The Nurse Practitioner (NP) Graduate Diploma program is a one-year, full-time or two-year, part-time course of study. The program educates master's-prepared nurses for advanced practice as a Nurse Practitioner. The NP Diploma consists of seven courses offered through the Ontario Nurse Practitioner Education Consortium (ONPEC). Courses in the program are designed to equip students with advanced skills and knowledge in health assessment and diagnosis, pathophysiology, therapeutics, and the roles and responsibilities of NP practice. Our NP graduates work in a wide variety of positions in primary health care, long-term care, nurse practitioner-led clinics (NPLCs), specialty care, public health and community settings, or in independent practice.
Have more questions? Our team is here to help. Contact us to learn more about the program, admissions, or student experience.
Your learning experience
Queen’s University is one of nine partner institutions in the Ontario Nurse Practitioner Education Consortium (ONPEC). In collaboration with ONPEC we develop and deliver the seven courses that are required to complete the NP Graduate Diploma program. On successful completion of the program graduates can appy to write the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Licensure Examination (CNPLE), and subsequently apply for the Extended Class registration as a Nurse Practitioner in Ontario.
Additional information about the Ontario Nurse Practitioner Education Consortium (ONPEC) can be found
Already have a master's degree? Consider our NP Graduate Diploma program.
Please note: International students cannot apply to this program unless they have active registration as a registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario in Canada.
Additional Resources
- School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA)
- SGSPA Academic Calendar - Nursing Section
- Society of Graduate and Professional Students
- Queen’s Nursing and Health Research
Fall 2025 Information Webinar Recording
Fall:
NURS 850A Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners (continues into Winter term)
NURS 853A NP Roles and Responsibilities (continues into Winter term)
NURS 856 (4.5 cr) Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnosis I (includes clinical placement)
NURS 858 (4.5 cr) Therapeutics I (includes clinical placement)
Winter:
NURS 850B (3.0 cr) Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners
NURS 853B (3.0 cr) NP Roles and Responsibilities
NURS 857 (4.5 cr) Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnosis II (includes clinical placement)
NURS 859 (4.5 cr) Therapeutics II (includes clinical placement)
Summer:
NURS 854 (12 cr) Integrative Practicum (includes clinical placement)
Fall Year 1:
NURS 850A Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners (continues into Winter term)
NURS 856 (4.5 cr) Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnosis I (includes clinical placement)
Winter Year 1:
NURS 850B (3.0 cr) Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners
NURS 857 (4.5 cr) Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnosis II (includes clinical placement)
Summer Year 1:
If not taking any courses (NURS 853 or an elective), students will be registered in a place-holder 'course' to maintain active registration.
OPTIONAL - NURS 853 (3.0 cr) NP Roles and Responsibilities (instead of A/B offering in Fall/Winter of Year 2)
Fall Year 2:
NURS 853A NP Roles and Responsibilities (continues into Winter term)
NURS 858 (4.5 cr) Therapeutics I (includes clinical placement)
Winter Year 2
NURS 853B (3.0 cr) NP Roles and Responsibilities
NURS 859 (4.5 cr) Therapeutics II (includes clinical placement)
Summer Year 2
NURS 854 (12 cr) Integrative Practicum (includes clinical placement)
Clinical placements are arranged by our Clinical Placement Coordinator. Students are not permitted to arrange their own placements. Placements typically occur within the city of Kingston and/or communities within a 90 minute drive of Queen's campus. Our placement catchment area covers an area along the north shore of Lake Ontario, from Peterborough to Smiths Falls to Brockville to just west of Cornwall. Some of our clinical placement partners include:
- Kingston Health Sciences Centre
- Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheríyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team
- Quinte Health
- Corrections Canada
- Providence Manor
- And variety of rural family health teams and clinics
The final clinical course Integrated Practicum requires 416 hours of clinical and 39 hours of tutorial over the 13 week term.
Admissions
Deadline to apply: Applications for Fall 2026 are due February 1, 2026.
Applications to all graduate programs are made through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs starting in September for admission the following year.
Please note, only complete applications will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee in the School of Nursing.
Queen's Health Sciences (QHS) and Graduate Nursing Programs are committed to advancing equitable and inclusive approaches to admissions and education. Faculty, staff, and learners involved in application review complete training designed to detect and minimize bias in admissions. Visit Queen's Health Sciences EDIIA for more information.
Academic Requirements
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree in nursing and a Master’s degree (nursing preferred) that have both been approved by a provincial/territorial authority.
- Graduation with a minimum overall average equivalent to B in both degrees.
- Two academic letters of reference (e.g. course professors). This is submitted as part of your SGSPA application.
- One clinical reference (three referees total). See Additional Required Information tab below for more details.
- Active registration as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).
- International applicants cannot apply to this program unless they have active registration as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario and are a resident in Ontario.
Indigenous Applicants
Queen’s welcomes and encourages inquiries and applications from Indigenous candidates. If you are an Indigenous applicant and wish for your application to be considered under the “Indigenous Student Admission Regulation,” you must self-identify as Indigenous upon application for admission. For the purposes of this regulation, Indigenous is defined as First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI). Visit our Indigenous applicants pathways page for further details.
Additional Requirements
In addition to the online application submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, the following must be submitted to grad.nursing@queensu.ca:
- Proof of current registration as a registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (e.g. your Find a Nurse profile) or equivalent. Applicants licensed in other Canadian provinces/territories must register with CNO prior to starting the program.
- One clinical reference (e.g. your manager or supervisor), submitted directly by the referee.
- "Verification of Employment Hours" form submitted directly by employer(s). Applicants must have the equivalent of two years of relevant full-time practice as a registered nurse within the past five years (minimum of 3640 hours).
- Curriculum Vitae (Resumé).
- Statement of Interest - Use standard font and margins. Include your surname in the filename, e.g. "Doe, Jane_NP SOI".
- What is your motivation for becoming a Nurse Practitioner? What are your career goals? Max. 300 words.
- What personal attributes and professional experiences do you bring to the NP role? What are your current strengths and weaknesses with respect to the *entry-level competencies for NPs? Max. 300 words. *Visit CNO Become A Nurse website.
- As you transition from RN to NP, how do you see your role evolving as both a clinician and advocate? How will you incorporate principles of indigeneity, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism (I-EDIAA) into your future NP practice? Max. 300 words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Our team is here to help. Contact us to learn more about the program, admissions, or student experience.
To apply to the MN(NP) program, you must be licensed and actively registered as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Yes, this program can be taken part-time. If taking the program full-time, students are advised not to work.
No. This program requires attendance at on-campus courses, most of which are organized as seminars requiring active discussion among and presentations by you and your classmates. There is an expectation that you attend and actively participate in courses, scholarly presentations and research events in the School of Nursing, within the Faculty of Health Sciences and within the University's community in general. Clinical placements occur within the Queen's catchment area.
Due to the intensive time demands of the program, full-time employment is not recommended. The full-time PHCNP diploma requires substantial commitment, especially during the integrated practicum. In the final course, students will be on placement 4-5 days per week for 12 weeks.
The Nurse Practitioner Program at Queen’s University is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (www.cno.org). Current graduates from this program are eligible to apply for Extended Class registration as a Nurse Practitioner in Ontario.