Looking to study in the finest accelerated nursing programs in Canada? You have come to the right place.
Nursing is one of the oldest professions in Canada. Yet, it is a highly profitable and rewarding career. As a result, the nursing profession in Canada is well regarded.
So, you’ve made a fantastic decision by choosing to study nursing in Canada. You will, however, need to research the finest nursing schools with the best-accelerated nursing programs in Canada that provide the best nursing degree programs.
Because the nursing profession accepts only the finest, it is vital to study at one of Canada’s premier nursing schools.
That is why a licensure test is required. To work as a nurse, you must pass this exam, and your chances of passing the exam are better if you attend one of the best nursing schools.
As a result, in this piece, we will discuss the top-rated accelerated nursing programs in Canada.
This will save you time looking for the accelerated nursing programs in Canada on the internet or browsing through periodicals.
We’ll also give you an overview of the nursing school system in Canada and answer any additional questions you might have.
What is the Best Nursing Program in Canada?
Below is a list of some of the greatest undergraduate nursing schools and nursing programs in Canada, as provided by Nurse Avenue.
University of:
- Alberta.
- British Columbia.
- Calgary.
- Ottawa.
- Toronto.
- McMaster University, Hamilton.
- Queen’s University, Kingston.
Overview of the Nursing Education in Canada
In Canada and across the world, formal education is required to become a nurse. To begin your nursing profession, you must have a Bachelor’s degree or a diploma in nursing. Nurses with first degrees, on the other hand, get the most attention.
This is why accelerated nursing programs in Canada have become popular.
You can choose to compress your nursing degree coursework to as little as 18 months in accelerated nursing programs in Canada.
However, a diploma or degree in nursing does not entitle you to practice nursing in Canada. It is merely a prerequisite for you to be eligible to take the license (NCLEX) exam.
You can also take the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE) Computer Based Examination if you have finished a two-year Practical Nursing diploma program in nursing or the traditional four-year BSN program.
You will become a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in Ontario and Quebec if you pass this test.
You can sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) Computer Based Examination if you have a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing.
However, students who complete accelerated nursing programs in Canada are equally eligible. If you pass this exam, you will be a Registered Nurse (RN).
Furthermore, if you earn a professional master’s degree in nursing and pass the requisite nurse practitioner test, you will become a Nurse Practitioner (NP).
An accelerated nursing program is a compressed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program.
It is a program offered by most nursing schools in Canada to students who have previously completed an undergraduate degree program or wanted to become nurses quicker.
In Canada, nurses can pursue additional training to specialize in the agency or department for which they work.
Cardiovascular Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Diabetes Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Psychiatric and Medical Health Nursing, and others are among these departments.
Meanwhile, a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) can only work in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the territories.
While a Mental Health Professional (MHRN) on the other hand, has the freedom to practice in Quebec and Ontario if they so choose.
List of the Best Accelerated Nursing Programs in Canada
What are the colleges where you may begin your nursing education in Canada now that you know how to start your nursing education in Canada?
We’ll provide you with a list of the top twelve (12) nursing schools in Canada in this part.
Based on their global rating and the number of nursing programs they offer, we have chosen the finest accelerated nursing programs in Canada.
The finest nursing schools in Canada are listed below based on these characteristics.
- University of Toronto
- University of Alberta
- McMaster University
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- University of Ottawa
- Queen’s University at Kingston
- Université de Montréal
- University of Calgary
- The University of Western Ontario
- Dalhousie University
- University of Manitoba
University of Toronto
Address: 155 College St Suite 130, Toronto, ON M5T 1P8, Canada.
Tuition: $9,100.00 (Domestic Students), $51,660.00 (International Students).
The University of Toronto, sometimes known as Utoronto, is a historically significant university in Ontario, Canada.
It was founded in 1827 and now has over 60,000 students enrolled in degree programs in a range of disciplines.
Three Governors-General of Canada, four Prime Ministers of Canada, and fourteen Supreme Court Justices have all come from his distinguished university.
However, this public institution in Canada produces more than just politicians. It also produces some of Canada’s greatest nurses.
Its Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing is one of Ontario’s and Canada’s finest nursing schools. This nursing school in Canada was ranked second in the world by QS World University Rankings.
UToronto is widely known to have some of the best nursing programs for students. Some of these are Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), Master Programs, Post-Master Nurse Practitioner Diploma (PMNP), Master & Doctoral (Collaborative), and Doctor of Philosophy.
Likewise, it has one of the high-rated accelerated nursing programs in Canada for students looking to become nurses quicker. This program lasts for two years (rather than the usual four years) and offers the same BScN degree.
