Offered in Fort St. John and Prince George, UNBC’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP) provides students with the skills and knowledge to enter the registered nursing field. The NBNP introduces students to the unique aspects of delivering health care in small urban and rural communities located throughout northern BC and beyond.
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
Length of program: 5 consecutive semesters (Year 3 & 4 of BScN)
Campuses: Fort St. John, BC, & Prince George, BC
Experiential learning: Clinical, laboratory and simulation practice
Online applications to UNBC are completed through EducationPlannerBC. UNBC will accept supplementary application materials such as the letter of intent, resume, rural remote suitability index questionnaire, reference letters, CASper score and official transcripts after the application deadline, however only after all required application materials are received will an applicant be reviewed and assessed for admission.
Applications Open: October 1, 2025
Next intake: September 2026
Fall 2026 Online Information Session TBA
Application Deadlines:
Prince George Campus (Wood Innovation and Design Centre): Accepting applications until January 15, 2026.
Fort St. John Campus (Northern Lights College): Accepting applications until January 15, 2026.
Applications received by the first deadline of January 15, 2025, will be reviewed and given full consideration for competitive admissions.
Prince George Campus (Wood Innovation and Design Centre): Competitive entry deadline is January 15, 2026.
Fort St. John Campus (Northern Lights College): Competitive entry deadline is January 15, 2026.
The program is designed for individuals with previous experience and achievement in university-level, post-secondary education who are interested in careers as Registered Nurses (RNs). Upon completion, students earn a BScN and are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN, which qualifies them to work as RNs in any health care sector where RNs have legislated scope of practice.
Eligibility
Individuals with at least 60 credits of university-level, post-secondary education are encouraged to apply.
Eligible applicants to the NBNP require either:
- A baccalaureate degree which includes 24 credit hours of specific, pre-admission coursework directly relevant to healthcare practice or;
- A minimum of 60 university transferrable credits toward a baccalaureate degree. These credits include or are in addition to 24 credit hours of specific, pre-admission coursework directly relevant to healthcare practice.
Admission to the NBNP is a competitive, criteria weighted process consisting of all the following:
- UNBC application
- Statement of Interest
- Resume
- Rural and Remote Suitability Index Questionnaire
- Two reference letters (one academic, one professional)
- Official transcripts
- CASPer assessment
Priority will be given to applicants who show evidence of registration for all outstanding courses/ or in-progress courses OR have all pre-admission courses completed at the date of application submission.
Applications will not be considered for competitive entry if all application components, including the CASPer assessment, are not completed by Jan 15, 2026.
What to Expect
NBNP courses are offered through face-to-face or online teaching in the classroom as well as online content delivered via the Moodle platform. Moodle is a software platform used to track learning and distribute assessment and instructional materials for each course. Some courses without laboratory or clinical components may be delivered entirely online. In practicum course components, students work with a variety of patient populations in hospital, clinic and community settings. Graduates are well prepared to work in rural and northern communities.
Students should anticipate travelling for clinical placements, with all associated costs being the responsibility of the student.
Program Requirements
300 Level
| NRSG 300-4 | Fundamentals of Nursing |
| NRSG 301-3 | Health Assessment |
| NRSG 302-3 | Pathophysiological Concepts |
| NRSG 303-3 | Pharmacology |
| NRSG 304-3 | Ethics and Law for Nursing Practice |
| NRSG 305-3 | Concepts for Evidence-Informed Nursing |
| NRSG 310-3 | Introduction to Nursing Practice |
| NRSG 311-7 | Medical and Surgical Nursing Practice 1 |
400 Level
| NRSG 400-3 | Nursing Leadership for Quality Care |
| NRSG 410-7 | Professional Practice: Mental Health |
| NRSG 411-7 | Professional Practice: Community Health Nursing |
| NRSG 412-7 | Professional Practice: Perinatal Health and Care of the Childbearing Family |
| NRSG 415-7 | Medical and Surgical Nursing Practice 2 |
At least one of the following areas of clinical focus:
| NURS 420-8 | Community Health Nursing |
| NRSG 421-8 | Rural Health and Nursing |
| NURS 422-8 | Indigenous Health and Nursing |
| NURS 432-8 | Mental Health and Addictions Nursing |
| NURS 426-8 | Acute Care Nursing |
| NURS 435-8 | Pediatric Nursing |
| NURS 497-8 | Specialty Focus in Nursing |
| NURS 454-8 | Perinatal Care |
| NURS 455-8 | Foundations in Emergency and Trauma Nursing |
Clinical focus areas are subject to placement availability
Academic Requirements
Priority admission is given to students who meet the admission criteria and apply by the designated date that applications close. Priority will be given to applicants who show evidence of registration for all outstanding courses/or in-progress courses OR have al pre-admission courses completed at the date of application submission.
Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:
- Meet UNBC admission requirements
- Have a minimum ‘B’ average on the most recent 60 UNBC or university transferable credit hours; completed at the undergraduate level
- Meet the 24 credit hours of required pre-admission course work; and
- Have 24 credit hours completed at UNBC or are transferable to UNBC at the 200 level or above
Admission Requirements: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Access
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who are applying for admission to the NBNP must
- meet all Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program admission requirements;
- be graduates of a Practical Nursing program recognized by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) since 1994;
- have current practicing registration or be eligible for practicing registration with the BCCNM.
