Nursing Programs in Newfoundland and Labrador: A Student Guide
The short answer
Nursing in Newfoundland and Labrador is regulated by the NL College of Nurses, which was formed when the College of Registered Nurses of NL and the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of NL merged. According to its announcement it regulates registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses and registered psychiatric nurses. If a school page or an older document still names the former colleges, check the NL College of Nurses site for the current process.
The Memorial University collaborative BN
Memorial University's Bachelor of Nursing is a four-year collaborative program. Its page says the Faculty of Nursing works with the Centre for Nursing Studies in St. John's and the Western Regional School of Nursing in Corner Brook, with satellite locations in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, under the same curriculum. It also describes an admission pathway for eligible licensed practical nurses. In practice this means one degree with several places to study, so the first decision is often where you want to live for four years.
Questions this structure raises
- Which site will you apply to, and can you change sites later?
- Does a distant site offer every course locally, or will you travel for some terms?
- Are clinical placements arranged near your site or elsewhere in the province?
- How do the LPN pathway admission and credit rules work, and what is the timeline?
A fill-in comparison sheet
Compare the sites of one program, or one program with a different route. These cells are fictional examples of what to record.
| Item | Program A (fictional) | Program B (fictional) |
|---|---|---|
| Credential and length | Direct-entry BN, as stated on the program page | After-degree BN, as stated on the program page |
| Approved by the regulator? | Listed on the regulator page, date checked: ____ | Listed on the regulator page, date checked: ____ |
| Prerequisites (and do any expire?) | Written out course by course | Written out course by course |
| Application deadline and selection method | Date and criteria copied from the admissions page | Date and criteria copied from the admissions page |
| Placement sites and travel | Ask the school where students are placed | Ask the school where students are placed |
| Language and other requirements | As listed by the school | As listed by the school |
| Site and community | St. John's site (example) | Rural satellite site (example) |
| Living costs and housing | Your own estimate, with date | Your own estimate, with date |
Exam and registration
The regulator publishes the registration steps, including the exam. The merger means websites and forms may be updated. Always start from the NL College of Nurses site, not from a forum post written under the old names.
Common mistakes
- Using outdated regulator names to search for forms.
- Comparing only the program name and not the site; the experience differs.
- Planning without checking the LPN pathway rules.
FAQ
Q: Does a program listed by a school automatically qualify me to register?
No. Registration is decided by the regulator, not the school. Check that the program is on the NL College of Nurses' approved list and read the registration requirements that apply to graduates.
Q: Should I rely on this page for deadlines or tuition?
No. This page deliberately gives no deadlines, fees or admission averages because they change. Use the admissions page of each school and note the date you checked.
Q: Is this page legal or registration advice?
No. It is educational. Fiabita is a documentation and study tool, not a regulator or an admissions service.
Sources and further reading
- NL College of Nurses: nursing regulators unite
- Memorial University: Programs and Admissions (nursing) — checked October 2026
- CASN accreditation and accredited-programs directory — national accreditation is separate from regulator approval