University of Alberta
Address: Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1C9., Canada.
Tuition: $6,207.60 (Domestic Students), $25,978.40 (International Students).
The University of Alberta, or UAlberta, is another well-known Canadian university, similar to UToronto.
It was founded in 1908 as a public university in Edmonton, Alberta. As a result, the institution has been around for 111 years.
UAlberta is a worldwide research institution with approximately 400 programs offered via 18 faculties.
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta is the second-best nursing school in our ranking.
In the QS World Ranking for Global Nursing Schools, it was rated 17th. The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta provides several undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
BScN Collaborative, BScN Bilingual, BScN Honors, After Degree Program, and Registered Psychiatric Nurse to BScN are among the undergraduate programs offered.
The MN (Master of Nursing), Ph.D. (Doctoral Program), and the Online Ph.D. cohorts are UAlberta’s nursing graduate programs.
McMaster University
Address: Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
Tuition: $6,042.60 (Domestic Students), $35,634 (International Students).
McMaster University may not have the best accelerated nursing program in Canada, but it has one of the best in the city. It is a public university.
It is also one of Canada’s oldest institutions. It has been providing acclaimed programs in a wide array of areas to its students since 1887.
McMaster University has nearly 30,000 students and has produced political and corporate leaders among its graduates.
Meanwhile, McMaster University’s nursing school is regarded as one of the best in Ontario, Canada, and the globe. In its 2018 World University Rankings, QS placed it as the 19th best nursing school in the world.
In addition, the University was ranked 72nd worldwide renowned university in the Times Higher Education rating for 2020.
If you haven’t received a nursing education previously, you can offer the Basic (A) Stream BScN degree at McMaster’s school of nursing.
You can also pursue a BScN degree in the Accelerated (F) Stream or the Post RPN (E) Stream.
Meanwhile, you can enroll in the MSc thesis-based, MSc course-based, MSc course-based PHCNP, PHCNP Graduate Diploma, or Ph.D. degree programs for graduate study.
University of British Columbia
Address: T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall. Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 2B5, Canada.
Tuition: $179.97/per credit (Domestic Students), $1,270.79/per credit (International Students).
Another public institution in Canada having one of the best accelerated nursing programs is the University of British Columbia (UBC).
UBC is British Columbia’s oldest institution, with notable graduates including Kim Campbell, Canada’s first female prime minister. In addition, UBC enrolls over 63,000 students from Canada and around the world in accredited degree programs.
Meanwhile, the nursing school at the University of British Columbia has been around for 100 years.
And it has consistently offered one of the best undergraduate and graduate nursing programs to its students. QS World University ranking ranked its nursing school 20th in the world in 2018.
UBC’s school of nursing offers an accelerated nursing program. It is renowned to be one of the top nursing programs in Canada for prospective nurses.
McGill University
Address: 680 Sherbrooke West, Suite 1800, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Tuition: $7,940.10 (Domestic Students), $ $20,229 (International Students).
McGill University is another prestigious Canadian institution. It started as a public university in Montreal and now provides degrees and diplomas in more than 300 academic disciplines.
McGill has also generated prominent alumni, similar to UToronto and UAlberta. It has produced five astronauts, as well as one of Canada’s Prime ministers and Governor-General.
Meanwhile, the Ingram School of Nursing, which was founded in 1920, has been delivering world-class nursing education since then.
The Ingram School of Nursing provides a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) and a Bachelor of Nursing (Integrated) BNI for undergraduate students to fulfill its purpose of teaching future nurses and improving health quality.
Students interested in pursuing a master’s degree can apply for the MSc(A) Direct Entry, MSC(A) Nurse Bachelor Entry, MSc(A) Nurse Practitioner, or Global Health Studies programs. Ingram School of Nursing also provides postgraduate study and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing.
University of Ottawa
Address: 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
Tuition: $499/per credit hour
The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) is another university with a top accelerated nursing program in Canada.
It first opened its doors in 1848 as a public university in Ottawa, Canada, and presently boasts a student body of approximately 41,000. uOttawa is a comprehensive institution that provides a wide range of degree programs in both English and French in a variety of subjects.
It is the world’s biggest multilingual institution, with a 97 percent employment rate for graduates.
Nursing programs are among the high-quality programs offered by uOttawa. The University of Ottawa School of Nursing, which is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences, provides an accelerated nursing curriculum.
This nursing school in Canada is 30 years old, yet it still offers one of the top nursing degree programs in the country. The School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa is ranked 41st in the world by QS World University Rankings.
