September 9, 2026 | British Columbia

In BC, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) follows a defined provincial pathway. You need recognized Practical Nursing education, supervised clinical experience, approval from the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), and a passing result on the Regulatory Exam - Practical Nurse (REx-PN). 

Nursing licensure is regulated by jurisdiction, so requirements can differ across Canada. If you plan to practise in BC, follow BCCNM's process. This guide explains how to become an LPN in BC, from choosing a recognized program through confirming your practising licence. 

Are Licensed Practical Nurses Regulated in BC? 

Yes. LPNs are regulated healthcare professionals in British Columbia, and BCCNM issues practising licences to qualified applicants. 

Completing a Practical Nursing diploma does not automatically make you an LPN. You must complete BCCNM's applicable licensure requirements and confirm that you are authorized to practise before working as an LPN in BC. 

BCCNM reviews and recognizes BC nursing education programs that prepare students for initial registration. After graduating from a recognized BC Practical Nursing program, you can apply for a BCCNM license. 

What Do You Need to Enter a Practical Nursing Program in BC? 

Admission requirements come before the licensing pathway and vary by school. For CDI College's Practical Nursing Diploma Program in BC, current academic requirements include: 

Applicants educated outside Canada may need credential assessment and may have additional English-language proficiency requirements. If you are missing a prerequisite, ask whether an accepted equivalent is available. 

How to Become an LPN in BC: Education, REx-PN & BCCNM Registration 

For a student beginning Practical Nursing education in BC, the pathway is: 

Choose a BCCNM-recognized Practical Nursing program
-> complete nursing and clinical education
-> apply to BCCNM and be assessed for REx-PN eligibility
-> register for and pass the REx-PN -> complete licensure and confirm practising status 

Step 1: Choose a BCCNM-Recognized Practical Nursing Program 

BCCNM recognition should be one of your first checks when choosing where to study. Recognition matters because BCCNM reviews BC nursing education programs required for initial registration, and graduates of recognized programs can apply for licensure after graduation. CDI College's Practical Nursing programs at Richmond and Surrey is recognized by BCCNM. 

Clinical education, REx-PN preparation, scheduling and student support also matter. See How to Choose a Practical Nursing Program in BC: 7 Things to Check for a practical comparison checklist. 

Step 2: Complete Your Nursing and Clinical Education 

Practical Nursing combines theory with laboratory, simulation and supervised practice experience.  

At CDI College, our 75-week Practical Nursing Diploma Program in Richmond and Surrey includes 1,965 hours across Professional Practice, Professional Communication, Pharmacology, Variations in Health, Health Promotion and Integrated Nursing Practice. 

Students progressively apply what they learn through five practice-education components. The program includes 655 hours of practice education, made up of 475 hours of consolidated practice experience and a 180-hour final preceptorship. 

Clinical learning develops across areas such as: 

• foundational nursing care and focused assessment 
• medication administration and pharmacology 
• older adult and chronic illness care 
• community practice and health promotion 
• acute care, wound care and IV therapy 
• professional communication, teamwork and clinical decision-making 

The final preceptorship allows students to integrate their knowledge, skills and judgement in a workplace environment under appropriate nursing supervision, helping them prepare for entry-level practice. 

Step 3: Apply to BCCNM and Get Eligibility to Write the REx-PN 

After completing a BCCNM-recognized Practical Nursing program, you apply to BCCNM for practising LPN licensure. This application comes before registering for the REx-PN. 

BCCNM's application process for BC graduates includes creating an online account, completing the application, providing required identity and education information, consenting to a criminal record check and meeting other applicable requirements. English-language proficiency evidence may also be required. 

As part of the application assessment, BCCNM determines whether you are eligible to write the REx-PN. Once you have met the requirements needed to proceed, BCCNM sends instructions for registering and paying for the exam through Pearson VUE. 

Step 4: Register for and Pass the REx-PN 

BCCNM requires the REx-PN for new graduates of BC Practical Nursing programs who want to practise as LPNs in the province. After BCCNM confirms your eligibility, you register and pay through Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE then provides an Authorization to Test so you can schedule the exam. 

REx-PN preparation should develop throughout nursing education. At CDI College, students complete 60 hours of Academic Review, Flex Days and REx-PN preparation near the end of the program. CDI college also has a proven history of high pass rate of REx-PN exam in BC. 

For more detail on exam format and study preparation, read our Complete Guide to the REx-PN Exam. 

Step 5: Pay Your Practising Licensure Fee and Confirm LPN Status 

After you pass the REx-PN, BCCNM will email you a link to pay the practising licensure fee. Once payment is completed, check BCCNM's Public Register before starting work to confirm that BCCNM has authorized you to practise as an LPN in British Columbia.  

BCCNM specifically states that you should confirm your licensure status before going to work as an LPN. Without current licensure, you cannot use the LPN title or practise nursing in BC. 

How Long Does It Take to Become an LPN in BC? 

The total timeline depends on the Practical Nursing program you choose and how long your post-graduation registration and examination steps take. 

At CDI College, the Practical Nursing Diploma in BC takes 75 weeks and includes 1,965 hours of education. That total includes classroom and practical learning, practice education and a 180-hour preceptorship. After graduation, timing to licensure can vary because applicants must complete BCCNM's assessment process and schedule and pass the REx-PN. 

If program duration is an important part of your planning, see How Long Is the Practical Nursing Program? for a closer look at the training timeline. 

What Can You Do After Becoming an LPN in BC? 

Once licensed, LPNs can work in a range of healthcare settings while practising within BCCNM standards, individual competence and employer policies. These settings can include acute care, residential and long-term care, and community care. 

Depending on the client, setting and the nurse's competence, LPN responsibilities can include assessment, medication administration, wound care, health promotion, client education and collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. 

Before committing to training, it can help to understand what the profession allows you to do. Read our guide to the Licensed Practical Nurse Scope of Practice in BC for more detail. 

Start Your LPN Pathway in BC 

Becoming an LPN in BC requires recognized nursing education, clinical preparation, BCCNM registration steps, a passing REx-PN result and confirmation of practising licensure. 

At CDI College, our Practical Nursing Diploma Program in Richmond and Surrey combines nursing theory, laboratory and simulation learning, 655 hours of practice education, a 180-hour preceptorship and dedicated REx-PN preparation over 75 weeks.

Request more information for availability, details and financial options.