APN Education Incentive Bursary

On August 23, 2022, the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the Access to Practical Nursing Education Incentive Bursary. This bursary is for students and recent graduates enrolled in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution.

The APN program is a unique career laddering program for Health Care Assistants (HCAs) wishing to train as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The APN program allows students to apply training and experience garnered as an HCA to accelerate their training as an LPN. Incentivizing HCAs to enroll in this program will help to retain HCAs in BC’s public health system and to expedite the number of LPNs available to support more immediate LPN staffing needs.

As part of the eligibility requirements of the APN Incentive Bursary, applicants commit to signing a 12-month return of service (ROS) with the Ministry of Health. The signed ROS goes into effect once the APN student has graduated and begins working as an LPN within BC’s public health system. The terms of the ROS can be fulfilled by regular full or part-time LPN employees.

Applicants will commit to completing up to three surveys—at the beginning of the program, and one each after completing the APN program and the work commitment. Information obtained from the surveys will be used to support outcomes for students and new graduates and to streamline future bursary processes.

This bursary will be paid in equal installments each semester to new students, as a one-time payment to recent graduates, or as a combination of these two payment methods for mid-stream students, to a total of $10,000.

To qualify for this bursary, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

APN Education Incentive Bursary Eligibility Criteria for New Students

• Applicant submits a completed APN Incentive Bursary application form with all supporting documents.
• Applicant demonstrates proof of first-term enrollment in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution beginning between September 1, 2022 and May 31, 2024.
• Applicant demonstrates proof of registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
• Applicant has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to receive payments.
• Applicant agrees to complete up to three surveys. Note: Applicants will receive a link to the survey once their application is received and once it is deemed they meet the eligibility requirements. As proof of completion, applicants will be asked to provide a screenshot of the survey confirmation.
• Once eligibility has been confirmed, applicants will receive a 12-month return of service (ROS) agreement, which must be signed and submitted. This ROS agreement is with the Ministry of Health, committing to work within BC’s public health system for a minimum of a 12 month period once licensed as an LPN.

Each semester:

• Recipient submits unofficial transcripts from their last completed semester.
• Recipient submits a printout of their APN program tuition account dated two weeks following the start of the term.

Note: All documents are submitted to Choose2Care, a division of HEABC. All installments are paid directly to the student. Funds will be disbursed by HEABC and may take up to 6 weeks for processing once it is deemed the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

APN Education Incentive Bursary Eligibility Criteria for Mid-stream Students

• Applicant submits a completed APN Incentive Bursary application form with all supporting documents.
• Applicant demonstrates proof of first-term enrollment in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution program beginning between September 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024.
• Applicant submits unofficial transcripts for completed semester work that began between September 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024, in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution.
• Applicant demonstrates proof of registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
• Applicant has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to receive payments.
• Applicant agrees to complete two surveys. Note: Applicants will receive a link to the survey once their application is received and once it is deemed they meet the eligibility requirements. As proof of completion, applicants will be asked to provide a screenshot of the survey confirmation.
• Once eligibility has been confirmed, applicants will receive a 12-month return of service (ROS) agreement, which must be signed and submitted. This ROS agreement is with the Ministry of Health, committing to work within BC’s public health system for a minimum of a 12 month period once licensed as an LPN.

Each semester:

• Recipient submits unofficial transcripts for the last completed semester.
• Recipient submits a printout of their APN program tuition account dated two weeks following the start of the term.

Note: All documents are submitted to Choose2Care, a division of HEABC. All installments are paid directly to the student. Funds will be disbursed by HEABC and may take up to 6 weeks for processing once it is deemed the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

APN Education Incentive Bursary Eligibility Criteria for Recent Graduates

• Applicant submits a completed APN Incentive Bursary application form with all supporting documents.
• Applicant demonstrates proof of first-term enrollment in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution beginning between September 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024.
• Applicant submits proof of graduation from APN program.
• Applicant demonstrates proof of registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives.
• Applicant has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to receive payment.
• Applicant agrees to complete two surveys. Note: Applicants will receive a link to the survey once their application is received and once it is deemed they meet the eligibility requirements. As proof of completion, applicants will be asked to provide a screenshot of the survey confirmation.
• Once eligibility has been confirmed, applicants will receive a 12-month return of service (ROS) agreement, which must be signed and submitted. This ROS agreement is with the Ministry of Health, committing to work within BC’s public health system for a minimum of a 12 month period once licensed as an LPN.

