Nursing Programs in Quebec: A Student Guide
The short answer
In Quebec, nurses (infirmières et infirmiers) are licensed by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ). There are two main routes to the permit: a three-year college diploma (DEC) in nursing, or a university bachelor's degree, including combined college-to-university paths. In both cases you must pass the OIIQ professional exam to obtain your permit.
College or university?
A college nursing program is offered at CEGEPs; the program description from the CEGEP directory says it lasts three years, is a technical program, and that graduates must pass the OIIQ exam to obtain a licence. University programs lead to a bachelor's degree in nursing science. Both qualify you to sit the same exam, so the choice is about time, cost, how you like to study and your longer-term plans, for example graduate studies or a nurse practitioner career.
Public reporting has described an OIIQ proposal to require a university bachelor's degree in future, with a transition period and protection for nurses who already hold a permit. When we checked, the report said the proposal had not been adopted. This could change, so confirm the current rule with the OIIQ before choosing a route.
Practical nurses are a separate profession
Quebec's practical nurse (infirmière auxiliaire) is a different profession with its own order and its own education route. If you are considering both, compare the scopes of practice on the orders' own sites instead of treating them as steps of one ladder.
Language
Many CEGEP and university programs operate in French, and some institutions offer English-language options. Quebec professional orders generally expect applicants to demonstrate a working knowledge of French, so ask the OIIQ and your school how this applies to you.
A fill-in comparison sheet
The cells below are fictional examples of what to write.
| 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 |
| Route | College DEC, three years (example) | University bachelor (example) |
| Language of instruction | French | English-language option |
| After the program | OIIQ professional exam, then permit | OIIQ professional exam, then permit |
Common mistakes
- Assuming the college diploma will always lead to the permit on its own; the exam is required.
- Treating media reports of proposed changes as final rules.
- Confusing nurse and practical nurse programs.
- Waiting to ask about French-language requirements.
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 OIIQ's 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
- Le Cégep: DEC in Nursing (program description) — checked October 2026
- Radio-Canada: OIIQ bachelor's degree proposal — news report; status may have changed
- OIIQ (official site) — confirm current requirements here
- CASN accreditation and accredited-programs directory — national accreditation is separate from regulator approval