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 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 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 for a minimum of a 12 month period.

Recipients of the APN bursary are not eligible for the Internationally Educated Nursing (IEN) or Return to Practice Nurse (RTPN) bursaries and are required to acknowledge ineligibility as part of their APN application submission.

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 a total of $10,000.

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


APN Education Incentive Bursary Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant submits a completed APN Incentive Bursary application form with all supporting documents.
  • Applicant is in their first semester and can demonstrate 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 first survey once their application is received and deemed to meet the eligibility requirements. An additional link will be sent to applicants for the second survey once they complete the APN program. As proof of completion, applicants will be asked to provide a screenshot of the survey confirmation.
  • Applicant has not received funding through the Internationally Educated Nursing Bursary or Return to Practice Nursing (RTPN) Bursary programs.
  • Once eligibility has been confirmed, applicants will receive a 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 at least 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.


Further Notes on Eligibility

  • HCAP or HCA Recruitment Incentive Recipients must declare whether they are currently in or have completed their related ROS to qualify for this bursary.
  • The APN Education Incentive Bursary is available to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents only.
  • 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.
  • Recipients of the APN bursary are not eligible for the IEN or RTPN bursaries.
  • Applicants who have already graduated from a recognized APN Program must apply within 6 months of completion to be eligible for the 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.

Recognized Post-Secondary Institutions offering the APN Program Upcoming Cohorts
Coast Mountain College
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
North Island College
Northern Lights College February 2024
Okanagan College March 2024
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Island University


    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.

    Documents Required

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

    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, 2022 and May 31, 2024 intakes, in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution.

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

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

    5) 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.

    6) A signed 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 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.


      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.


      Survey Submissions

       

      1. Applicants will receive a link to the first survey once their application is received and once it is deemed they meet the eligibility requirements.
      2. Subsequent surveys will be emailed at the applicable times to eligible recipients.

      APN Education Incentive Bursary Application Form

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