Frequently Asked Questions: Gerontology Postgraduate Diploma

Admissions

What are the admission requirements?

In addition to meeting the general entrance requirements for admission to Selkirk College, applicants from countries outside of Canada must meet the following Gerontological Nursing Post-Graduate Diploma requirements:
 

  • B.Sc. Nursing degree/GNM Diploma from a recognized nursing school with English as a primary language of instruction
  • Registration with a national/provincial/state nursing association
  • Minimum of one year nursing experience
  • IELTS 6.5 overall with no band score lower than 6
  • Letter from previous or current employer describing work responsibilities
  • Current resume/CV
Can I apply without an IELTS scores? I‘m preparing for the IELTS test. Do you issue conditional offer letters?

Selkirk College will issue a conditional offer letter but only once. This conditional offer letter will outline all outstanding conditions that need to be met before an official offer letter can be issued, including IELTS test score, payment of tuition and fees.

I have recently passed the BSc Nursing but do not have one year nursing experience? Am I eligible to apply?

One year experience in the nursing field is a mandatory requirement for this program. Without relevant experience, you will not be accepted into this program.

Gerontology

What is gerontology?

Gerontology is the scientific study of aging processes and individuals as they grow from middle age through later life. It includes:
 

  • The study of physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age.

  • The investigation of the aging process itself.

  • The investigation of  the interface of normal aging and age-related disease.

  • The investigation of the effects of an ageing population on society.

  • The application of this knowledge to policies and programs.

What is the difference between gerontology and geriatrics?

Gerontology is multidisciplinary and it includes the research of numerous disciplines concerned with the physical, mental and social aspects of life, whereas geriatrics is a specialty within that field that includes the study of health and disease in later life and the comprehensive health care and treatment of older persons and interface with their caregivers.

Is there a national association that promotes leadership in the gerontology field?

Yes. The Canadian Association of Gerontology is a national, multidisciplinary scientific and educational association established to provide leadership in matters related to the aging population in Canada.

In addition, the Canadian Association of Gerontological Nurses promotes excellence in gerontological nursing through leadership, knowledge and scholarship.

The Program

Is there a practicum component in this program?

In the second and final semesters, there is a nursing practice component to the program. This is an unpaid practicum that will take place in residential care and community facilities in the region.

The lab fee is charged in both Year 1 and 2.

The lab fee is charged in both Year 1 and 2.

The tuition fee mentioned in the program flyer is $10,700 for one year. Can the student pay this in 2 installments?

Yes, the annual tuition fee will be paid in two installments of $5,350, due before the start of classes each semester.

Will I be required to buy textbooks for this program?

Yes, most classes will require a textbook. The total fee for books for the two-year program will be approximately $1,000. This is an additional expense that you should budget for.

Career Opportunities

If I complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing, will I be automatically eligible to practice as a nurse in Canada?

No, completion of a post-basic nursing certificate/diploma in Canada will not qualify an internationally trained nurse to practice immediately.  Effective August, 2014 all internationally educated nurses who want to register in a Canadian province or territory must first apply directly through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), a national online application service developed by nursing regulatory bodies across Canada.  www.nnas.ca

What is the process to become a registered nurse in Canada?

There are a number of steps for an internationally trained nurse to become registered to practice nursing in Canada. While the RN exam is the same for all nurses in Canada, the process of registration may be slightly different in each province.

Following completion of the NNAS application process, you will be notified by NNAS that your advisory report has been completed.  The next step will be to apply to the regulatory body in the province you want to work in.

For an overview of the steps and procedures for registration of internationally trained nurses, please visit the CRNBC website.

What jobs are available after I graduate?

Once you complete the NNAS and competency-based assessment (SEC) in Vancouver and pass the N-CLEX examination, you will be eligible to practice as a registered nurse in BC or other provinces in Canada.

Alternatively, as part of the Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing, the program coordinator will help you apply for registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry so you can practice as a health care assistant in residential or acute care facilities. Learn more about this alternative.