Nurse Practitioner Programs in Manitoba

Sep 17

how to become an np in manitoba/NP programs Manitoba checklist

The path to becoming a nurse practitioner will be unique to you. For those of you thinking of pursing a career as an NP, I hope to provide some guidance. If you want a general overview on how to become an NP in Canada, I suggest you read this post. If you plan on pursuing an NP career in Manitoba, I will delineate what this journey might look like.

If you’re thinking of becoming an NP, I highly recommend this read to get you prepared.
You can also join the NP reasoning community (free & paid options) to get you ready for your career as an NP - LEARN MORE.

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs in Manitoba:

There is one NP program in Manitoba, offered through the University of Manitoba.

Let’s break down some important facts about this program:

1.University of Manitoba Nurse Practitioner (NP) Program

The University of Manitoba offers 1 NP program stream: Master of Nursing (M.N.) - Nurse Practitioner

Program Overview

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) program equips students with the skills to deliver advanced, evidence-informed care. The curriculum blends theory and practice, covering pharmacology, health assessment, health promotion, and the management of acute and chronic conditions.

Hands-on labs, case studies, simulations, and OSCEs prepare students for real-world clinical decision making. The course-based degree includes 45 credit hours and over 700 clinical hours, capped by a 400-hour final clinical consolidation to ensure graduates are ready for independent practice.

Program Delivery: Hybrid, in person and online. Online courses include both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (self-paced) activities. In-person classes and labs are scheduled to support flexible learning and distance education.

Clinical placements are scheduled by the program across various settings in rural/northern Manitoba and urban areas. You will be preceptored by nurse practitioners and physicians.

Available full time (42years), and part time (4 years)

Courses: a combination of masters/theory courses and nurse practitioner courses

Core master’s courses: e.g. evidence informed practice, leadership in advanced nursing practice
NP courses: e.g. advanced health assessment, pathophysiology and therapeutics

Academic requirements for all programs:

GPA: 3.0 (based on the last 60 credit hours of university study)
Official transcript(s) from post-secondary institutions
3 letters of reference
Statement of interest

Other pre-requisites:

RN licence: must be licensed RNs in Canada, holding registration with College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba or another Canadian nursing regulator.
3,600 hours of registered nursing practice (in the last 5 years)

Program Website

For admission, the University of Manitoba NP program requires you to have a BScN degree, RN registration, 3,600 hours of RN experience, and a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Can I work while I’m completing the NP program?

This depends on many factors. One should weigh personal responsibilities, work-life balance, completing the program full-time versus part-time. In general, it’s possible to work while enrolled in the program, but this is up to your comfort level. Personally, I completed the full-time post-masters NP certificate and did not work. The course content, paired with clinical rotations were very intensive, and I was able to immerse myself in the program and get the most out of it. That being said, circumstances differ, and you need to do what works best for you. It’s important to highlight that regardless of the program, it is a steep learning curve and lots of the learning is self directed. If you are seriously considering this next step in your career, our post on how to prepare for NP school will be helpful.

Want to kick-start your NP journey? NP Reasoning curates the top guideline updates, clinical approaches & diagnostic pearls to help you make confident decisions with your patients.
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Are there Online Nurse Practitioner Programs in Canada?

Athabasca University (based out of Alberta - but people out province can apply) offers a Master of Nursing nurse practitioner degree online program available. It is a 33-credit online graduate program, that prepares students to work in primary health care settings. You can take up to 5 years to complete the program. Students are responsible for arranging their own clinical placements.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina Collaborative Nurse Practitioner (NP) Program: Offers a masters of nursing - nurse practitioner program (MN-NP), primary health care.

Prepares students to apply for registration as a family nurse practitioner in Canada.
Program length: 2-4 years, full or part-time
Mode of delivery: ONLINE + mandatory 1 week on campus residency week.
Applicants from outside Saskatchewan are welcome, but locals get first priority. Quebec does not support out-of-province practice experiences - Quebec applicants should check with the program before applying.

You can read this post if you want to learn more about online programs in Canada.

Where can I work as a nurse practitioner?

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have diverse career paths across healthcare settings, for example:

Primary Care Clinics: Provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages, managing chronic conditions, preventive care, and routine check-ups.
Remote or Northern Nursing Stations: Deliver essential primary and emergency care, often serving as the community’s main healthcare provider.
Specialty Clinics & Community Settings: Opportunities include emergency minor treatment areas, neonatal ICUs, oncology, cardiac care, mental health and addictions, and geriatric care—offering specialized patient management and education.
Education: Teach and mentor future nurses at nursing schools or faculties, shaping the next generation of NPs through instruction and clinical supervision.

Key Take home Points:

Do your research on NP programs.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to university admissions offices to ask questions about the program or admission process.
Talk with nurse practitioners who have been through this process already.
Think about what you want out of your career (Do you want a serious challenge with career growth potential?)
The NP program (and career in general!) is intense and will probably be the steepest learning curve of your life. Don’t let this intimidate you – check out our newsletter to kick-start your NP journey.