St. Lawrence College nursing: Practical Nursing, BScN and the RPN-to-BScN bridge
St. Lawrence College is a public college in eastern Ontario with campuses in Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall. Its nursing pages describe three routes: Practical Nursing, a four-year BScN and a bridge for working RPNs.
What the school offers (nursing)
Practical Nursing is an Ontario College Diploma of two years (five semesters), listed at Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall. The college highlights simulation lab experiences and a 400-hour clinical consolidation placement in the final semester.
The Bachelor of Science – Nursing (Honours) is a four-year degree, listed in Brockville with early clinical placements from semester 1, an accelerated completion option and a facilitated admission pathway for Indigenous students. The college also lists a HyFlex BScN delivery at Kingston.
The RPN to BScN Bridge takes registered practical nurses in good standing with the CNO through bridging courses to enter year three, so the degree takes about two further years. It is offered through interactive online classes or a flexible online option, with Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall listed as campuses. The college warns that entry into the later semester is very competitive and that finishing the bridging courses does not guarantee admission.
Becoming licensed after graduating
In Ontario, nurses register with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). St. Lawrence says Practical Nursing graduates are eligible to write the registration exam to become RPNs, and bridge graduates are eligible to apply to the CNO to write the exam to practise as RNs. The CNO names the REx-PN for RPNs and the NCLEX-RN for RNs. The college also notes that practical nursing graduates may be eligible for reciprocal registration in other provinces after passing the exam; check each regulator's rules.
How to apply
The college directs applicants to ontariocolleges.ca, the provincial application portal, and describes the Practical Nursing and BScN programs as highly competitive, with a February 1 date for complete applications at the time of checking. Pre-placement health documents (such as immunizations, CPR and police checks) are required before clinical placements. Confirm current dates and requirements on each program page.
How Fiabita's Study Lab can help students here
Fiabita is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with St. Lawrence College. Whether you are in Practical Nursing or bridging from RPN to RN, Study Lab can turn your own notes and slides into quizzes and flashcards. This can help with practice for the longer clinical blocks, such as pharmacology and documentation review. AI-generated content can contain errors, so check it against your course material.
More to explore
Sources
- ↗ St. Lawrence College: Practical Nursing (Kingston)
- ↗ St. Lawrence College: BScN (Brockville)
- ↗ St. Lawrence College: RPN to BScN Bridge
- ↗ CNO: RPN registration exam
- ↗ ontariocolleges.ca: nursing programs
Last checked October 2026. Programs, dates and requirements change: always confirm on the official pages.