RPN to BScN Bridge Program Option 1: Interactive Classroom (MS Teams)

Admission to the bridging courses is made available to practicing RPNs through SLC+ Continuing Education. These courses are available for any RPN to take but it is important for all prospective students to understand what will be required for admission to semester/level 5 of the BScN program after completion of the bridging courses.

Applicants who have successfully completed all the RPN to BScN Bridging courses who wish to apply to BScN advanced standing (level 5) must apply through ontariocolleges.ca by the February 1st equal consideration deadline. To select level 5 entry at OCAS, applicants must declare that they have attended a post-secondary institution.

BScN level 5 is a highly competitive program. To be included in the competitive ranking, applications must be complete by providing the requirements listed below by February 1^st (meeting the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission to the program).

Applicants must apply through OCAS and submit the following requirements by February 1^st:

Practical Nursing Diploma: Official transcript showing completion of a Practical Nursing program at an Ontario College with a minimum 65% average (programs at other colleges in Canada will be reviewed for equivalency).

Practical Nursing Registration with CNO and Employment Letter:

• Must receive College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) Registration Number as a Registered Practical Nurse with no restrictions.
• A current employment letter showing:
  • Completion of minimum of 1,000 practice hours as a Registered Practical Nurse within the previous 3 years.
  • The minimum 1,000 hours must be completed before February 1^st.
    
• Submit letter of employment and proof of CNO registration

Official transcripts showing completion of ALL RPN to BScN bridging courses with a minimum 65% final grade in each course by February 1st

• Transfer credits will be considered as part of the completed courses (if you feel that you have credits for transfer, please email pathways@sl.on.ca).

RPN to BScN Ontario Learn Bridging Program (Option 2) Applicants: Must enrol in a university degree-level statistics course (must be equivalent) before February 1^st, and this course must be completed with a minimum grade of 60% before entering level 5 of the BScN program.

Transitions Lab (which is separate from the Transitions theory course) will be completed after applicants have been granted admission into the BScN program. Students must successfully complete the Transitions lab before beginning semester 5 of the BScN program.

Each bridging course is delivered online through Microsoft Teams on the SLC Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). Students who cannot attend class during the scheduled time are able to view a class recording at a different time. We do encourage you to attend class and participate when able. Classes are meant to be interactive with your peers and faculty and there is valuable learning when attending.

NURS1059 Professional Transitions for RPNs has a lab component that requires learners to participate in one weekend of labs on Brockville campus.

Learners who successfully enter the BScN program in semester 5, will be required to attend classes in person. If you are looking for more flexibility with attendance, there is a Hyflex option, but it also has in-person requirements for lab and clinical.

Learners must complete all the bridging courses before applying to semester 5 of the BScN program through OCAS. The Transitions lab, associated with the Transitions course NURS1059, will occur once you have been accepted to BScN. These labs occur on a weekend typically.

No, advanced entry admission into the BScN program as a bridging student is highly competitive. There are limited seats on each campus and in the Hyflex option.

Advanced entry into level 5 of BScN is highly competitive. Applicants will be ranked by their bridging course grades first. Should there be a need to rank applicants further, RPN diploma program grades and prior work experience will be considered.

This number is going to fluctuate per year, per campus (Kingston campus approx. 15 seats, Brockville and Cornwall typically between 20-30 each, Hyflex semester 5 will be 40 seats). Capacity is based on the availability of clinical placements. We anticipate that the demand for admission to Kingston campus will be greater than for Brockville and Cornwall campuses. If you can attend more than one of the three campuses, we recommend that you keep that in mind when you choose your preferred campus. You will have the opportunity to rank your campuses of choice in order. Do not apply to a campus that you have no intention of attending. Once accepted to a campus there will be no opportunity to transfer to another campus.

We do have student placements in Ottawa, Trenton, Belleville, and others surrounding our home campus communities, but we cannot guarantee the availability of these. We do guarantee placements in Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall, but will work with students to determine which of our available placements is most appropriate for an individualized learning experience. Transportation to clinical is the responsibility of the student. 

The fees for each RPN to BScN bridging course can be found on the registration site.

The tuition fees for the BScN program can be found here: Brockville, Cornwall.

You must complete the bridging courses within the three years before beginning semester 5 of the BScN program.

Students must complete both the bridging courses and years 3 and 4 of the BScN program in a total of seven years or less.

Students should take no more than five of the bridging courses at one time (a full-time student course load). It is important to remember that you need to complete the bridging courses within three years before beginning semester 5 of the BScN program AND that the admissions process is a highly competitive one. Learners should take only as many courses as they feel will set them up for a high course grade that will support their application to semester 5 of the BScN program.

Courses will be offered in September, January, and May to align with the college semesters.

Learners must be Canadian citizens or hold permanent residency status.

Courses taken at other colleges and universities can be evaluated for transfer. If you think that you have taken a course that is transferrable, please send your transcript and the course outline to pathways@sl.on.ca for evaluation. There is no guarantee that these will be approved and all courses that are to be transferred must have been taken within the previous five years.

Learners who wish to pursue studies at other post-secondary institutions are encouraged to check with the receiving institution regarding specific admission requirements and possibility for transfer of credits.

Yes, you can work on your courses without having completed 1,000 hours of work. However, you will need to have completed these hours before applying to semester 5 of the BScN program. Learners must also determine what balance between academic and work life will be best for their own situation and recognizing that admission to semester 5 of the BScN program is going to be highly competitive.

Yes, you can work on your courses under a temporary registration with the CNO, but you must obtain full registration prior to applying to semester 5 of the BScN program.