courses, four of which are full courses and two of which are half courses, including:
- Scholarly Writing
- Nursing Informatics
- Health Assessment
- Transition to the Role of RN
- Microbiology (1/2 course)
- Biochemistry & Pathophysiology (1/2 course)
In addition, students must complete a short in-person skills session after completing the online courses. Further information on the in-person session will be provided once a student is accepted into the pathway.
Although you must be accepted into the pathway by a designated receiving college to be eligible to complete the courses, the pathway courses do not need to be completed on a full-time basis. They are available for course-by-course registration on a part-time, ongoing basis. The courses are asynchronous, which means you can learn on your own schedule, within a two-year timeframe for successfully completing all courses. You may access and complete the coursework at any time while meeting the weekly deadlines in each course.
Six courses are offered online, asynchronously on an ongoing basis. After you complete the six courses, your designated receiving college will coordinate your participation in the short in-person skills session. Please consult the Admissions department of your receiving college for further details.
Note: Students who have successfully completed the pathway and are admitted into the BScN program by a receiving college are expected to attend full-time, in-person unless otherwise directed by their receiving college.
Most students will be required to complete all the courses. It is possible that you will receive Advanced Standing for additional courses based on your prior education or prior experiential learning (PLAR). If you plan to seek advanced standing for courses that are not included in the pathway, please consult with a representative from the Admissions Department of your chosen receiving college.
Although you do not need to complete all the courses in a particular order, it is recommended that you complete the Transition to the Role of RN course last.
Those who successfully complete the pathway courses will be eligible to apply for admission directly into semester 5 (Year 3) of a 4-year, (8 semester) BScN program at their receiving college for key courses of the BScN degree program. If a student’s circumstances have changed they are to contact their college.
Note: Admission to a receiving college may be a competitive selection process and subject to some conditions, including the start date of semester 5.
If you are admitted to the RPN to BScN program, your receiving college will provide you with information on how to register for courses.
If you have general questions about the Nursing Transformation RPN-BScN pathway, or need support with navigating the process, please send an email to the Nursing Transformation Career Readiness Service at info@nursingpathways.ca.
There is no certificate for the completion of the Nursing Transformation: RPN to BScN pathway. The pathway courses allow you to obtain course credits toward a baccalaureate degree in Nursing. When applying to semester 5 of the BScN program at your participating college, you will need to contact your chosen receiving college to ensure that they have an updated record of your successful completion (and registration) of pathway courses. Your receiving college will provide further instructions about the completion of the onsite skills session and entry into semester 5 of the degree program.
Upon successful completion of all the requirements of the BScN program, graduates will receive an honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Every course will have a schedule to follow. As the theory courses are available 24/7 and course schedules have week-to-week timelines, coursework may be completed at any time within the week.
Yes. For academic questions, your course facilitator should be your first contact. Once you register for a course, you will receive information regarding the key contacts for technical support.
RPNs enroled in the RPN to BScN pathway may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through the Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) program offered by the Registered Practical Nurses Association, also known as WeRPN.
Further information about the BEGIN program can be found on the WeRPN website.
The Nursing Transformation: RPN-BScN pathway will be available in French in 2025. This website will be updated as more information becomes available.
Yes, public colleges offer upgrading courses and resources to Ontario residents 19 years of age or older. To discover more about the course offerings that can assist you in preparing for the RPN-BScN pathway, please contact info@cscau.com
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