Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing

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Applications for September 2027 admissions are now open. The application cycle for the 2027 intake is Sept. 1, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2026. All documents must be received by Nov. 30, 2026.

At a glance

Credential: degree
Faculty: Health Disciplines
Credits: 120
Next start: see program details

Athabasca University’s Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing is designed to support Alberta Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) in accessing baccalaureate nursing education.

35
Average age
95%
Employment rate
^$95k
Median income
87%
Student satisfaction

Source: 2024 AU institutional data and 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS)

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About Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing

The Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program at Athabasca University is for experienced LPNs in Alberta aiming to elevate their skills and career opportunities. This comprehensive program provides nursing theoretical knowledge and practice experience to assist you in preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam and the potential for furthering your education in graduate studies. The program offers the flexibility of online coursework along with essential on-site practice components, all mapped to the current College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA, 2019) Entry-Level Competencies for the Practice of Registered Nurses.

Admission requirements

The available annual spaces in the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program may vary. Admissions are competitive, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission due to the limited number of applicants accepted.

Applicants must have completed a Practical Nurse Diploma. Certificates and/or vocational studies are not equivalent to an LPN diploma and are not accepted.
CLHA active practicing registration.
To satisfy the 1,700 hours worked as an LPN in Alberta, please submit a letter (dated within this current application cycle) from your employer on official letterhead that includes:
- the date the letter was issued
- your full name (must be the same as CLHA permit and other documents)
- your position (if your job title is not "Licensed Practical Nurse," the letter must confirm that the position requires LPN registration)
- your facility or organization, unit, patient focus on that unit
- your dates of employment
- your total hours worked
- the name and contact information of the employer representative who prepared the letter
Portability letters and/or any previously submitted letters are not accepted.

Tip: Request this letter early, as it may take some time for your employer to complete.
Grade calculations are based on Athabasca University's undergraduate grading policy. The competitive admission average for Sept. 2026 was a GPA greater than 3.7. Before you apply, we recommend calculating your GPA using your most recent 30 credits of post-secondary study to ensure you meet the minimum admission GPA of 3.2 (75%). If a failed/repeated course falls within the most recent 30 credits, it will be included in the GPA calculation. Pass/fail and zero credit courses are not counted.

Applicants must submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, including those not related to Practical Nursing education. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected, an offer of admission rescinded, and/or program removal.
Proof of Alberta Residency

Applicants receive access to the Student Service Support Portal immediately after applying. This is where documents must be uploaded.

Please review all program information and requirements before applying, including the application and admission FAQs, which include important details on all document requirements.

For additional guidance, watch the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing application process information session.

Incorrect or incomplete applications will not be considered, and there are no exceptions for late submissions. Please note that application fees are non-refundable. Admission decisions are not appealable, and no admissions will be deferred.

See the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing Calendar

Program details

Overview

Athabasca University’s Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program is built on the foundation that learners have knowledge of and/or practice experience in all the Canadian Council of Practical Nurse Regulators (CCPNR) Standards of Practice and CCPNR Code of Ethics as required by their active licensure with the College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA). This is why there are limited practice (clinical) courses required in this program compared to bridging programs.

The Entry-Level Competencies for the Practice of Registered Nurses (CRNA, 2019), the minimum requirements to provide the public with safe, competent, and ethical nursing care, also govern the program. Learners must adhere to the Canadian Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (2025), healthcare partners' policies and procedures throughout the program, and meet all entry-level competencies at the completion of their program to graduate.

To attain the entry-level competencies, baccalaureate nursing learners must have the Requisite Skills and Abilities for Becoming a Registered Nurse in Alberta (CRNA, 2022). Therefore, those admitted to this program are attesting to and presumed to have the physical and mental health attributes to be capable of fulfilling the academic requirements of their program. Learners will encounter activities in 7 categories of requisite skills and abilities (CRNA, 2022): cognitive, behavioural, communication, interpersonal, physical, sensory perceptual, and environmental.

The program is approved by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA), and graduates are eligible to apply for licensure with CRNA.

See general Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program FAQs

Application deadlines and start dates

Applications open	Start date
Sept. 1, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2026	Sept. 1, 2027

All documents must be received by Nov. 30, 2026.

Offers of admission and next steps will be emailed starting in late winter/early spring.

Program standards

Learners admitted to this program, and as practicing LPNs, are presumed to meet the physical and mental health attributes required to fulfill the academic requirements for baccalaureate nursing education. Please review the Entry-Level Competencies for the Practice of Registered Nurses and the Requisite Skills and Abilities for Becoming a Registered Nurse in Alberta.

The provision of reasonable accommodation(s) shall not require the program to lower standards, academic or otherwise, nor shall it relieve learners of their responsibility to develop and demonstrate the essential skills and competencies expected, as per the Alberta Human Rights Commission. This includes avoiding undue hardship in the provision of safe, competent, ethical nursing care at our healthcare partner sites during practice courses.

