Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs in Canada
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 program that is fully remote (online/virtual), read on!
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.
What Nurse Practitioner Programs are Online/Virtual in Canada?
Athabasca University (based out of Alberta) - fully remote - primary health care NP
Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina (collaborative program) - fully remote - primary health care NP
What is a primary health care NP?
Primary health care NPs are registered nurses with extended scope of practice. We have the ability to provide primary health care functions in health promotion, disease and injury prevention, rehabilitation, treatment, and other services. We can diagnose and treat acute illnesses and injuries, care for patients with chronic disease, prescribe medications, and order and interpret the results of diagnostic tests. NPs work autonomously and within interdisciplinary teams and serve to compliment (not replace) other professions.
Just like there are controlled acts authorized to RNs and RPNs, there are controlled acts authorized to NPs, some of which include diagnosing, ordering and interpreting tests, prescribing medications, performing certain procedures like setting or casting a fracture of a bone or dislocation of a joint. Scope of practice varies across provinces, but are fairly similar.
As an NP working in family medicine, I see patients for acute illness (e.g. ear pain), chronic disease (e.g. managing diabetes), preventive care (e.g. cancer screening including pap tests). I perform procedures (e.g. skin biopsies), provide motivational interviewing (e.g. for smoking cessation), and palliative care – and the list goes on! It’s a challenging career with high reward, as it has enabled me to grow professionally and personally.
Athabasca University Nurse Practitioner (NP) Program
Athabasca University offers a masters of nursing - nurse practitioner program (MN-NP) & Post-Master’s Diploma - Nurse Practitioner program
Prepares students to apply for registration as a family nurse practitioner in Canada.
Mode of delivery: ONLINE + mandatory 1 week on site component.
Practicum hours: 800 hours needed with qualified preceptors in approved sites either in or outside your home community
*Students are responsible for finding their own clinical preceptors for clinical placements, but students are not permitted to complete any practicum hours in the province of Quebec
*Cannot accept applications from British Columbia due to the limited available of clinical placements in the province of BC, but are working on resolving this issue
MN-NP program:
Program length: You have up to 5 years to complete the program
GPA: 3.5 minimum in final 30 credits of graduate/undergraduate study
Program structure: 33 credits with a mix of masters and NP courses
What are the courses?
Masters courses: e.g. evidence-based practice in health care, foundations of advanced nursing practice
NP courses: e.g. advanced health assessment for nurse practitioners, pharmacotheraeutics and pathophysiology for nurse practitioners
Post-Master’s diploma:
Program length: You have up to 5 years to complete the program
You need a master’s of nursing degree to get into the program
Master’s of nursing GPA: 3.5 minimum
Focus on NP courses: e.g. advanced health assessment for nurse practitioners, pharmacotheraeutics and pathophysiology for nurse practitioners
Academic requirements for both streams:
Reference letters: minimum of 2
Statement of interest
Cirriculum vitae
Transcripts from all post-secondary study
Other requirements:
Bachelor of Nursing degree
RN experience: minimum 5000 hours
2. 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.
Practicum hours: 702 hours needed with qualified NP preceptors in approved sites either in or outside your home community
Program structure: 11 courses - master’s & NP courses
Master’s courses: e.g. research for nurse practitioners, foundations for advanced nursing practice, advanced nursing practice leadership in health promotion
NP courses: e.g. advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning, transition to advanced practice nursing
Academic requirements:
GPA: 70% or higher
Reference letters: minimum of 3
Cirriculum vitae
Transcripts from all post-secondary study
Other requirements:
Bachelor of Nursing degree
RN license in a Canadian province or territory
RN experience: no minimum hours
For admission, online NP programs require you to have a BScN degree, RN registration, and a minimum of 2 years full time RN experience.
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.
Where can I work as a primary health care nurse practitioner?
You can generally work in any area. This degree will give you the most flexibility (compared with acute care or pediatric NP programs). Primary health care NPs work in community settings (e.g. clinics, community health centers, long-term care homes), hospital settings (e.g. emergency departments, inpatient units) – basically everywhere. The NP role is forever evolving in our health care system. Job descriptions, responsibilities, and scope do vary significantly depending on where you land a job.
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.
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