Option 2: Nursing Transformation RPN to RN Bridging Program Online

Applicants enrolled in the RPN to BScN Bridging courses who wish to apply to BScN advanced standing must apply through ontariocolleges.ca by the February 1st equal consideration date. Applicants must select between 1124 Bachelor of Science in Nursing level 5 entry or 1124 Bachelor of Science in Nursing Hyflex level 5 entry. To select level 5 entry, applicants must declare all their post-secondary education on their OCAS application. 

BScN is a highly competitive program. To be included in the competitive ranking, applications must be complete by providing the following requirements by February 1st. Meeting the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admissions to the program. Only applications that are complete will be considered.

To enter semester 5 of the BScN program, students will apply through OCAS and will need to:

• Have completed a Practical Nursing program at an Ontario College (programs from other colleges in Canada will be reviewed for equivalency) with a minimum 65% average
• Be a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) with no restrictions
• Have completed a 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 you apply to this program.
• Have completed all of the RPN to BScN bridging courses with a minimum 65% final grade in each course. The Transitions lab will be completed after you have been granted admission into the BScN program.
  • Transfer credits will be considered as part of the five completed courses (if you feel that you have credits for transfer, please email pathways@sl.on.ca)
  • Students must complete ALL bridging courses and the Transitions lab before beginning semester 5 of the BScN program. The Transitions lab will be taken after you have received an offer of acceptance into semester 5. 

These requirements will need to be supported by the submission of the following documents by the February 1st equal consideration date:

• Letter of employment as an RPN with a minimum of 1,000 hours within the previous 3 years
• Proof of RPN registration with CNO with no restrictions
  • Submit letter of employment and proof of CNO registration
• Official post-secondary transcripts from all current and previous colleges and universities attended (transcripts must be requested through OCAS application)
• Proof of enrolment in current courses

Each bridging course is delivered online through OntarioLearn. All courses are online with the exception of the NURS1059 associated Transitions to Practice lab NURS6508 if you are accepted to SLC BScN semester 5. These labs will occur on a weekend during the summer months.

It is important to note that if learners do successfully enter the BScN program in semester 5, they will be required to attend classes in person.

All bridging courses offered via OntarioLearn are transferable.

The RPN to BScN pathway courses are available to RPNs who meet all the following:

• 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.
• Be a Registered Practical Nurses in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario. 
• 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 us at askslc.ca.

Step 1 – Review the eligibility criteria listed below to determine if you meet the admissions requirements.

Step 2 – Apply through OCAS for admission into the Nursing Transformation RPN to BScN pathway. 

Step 3 – Upon acceptance from St. Lawrence College, you will be given instructions on the registration process for the pathway courses. 

Step 4 – Apply to St. Lawrence College for advance standing into the BScN program. If your circumstances have changed, contact us at askslc.ca

Apply to St. Lawrence College Bachelor of Science Nursing (Honours).

The online RPN to BScN pathway consists of six courses, four of which are full courses and two of which are half courses:

• Scholarly Writing
• Nursing Informatics
• Health Assessment
• Microbiology (1/2 course)
• Biochemistry & Pathophysiology (1/2 course)
• Transition to the Role of RN (course has an additional 16-hr. lab component NURS6508). This must be the last course you take in the bridge.

In addition, students must complete a short in-person skills session after completing the online courses. Further information on the skills session will be provided once a student is accepted into the pathway.

The online pathway courses do not need to be completed full-time. 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 for each course.

Six courses are offered online, asynchronously each semester (September, January, May). After you complete the six courses, we will coordinate your participation in the practical skills session. This lab occurs after you have been accepted into the BScN program.

Note: Students who have successfully completed the pathway and are admitted into the BScN program are expected to attend full-time, in-person. There is a Hyflex option available but it also has in-person lab and clinical requirements.

Those who successfully complete the pathway courses can apply for admission directly into semester 5 (Year 3) of a 4-year, (8 semester) BScN program.

Note: Admission is a competitive selection process and subject to some conditions, including the start date of semester 5. If a student’s circumstances have changed contact us at contact us at askslc.ca

Once you are admitted to the RPN to BScN pathway, we will provide you with information on how to register for courses.

There is no certificate for the completion of the RPN to BScN pathway. The pathway courses allow you to obtain course credits toward a baccalaureate degree in Nursing. 

Upon successful completion of all the requirements of the BScN program, graduates will receive a 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 enrolled 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.

Upgrading courses and resources are available 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