Entrance requirements

Note: Effective immediately, all health care workers who come into contact with patients at publicly-funded health care facilities or in the community, including at long-term-care facilities, will have to get the influenza vaccine or wear a mask during flu season. This policy affects all students who will be entering a clinical setting.

As such, you will be required to provide proof of your immunization or agree to wear a mask at all times prior to being placed in your clinical studies.

The following are requirements for program entry into Specialty nursing certificate and degree courses. Enforcement or waiving of any or all entry requirements is at the discretion of the Program Head.

If you have any questions about your experience or qualifications, please contact the Program Head to arrange program advising.

English Language Proficiency

Specialty Nursing courses are taught in the English language and require adequate English skills. To review BCIT’s requirements on English Language proficiency, please visit BCIT’s Admission and Registration page on English Requirements.

Adequate Work Experience

Applicants to Specialty Nursing Certificate courses should have a minimum of 6 months to 1 year of relevant work experience in an acute care setting. Exceptions may be granted for undergraduate students taking entry level theory courses. However, a resume of work experience may be required to progress in the program. If you have questions about whether your work experience qualifies, please contact the Program Head.

If you are a long term or residential care nurse or an RN lacking current (within the last 2 years) acute care experience, Kwantlen College offers a Competency Assessment and Enhancement for Nurses course that provides a refresher in acute care principles.

This assessment involves an individual self assessment, multiple choice exam and practice simulation. This course may be required for admission in the Specialty Nursing programs. For more information on Kwantlen's offering please visit:

• Competency Assessment & Enhancement for Nursing Program (CAEN) PNCA 1000

Once you have been assessed, you may be required to complete a tailored curriculum designed to meet BCIT's need for familiarity with acute care principles. This curriculum may include some of the following courses:

• Kwantlen Health Sciences Professional Studies

Requirements for clinical courses in Specialty Nursing:

Basic Cardiac Life Support Certification

All students participating in clinical courses must have current Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Level C or Level Health Care Provider (HCP). The original certificate must be presented upon application to the clinical courses.

CRNBC Registration

As well as providing this information at the time of admission, BCIT requires students to provide proof of CRNBC membership (or Canadian provinvial equivalent) for each clinical course they enroll in. Without proper provincial registration, you will not be permitted to continue in the course.

Face Respirator Fit Testing

A face piece respiratory fit test is required before students are permitted to enter the clinical practicum. Upon successful completion of the fit test, the original certificate must be presented to the program and annual re-fitting is required. Students are expected to carry their certificate with them at all times during their practicum.

For the Respirator Fit Testing, fit testing with a N95 respirator (1860, 1860s or 1870) is required and must be performed, in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.4-02. Fit Testing must also include, inspection, cleaning, maintenance and storage of protective equipment. Students will be given specific instructions in preparation for their fit testing by the provider they choose.

• View the list of approved Fit Test Service Providers [PDF]

PLAR

If you are an experienced emergency nurse with more than three years of full time nursing experience in the emergency department, then PLAR may be for you. PLAR is a process intended to provide students with an opportunity to receive credit for both credit-based and non-credit-based prior learning that has been acquired in a variety of ways, including work experience.

For additional information on PLAR and to order a PLAR manual ($15), which explains the options in detail and guides you through the process, contact the Program Head at 604.451.7078 or toll free 1.800.663.6542 local 7078.

Tuition fees

Please check the current availability of courses in the program matrix for individual course fees. You may find three different fees for the same course: one for Canadian citizens, one for international students, and one for re-registration.

Books and supplies

Core course books for the Advanced Specialty Certificate Program: $449
Core course books for the Degree Program: $735
Please check the BCIT bookstore for most current prices.
(general estimated cost and subject to change).

Program matrix

Check current availability of courses for this program.

Program length

The length of the program varies, as it is offered in a variety of formats:

• BCIT offers theory and some clinical courses by part-time, independent study. We deliver theory courses over a 12-week term using guided-learning modules and telephone tutor support. They often include teleconferences, which provide opportunities for students and tutors to discuss issues relevant to the course. If you work full-time, you would generally register for one theory course per term, although this can vary depending on your additional commitments.

• Through independent study, learn in you own community and structure your learning schedule in a manner that is most convenient for you. Complete full-time clinical courses at clinical sites throughout BC, over 4 to 6 weeks. If you live outside BC, clinical placements may be negotiated.

• Most Specialty Nursing programs arrange special offerings of courses as "Compressed time frame programs". Offered in full-time study formats, they enable you to take several courses over a specified period of time. If you are interested in this option of study, contact the program assistant for more information and program start dates.

• Nurses with three or more years of experience can apply for PLAR, Prior Learning Assessment recognition credits towards their Advanced Specialty Certificate.

Program length for either the Advanced Specialty Certificate or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing can range from 2 to 7 years depending on your individual pace. Preparedness for employment can take from 10 weeks to 1 year.

Additional program options

• Emergency Nursing Specialty Combined Emergency/Critical Care Option

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2010-2012 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2009-2011 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

• Emergency Nursing Specialty (Standard Option)

Credential

When all requirements have been completed, students may apply to Student Records to receive an "Advanced Specialty Certificate in Emergency Nursing".

Professional associations

Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
Graduates of the BCIT program are eligible to write the Specialty Nursing exam for Emergency Nursing through the CNA Certificate program. CNA views certification as a method of validating nurses' competence in an area of specialization within the field of nursing.

Emergency Nurses Association of BC (ENABC)
ENABC is the professional organization for emergency nursing in BC. ENABC's main goal is to provide standards for emergency nursing care, offer a forum in which emergency nurses can exchange ideas, promote the specialized education of emergency nurses, and support community relations. ENGBC has an affiliation with the National Emergency Nurses Association (NENA).

National Emergency Nurses Association (NENA)
NENA represents emergency nurses across Canada. The association works closely with the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) to improve quality of care in Canada's emergency settings. If you register with ENGBC you are a member of NENA.