The UNBC School of Nursing assesses LPN applicants on an individual basis. Applicants may be eligible for up to a maximum of 15 unspecified elective transfer credit hours towards the minimum 60 UNBC or university transferable credit hours for admission. Applicants cannot apply the block of transfer credit hours towards the 24 credit hours of required pre-admission courses.
Applicants who have any of the following may not be eligible for transfer credit:
- a BC Practical Nursing Certificate prior to 1994;
- a certificate or diploma from a program outside of British Columbia;
- graduation from an institution not listed in the BC Transfer Guide.
The NBNP Coordinator, in consultation with the Program Advisor, assesses transfer credit. Further criteria may be required in order to receive transfer credit.
Required Pre-Admission course work
All Prerequisite course work must normally be completed within 10 years prior to the semester of admission.
Students must have a minimum grade of ‘B-‘ in the following courses (consult the BC Transfer Guide to determine UNBC recommended course equivalencies):
University Level Human Anatomy and Physiology (6 credits):
HHSC 111-4 and HHSC 112-4, or HHSC 105-3 and HHSC 305-3, HHSC 306-3, HHSC 325-1 and HHSC 326-1 or equivalents are recommended. Completion of lab components are highly recommended but not required.
University Level Microbiology (3 Credits):
HHSC 110-3 or BIOL 203-3 or equivalents are recommended. Completion of a lab component is highly recommended but not required.
University level Statistics (3 credits):
STAT 240-3 or equivalent is recommended.
University Level Social Sciences with Peoples and Cultures content (3 Credits):
ANTH 213-3 or equivalent is recommended. The following course subjects may also be taken to fulfill the 3 credit university level Social Science requirement:
Anthropology (ANTH)
Commerce (COMM)
Economics (ECON)
Education (EDUC)
Environmental Planning (ENPL)
First Nation Studies (FNST)
Global and International Studies (INTS)
Northern Studies (NORS)
Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (ORTM)
Political Science (POLS)
Psychology (PSYC)
University Level English (3 Credits):
ENGL 100-3 or ENGL 102-3 or ENGL 103-3 or ENGL 120-3 or equivalent is recommended.
University Level Indigenous Studies (3 credits):
FNST 100-3 or equivalent is recommended
University level Psychology with human development, behaviour and/or cognition content (3 credits):
PSYC 101-3 or PSYC 102-3 or equivalent is recommended.
CASPer Test
All applicants to the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP) are required to complete an online computer-based assessment (CASPer) test in addition to meeting academic requirements. CASPer is an online, video-scenario-based, situational judgement test that assesses the non-academic attributes and personal/professional characteristics of applicants that are important for the success of students and graduates of the NBNP. It is mandatory for applicants to complete the CASPer test and submit the results to the UNBC School of Nursing prior to the NBNP application deadline.
CASPer Test Dates
Tuesday September 23, 2025, 8:00PM
Tuesday, October 07, 2025, 06:00PM
Thursday, November 06, 2025, 08:00PM
Sunday, November 30, 2025, 10:00AM
Tuesday, December 09, 2025, 08:00PM
Thursday. January 08, 2026, 06:00PM
Anyone intending to apply for the competitive admission deadline of January 15, 2026, must complete the CASPer exam by January 08, 2026, at the latest. CASPer exams taken before September 23, 2025, or from previous application attempts will not be accepted.
To register for the CASPer exam, please visit the following website: https://acuityinsights.app/.
Selection Process
Since the number of qualified applicants is expected to exceed the number of placements available, fulfillment of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. The process is competitive and the School of Nursing reserves the right to select and admit all students into the NBNP. Consideration is given to all applicants who complete the application process; however, preference is given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
The School of Nursing selects and admits those students who demonstrate academic potential, strong motivation to study nursing and the qualities, judgment and clinical aptitude necessary to be a caring and professional nurse.
The admission decisions are based on:
- Academic standing, including pre-admission courses
- Completed Rural Remote and Suitability Index score
- CASPer Score
- Strength of resume and two references
More information on the Academic Calendar
If you would like to speak with a Program Advisor email nbnpadvising@unbc.ca
Apply to the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP)
To begin the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program application process, please download the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program checklist below and follow the instructions.
NBNP Application Process Checklist 2024
Rural and Remote Suitability Questionnaire
Application and all admission documents must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. If you have application questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 250-960-6300 or email nursing-admissions@unbc.ca.
Additional Information
It is highly recommended that applicants review the BC College of Nurses and Midwives – Registration Requirements and the Profile of a Newly Graduated Registered Nurse on the BC College of Nurses and Midwives website to find out further information about entry-level registered nurse competencies, preparation and practice assumptions.
Post Admission Requirements
Successful applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program will be required to complete a Criminal Record Check (CRC), Basic Life Support (BLS) and proof of immunization.