Note: All documents are submitted to Choose2Care, a division of HEABC. All installments are paid directly to the student. Funds will be disbursed by HEABC and may take up to 6 weeks for processing once it is deemed the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

Further Notes on Eligibility

• HCAP or HCA Recruitment Incentive Recipients must declare whether they are currently in or have completed their related ROS.
• The APN Education Incentive Bursary is available to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents only.
• APN graduates from BC post-secondary institutions who began their first semester of the APN program before September 1, 2021, or who have graduated and are currently employed in BC outside of BC’s public health system are not eligible for this bursary.
• Health Authority owned and operated, affiliate or private long-term care (LTC), assisted living (AL) setting, or any Health Authority owned and operated home support/community setting within BC, excluding contract agencies supplying temporary and/or short-term staffing solutions to eligible facilities.
• Given this bursary is not a tuition reimbursement, students that have received government-sponsored education or sponsorship (paid tuition) by any other means are eligible to receive this bursary.

Recognized APN Program Post-Secondary Institutions

The following Post-Secondary Institutions offer the APN program and are recognized as part of the APN Education Incentive Bursary.

Application Process

• To apply for the APN Incentive Bursary, please complete the APN Education Incentive Bursary application form and upload all required documents.
• The Choose2Care team will acknowledge receipt of your application within five (5) business days from the submission date. Please note that the anticipated processing time of 6 weeks may increase if the application is incomplete.

** Please review all requirements and gather appropriate documents before completing the application form, as the system will not allow you to save your progress.

Documents Required

New APN program students only: Complete steps 1-6 below.

Mid-stream APN program students only: Complete steps 1-7 below.

Recent APN graduates only: Complete steps 1-4, and steps 8-9

1) This APN Education Incentive Bursary application form.

2) APN registration acceptance letter or other proof of enrollment for 1st semester beginning between September 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024 intakes, in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution.

3) A signed 12-month return of service (ROS) with the Ministry of Health, committing to work within BC’s public health system once licensed as an LPN and has completed up to three surveys. Note: Once eligibility has been confirmed, applicants will receive a 12-month return of service (ROS) agreement, which must be signed and submitted. This ROS agreement is with the Ministry of Health, committing to work within BC’s public health system for a minimum of a 12 month period once licensed as an LPN.

4) A screenshot confirming completion of your survey submission. Note: Applicants will receive a link to the survey once their application is received and once it is deemed they meet the eligibility requirements.

5) A printout of your APN program tuition account dated two weeks following the start of the term.

6) Proof of registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

7) Copies of unofficial transcripts for completed semester work.

8) Proof of registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives.

9) Proof of graduation from a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution (APN Diploma or LPN License).

APN Education Incentive Bursary Distribution

APN Incentive Bursary installments will be paid directly to the recipient each semester for a combined total of $10,000 when all required documents outlined above are submitted. Receipt of the APN Education Incentive Bursary may take up to 6 weeks for processing once it is deemed the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

First-term and mid-stream applicants will be paid one installment each semester. A back payment will be submitted to mid-stream for completed semester work and a one-time payment will be made to recent qualifying graduates.

Each Semester- New and Mid-stream APN Students

To continue receiving installments, recipients must submit the following documentation at the start of each new semester beginning in the second semester:

• Submit unofficial transcripts at the completion of each semester.
• Submit a printout of APN program tuition account dated two weeks following the start of the term.

Receipt of the APN Education Incentive Bursary payments each semester can be expected within 4-6 weeks of submitting all required documentation. 

Survey Submissions

1. Applicants will receive a link to the survey once their application is received and once it is deemed they meet the eligibility requirements.
2. Subsequent surveys (two for new, and one for mid-stream and new Graduate APN Education Incentive Bursary recipients) will be emailed at the applicable times to eligible recipients.

APN Education Incentive Bursary Application Form