The Honors Bachelor in Nursing is a program offered by the Ottawa School of Nursing to students.
Graduates can pursue a Master of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science Nursing/Diploma Primary Health Care for Nursing Practitioners, a Master of Science Nursing Specialization in Women’s Studies, or a Doctorate in Philosophy Nursing at this Canadian nursing school.
Queen’s University
Address: 92 Barrie Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada.
Tuition: $7,333.58 (Domestic Students), $48,077.78 (International Students).
Another university in Canada having one of the greatest nursing schools is Queen’s University in Kingston.
Queen’s Institution is a historic Canadian public university. It first opened its doors in 1841 and now has over 28,000 students enrolled in recognized programs.
In addition, Queen’s University in Kingston has a long and illustrious history. Women were admitted to the university for the first time west of the marine regions. It has produced political officials, academics, and business executives among its graduates today.
Queen’s University, with all of its majesty, also provides a range of nursing programs for undergraduates and graduates.
It has one of the greatest nursing schools in Ontario, Canada, and the globe. QS Queen’s University in Kingston’s School of Nursing is ranked 51st to 100th in the world.
The Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) and BNSc – Accelerated Standing Track are two undergraduate nursing programs offered by Queen’s University.
The Ph.D. in Nursing, Master of Nursing Science, Master of Nursing (MN(PHCNP)), Master of Nursing (Post-NP Certificate), and PHCNP Diploma are its graduate programs.
University of Calgary
Address: 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, Canada.
Tuition: $3,231.54 (Domestic Students), $11,003.04 (International Students).
The University of Calgary, sometimes known as UCalgary, is another prominent Canadian university with one of the greatest nursing schools. UCalgary boasts 14 faculties and over 85 research institutes and centers while being younger than most of the universities on this list.
This public institution originated as a branch of the University of Alberta in Calgary in 1944 before becoming an independent university in 1966.
Despite this, the University of Calgary has over 25,000 students enrolled in a range of recognized programs across several departments and colleges.
Meanwhile, UCalgary’s nursing school is regarded as one of the best in the country. The school of nursing was placed 51-100 in the globe by QS World University Rankings.
This nursing school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada offers both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. The Bachelor of Nursing program at Medicine Hat College is UCalgary’s undergraduate nursing program.
The Stackable Certificate MN program, Doctoral Program (Ph.D.), Master of Nursing: Thesis-based (MN), Master of Nursing: Course-based (MN), Master of Nursing – Nurse Practitioner (MNNP), Post-Nurse Master’s Practitioner (PMNP), and Master of Nursing/Master of Business Administration (MN/MBA) are among the graduate programs offered by UCalgary.
Université de Montréal
Address: CP 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
Tuition: $1,195 per session (Domestic Students), $8,186 per session (International Students).
The Université de Montréal, also known as the University of Montreal, is another Canadian university that offers excellent nursing degrees. This public higher education school in Canada has about 46,000 students and was founded in 1878.
Meanwhile, The University of Montreal began as a Satellite Campus of the Universite Laval when it was founded.
However, in 1920, it evolved into what it is now and relocated to Mount Royal. Through its 13 faculties and two associated schools, this Canadian comprehensive university provides over 650 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Nursing is one of the faculties of the University of Montreal. In the QS Globe Universities ranking for Nursing Schools in the world, this faculty is ranked 51-100.
The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Montreal, on the other hand, solely provides graduate degrees.
The University of Montreal’s Faculty of Nursing offers a Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing, and Graduate degrees in Nursing.
Another flaw with the university is that its degree programs are only available in French. As a result, international students must be fluent in the language.
University of W. O
Address: London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7.
Tuition: $6,050.00 (Domestic Students), $39,836.00 (International Students).
In Ontario, the University of Western Ontario (UWO) is a public university. It was founded in 1878 as a university, but in 2012 it was renamed Western University.
Over 35,000 students attend the institution, which offers approved programs through its 11 faculties and schools. The nursing school at UWO, on the other hand, is one of the best in Ontario and Canada.
The school of nursing at Western University is ranked 51-100 in the 2018 QS World University School of Nursing World Ranking. This Canadian nursing school will prepare you to work as a nurse both in Canada and throughout the world.
As an undergraduate nursing student at Western’s Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, you can choose between the Western-Fanshawe Collaborative BScN and the Compressed Time Frame (CTF) BScN.
Dalhousie University
Address: P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4R2.
Tuition: $10,857.06 (Domestic Students), $21,071.06 (International Students).