Please connect with Athabasca University’s Accessibility Services before application and at any time during the program, should you have questions or need support.

Completion times

Many learners complete the program in approximately 5 years of study. You may work at your own pace, but it is important to remember that practice courses have limited registrations, have prerequisite requirements, and all program requirements must be completed within 7 years of admission.

Tuition and fees

Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.

Estimated program costs are available in the Calendar.

Financial aid and awards

We are dedicated to supporting your academic goals and committed to helping you overcome financial barriers by providing many funding and award options.

Explore financial aid and awards

0 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 0-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$669	$669	$621	$621
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
0 credit total	$938	$938	$875	$875

1 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 1-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$223	$223	$207	$207
Students' Union Fee ($4.50)	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50
1 credit total	$227.50	$227.50	$211.50	$211.50

3 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 3-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$669	$669	$621	$621
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($13.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50
3 credit total	$953.50	$953.50	$890.50	$890.50

4 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 4-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$892	$892	$828	$828
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($18) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$20	$20	$20	$20
4 credit total	$1,181	$1,181	$1,102	$1,102

6 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 6-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,338	$1,338	$1,242	$1,242
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($27) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$29	$29	$29	$29
6 credit total	$1,636	$1,636	$1,525	$1,525

9 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a Province of Alberta student in a 9-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$2,007	$2,007	$1,863	$1,863
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($40.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50
9 credit total	$2,318.50	$2,318.50	$2,159.50	$2,159.50

0 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 0-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$669	$669	$621	$621
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
0 credit total	$1,125	$1,125	$1,062	$1,062

1 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 1-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$223	$223	$207	$207
Students' Union Fee ($4.50)	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50
1 credit total	$227.50	$227.50	$211.50	$211.50

3 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 3-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$669	$669	$621	$621
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($13.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
3 credit total	$1,140.50	$1,140.50	$1,077.50	$1,077.50

4 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 4-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$892	$892	$828	$828
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($18) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$20	$20	$20	$20
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
4 credit total	$1,368	$1,368	$1,289	$1,289

6 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 6-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,338	$1,338	$1,242	$1,242
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($27) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$29	$29	$29	$29
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
6 credit total	$1,823	$1,823	$1,712	$1,712

9 Credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for an out-of-province Canadian student in a 9-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$2,007	$2,007	$1,863	$1,863
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee (*exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($40.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50
Out of Province Fee	$187	$187	$187	$187
9 credit total	$2,505.50	$2,505.50	$2,346.50	$2,346.50

0 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 0-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$669	$669	$621	$621
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
0 credit total	$1,722	$1,722	$1,659	$1,659

1 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 1-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$223	$223	$207	$207
Students' Union Fee ($4.50)	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50	$4.50
Out of country fee	$261	$261	$261	$261
1 credit total	$488.50	$488.50	$472.50	$472.50

3 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 3-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$669	$669	$621	$621
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($13.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50	$15.50
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
3 credit total	$1,737.50	$1,737.50	$1,674.50	$1,674.50

4 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 4-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$892	$892	$828	$828
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($18) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$20	$20	$20	$20
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
4 credit total	$1,965	$1,965	$1,886	$1,886

6 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 6-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$1,338	$1,338	$1,242	$1,242
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($27) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$29	$29	$29	$29
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
6 credit total	$2,420	$2,420	$2,309	$2,309

9 credit

Student fees (regular and audit registrations) for a student living outside Canada in a 9-credit course are calculated by combining the following:
	Faculty of Business courses	Faculty of Health Disciplines courses	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences courses	Faculty of Science and Technology courses
Tuition fee	$2,007	$2,007	$1,863	$1,863
Course Administration and Technology Fee	$181	$181	$166	$166
Course Materials Fee ( *exceptions apply)	$88	$88	$88	$88
Students' Union ($40.50) and Alumni Relations ($2) Fees	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50	$42.50
Out of country fee	$784	$784	$784	$784
9 credit total	$3,102.50	$3,102.50	$2,943.50	$2,943.50

Courses

You will engage in a well-rounded curriculum that includes courses in three clusters in Athabasca University's Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program. Cluster A covers foundational subjects such as statistics, anatomy and physiology, ethics, and psychology, while Cluster B moves deeper into specialized nursing content such as medical-surgical nursing, mental health, family and community health, and leadership. Cluster C is the final practicum/preceptorship. These courses equip you with the comprehensive theoretical knowledge and practice skills to excel in your nursing career.

Program requirements

Calculate course fees

Career options

You may wish to work with patients in:

acute, mental health, community, or long-term care
clinics
administration

The knowledge and skills you gain in the Post-LPN Bachelor of Nursing program are also preparation for graduate education, such as Athabasca University’s Master of Nursing program, which can lead to opportunities in:

senior leadership and management
advanced clinical practice
education
research

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