Access programs let working health care assistants become licensed practical nurses, often with advanced standing for their HCA training.
About the costs below: most schools publish only the full practical nursing diploma price. Where that is the case, we show the same figure as on the LPN page. An HCA with advanced standing may pay less and finish sooner.
| Detail | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | BCCNM | source |
| What it is | Access programs prepare health care assistants to become licensed practical nurses | source |
| Exam | REx-PN | source |
| Program length | Varies by school (2 of 25 listed schools publish this). Examples: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology: 18 months; Vancouver Community College: 13 months | source |
| Program cost | Varies by school; whole-program prices published by 5 schools range from $11,232 (Coast Mountain College) to $17,188 (Discovery Community College). 2 other school(s) publish per-credit, per-term or per-year rates only; listed separately | source |
| Intakes | Varies by school (7 of 25 listed schools publish this). See each school’s row for dates checked in the last 45 days. | source |
| Pay | See LPN: NBA Level 1 $32.84/h (Apr 2024) | source |
| Funding | B.C. Access Grant (public institutions, full-time, low/middle income): up to $4,000 per 8-month year for programs under 2 years; up to $1,000 for 2+ year programs; assessed automatically with StudentAid BC application | source |
| Licence steps 1 | Access programs prepare health care assistants to become licensed practical nurses | source |
| Licence steps 2 | Varies by school (2 of 25 listed schools publish this). Examples: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology: 18 months; Vancouver Community College: 13 months | source |
| Licence steps 3 | REx-PN | source |
| Licence steps 4 | BCCNM | source |
| Program cost | Whole-program prices published by 5 schools range from $11,232 (Coast Mountain College) to $17,188 (Discovery Community College). See the school rows for each school's published price. | source, checked Nov 1, 2026 |
| School and city | Program and approval | Length | Intakes | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Mountain College Terrace · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Start: Fall 2027 (Terrace and Prince Rupert; "dates subject to change") | $11,232 tuition; $13,317.65 with fees; $15,817.65 incl. books/supplies (domestic, 2026/27) Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Discovery Community College Campbell River · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Tuition $17,188.43 (yr 1) + $17,431.32 (yr 2); total $20,150.12 + $19,560.85 = $39,710.97 domestic incl. fees, books, supplies Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Discovery Community College Maple Ridge · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized (board-approved, in bylaw posting period) source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Tuition $17,188.43 (yr 1) + $17,431.32 (yr 2); total $20,150.12 + $19,560.85 = $39,710.97 domestic incl. fees, books, supplies Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Discovery Community College Nanaimo · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Tuition $17,188.43 (yr 1) + $17,431.32 (yr 2); total $20,150.12 + $19,560.85 = $39,710.97 domestic incl. fees, books, supplies Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Discovery Community College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized (board-approved, in bylaw posting period) source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Tuition $17,188.43 (yr 1) + $17,431.32 (yr 2); total $20,150.12 + $19,560.85 = $39,710.97 domestic incl. fees, books, supplies Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Merritt · Public | Practical Nursing (Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | 18 months, 107.0 credits | Start: Fall term (Merritt and in community); no specific dates | not published no price on program page | Program page |
| North Island College Courtenay · Public | Practical Nursing (Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Start: Fall (Campbell River, Comox Valley, Port Alberni, Mixalakwila/Port Hardy); applications open | $12,490 tuition; total $14,525 domestic | Program page |
| Northern Lights College Dawson Creek · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Price not published, ask provider | Start: September (Dawson Creek, Fort St. John) | Year 1 $5,672.75 domestic (tuition $4,876.20 + fees $162.46 + instruction-related $634.09); Year 2 (estimate) $6,795.62; international Year 1 $18,524.75, Year 2 $21,812.90 (no fee year stated) | Program page |
| Okanagan College Kelowna · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Est. total $14,496 (Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm) / $14,290 (Vernon), incl. mandatory fees Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Okanagan College Penticton · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Est. total $14,496 (Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm) / $14,290 (Vernon), incl. mandatory fees Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Okanagan College Salmon Arm · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Est. total $14,496 (Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm) / $14,290 (Vernon), incl. mandatory fees Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Okanagan College Vernon · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Est. total $14,496 (Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm) / $14,290 (Vernon), incl. mandatory fees Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Abbotsford · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Price not published, ask provider | Price not published, ask provider | Price not published, ask provider | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Chilliwack · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized (board-approved, in bylaw posting period) source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Vancouver (Downtown) · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Vancouver (East) · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Kamloops · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Kelowna · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College New Westminster · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Penticton · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Sprott Shaw College Victoria · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Not published | Not published | Program page |
| Stenberg College Surrey · Private (PTIB) | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Price not published, ask provider | Start: February, June, October (next: February 2027) Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Price not published, ask provider | Program page |
| Vancouver Community College Vancouver (Broadway) · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | 13 months | Start: September 2027 | $14,551 | Program page |
| Vancouver Island University Nanaimo · Public | Practical Nursing (Generic & Access) BCCNM recognized source Access = HCA-to-LPN | Not published | Start + application window: Fall 2027 Option A applications paused; expected to reopen mid-Nov 2026 Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | $230.90/credit. Option A: $8,427.85 (yr 1) + $9,351.45 (yr 2); Option B: $8,774.20 + $6,696.10 Figure is for the school's Practical Nursing diploma; Access (HCA-entry) students may get advanced standing, so length and cost can be lower | Program page |
Often, because HCAs can get advanced standing. Most schools only publish the full practical nursing diploma price, and that is the figure our table shows.
Yes. Access graduates write the same REx-PN as other practical nursing graduates.
$32.84 an hour in the first year under the April 2024 NBA schedule, the latest ratified rate we found.
Each school sets its own entry rules. Check the program page.
This page relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked November 1, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.