Dalhousie Institution, sometimes known as Dal, is a historic Canadian university. It was founded as a public university in 1818 and now provides over 4,000 courses and 180-degree programs to undergraduate and graduate students across 12 faculties. Dal boasts a student body of over 20,000 people and is one of the greatest nursing schools in the country.
Although Dalhousie University’s School of Nursing does not rank among the top 100 institutions in the QS World University Global School of Nursing, it is a global leader. Nursing students can also enroll in undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs at this Canadian university’s school of nursing.
You can enroll in either the BScN (Arctic Nursing) or the BScN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program as an undergraduate.
Meanwhile, as an alternative to undergraduate nursing degrees, you can enroll in certificate programs in Oncology, Public Health, Mental Health, and Acute/Critical Care Nursing.
Dal also offers nursing graduates the Master of Nursing (MN), Master of Science in Nursing (MScN), and Doctor of Nursing (Ph.D.) degrees.
University of Manitoba
Address: 89, Curry Place, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
Tuition: $5,700 (Domestic Students), $19,100 (International Students).
The University of Manitoba (UM) is a famous Canadian university. It also contains one of Canada’s top nursing schools.
This public university first opened its doors in 1877 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and now boasts a student body of over 30,000. It is Manitoba’s biggest university, offering a diverse range of degree programs to both domestic and foreign students.
The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba features a College of Nursing that provides superior nursing programs to nursing students.
Bachelor of Nursing, Aboriginal Nursing Cohort Initiative, Master of Nursing/Nurse Practitioner, and Ph.D. in Nursing are some of the programs available at UM. Haing seen some of the institutions offering accelerated nursing programs in Canada, let’s answer a few frequently asked questions.
Accelerated Nursing Programs in Canada FAQs
How much is nursing school in Canada?
Before choosing any of the accelerated nursing programs in Canada, it is important to know the cost of nursing schools in Canada.
The cost of nursing school in Canada varies depending on the nursing school you want to attend and the degree program you want to pursue.
The Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Calgary costs $3,231.54 for domestic students and $11,003.04 for international students.
The University of Toronto, on the other hand, charges as much as $9,100.00 (domestic students) and $51,660.00 (international students). So, within this range, you may estimate the cost of an undergraduate nursing degree in Canada.
How do I become a nurse in Canada?
To work as a nurse in Canada, you must complete either a two-year accelerated nursing program in Canada to enable you to get licensed as a Practical Nurse.
Or, you can choose to complete the traditional four-year bachelor’s degree in Nursing as a Registered Nurse. Following that, you must take and pass the nursing license test to work as a nurse in Canada.
Is NCLEX accepted in Canada?
Yes, the NCLEX is now recognized in Canada, as well as in nine other countries across the world.
If you’re a Canadian student or graduate, or a foreign applicant seeking licensure/registration in Canada, you can take the NCLEX at any Pearson VUE test center in Canada, the continental United States, and select international test centers.
How many years of schooling are required to be a nurse in Canada?
The minimum number of years it will take you to become a Registered Nurse in Canada is four years. Alternatively, you may opt to study in one of these accelerated nursing programs in Canada listed in this blog.
Afterward, you may have to take specialized programs that span for a year or two to become a better practitioner.
Meanwhile, some nursing schools in Canada complete their bachelor’s program in three years.
Also, you can become a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) after two years of completing a nursing diploma course and acing the licensing exam.
How hard is a nursing school in Canada?
Nursing, like many other professional fields, is difficult to succeed in while college. Your enthusiasm for the field, on the other hand, would almost certainly keep you in college. In addition, nursing colleges in the United States and Canada have a high student retention rate, which implies that students finish their programs no matter what.
Meanwhile, if you’re worried about getting into a nursing school in Canada, you don’t have to be. In Canada, the majority of nursing schools have quite good admission rates. However, if one of your nursing programs fails, other institutions in Canada provide nursing degrees.
Which nursing school is the hardest to get into?
The University of British Columbia is believed to be the top nursing school in Canada, in terms of how selective it is and what degree it awards.
The University of British Columbia is an extremely competitive school, with thousands of candidates each year.
Wrapping It Up
One of the finest decisions you will ever make is to enroll in an accelerated nursing program in Canada.
Working in the clinics of the Canadian nursing schools will provide you the opportunity to assist people to stay healthy in addition to receiving a high-quality education (and paycheck).
However, because some nursing specialties in Canada are restricted by location, you may need to first select what sort of nurse you want to be (particularly if you plan to practice in Canada).
Also, if you’ve decided to enroll in one of the finest accelerated nursing programs in Canada, you’ll need to utilize this article as a guide to choosing which accelerated nursing program that will save you money.