Nurse Practitioner Programs in Nova Scotia

Practice Management
Written By Victoria Sanderson

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 Nova Scotia, 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 Nova Scotia

There is one NP program in Nova Scotia, offered through the Dalhousie University.

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

1.Dalhousie University Nurse Practitioner (NP) Program

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

Program Overview

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) program is a clinical, practice-based 36-credit hour program which prepares students to be family/all ages (primary health care) NPs.

Program Delivery: Hybrid - online and in person

Clinical placements: Clinical preceptorships may take place throughout Nova Scotia or the Atlantic provinces ONLY. Clinical placements are not possible outside of Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PE, NL).

Available full time (2 years), and part time (3 years)

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

  • Theory courses: e.g. research course, Nursing Philosophy, Knowledge and Theory

  • NP courses: e.g. advanced health assessment, Principles and Theories for Health and Disease Management in Family All Ages Nurse Practitioner Practice

Academic requirements for all programs:

  • GPA: 3.3 (based on the last 60 credit hours of university study)

  • A completed undergraduate level classes in research and statistics

  • 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 the Nova Scotia College of Nursing or another Canadian nursing regulator.

  • 3,750 hours (~2 years full time) of registered nursing practice (in the last 5 years)

Program Website

Course overview

For admission, Dalhousie University NP program requires you to have a BScN degree, RN registration, 2 years full-time RN experience, and a minimum GPA of 3.3.

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.

  • Long-Term Care: NPs provide care to residents in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

 Key Take home Points:

  1. Do your research on NP programs.

  2. Don’t hesitate to reach out to university admissions offices to ask questions about the program or admission process.

  3. Talk with nurse practitioners who have been through this process already.

  4. Think about what you want out of your career (Do you want a serious challenge with career growth potential?)

  5. 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.

Join NP Reasoning Masterclass for a practical, curated educational experience for the busy NP.

Victoria Sanderson
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Nurse Practitioner Programs in Manitoba