Nursing admissions · Canada
Nursing School Requirements in Canada (2027 Entry)
To get into a Canadian university nursing program straight from high school, you usually need Grade 12 English, Biology and Chemistry, plus a math course, each at 70% or higher. Competitive programs then admit students with averages in the mid-80s to low 90s. Some programs add a CASPer test (McMaster counts it for 20% of the decision), and second-entry programs ask for about two years of university instead. This guide compares five major schools from their official pages and lists every nursing program on Acuity's 2026–27 CASPer list.
First, pick your nursing pathway
“Nursing school” covers several routes, each with different entry rules and pay. Pick yours before you compare requirements.
- Practical nursing diploma (RPN or LPN). A college program, usually two years, from high school. It leads to the practical nursing licence. See how much nurses make for the pay difference.
- Four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN or BSN). The standard route to becoming a registered nurse, entered from high school.
- Accelerated or second-entry BScN. For students who already have about two years of university or a degree. Examples: U of T (2 years), UBC (20 months), McMaster's accelerated stream and Western's compressed program (19–22 months).
- RPN-to-BScN bridging. For working practical nurses who want to become RNs, such as McMaster's Mohawk RPN-BScN stream and Western's RPN streams.
- Nurse practitioner. A graduate degree for experienced RNs, not an entry-level program.
High school prerequisites for nursing
Ontario university BScN programs ask for nearly the same courses. Other provinces use the equivalent Grade 12 university-prep courses.
- English (ENG4U): required everywhere. Queen's sets a 75% minimum in English.
- Biology (SBI4U) and Chemistry (SCH4U): required at every school we checked.
- Math: this is where schools differ. McMaster accepts one of Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) or Data Management (MDM4U). Queen's takes any 4U math. Western asks only for a Grade 11 math (MCF3M or MCR3U) at 70%, and falls back to a 4U math if your Grade 11 mark is short.
- Electives: you need six Grade 12 U/M courses in total, and your top six usually form the admission average.
Meeting the minimums only makes you eligible. Western, for example, requires 70% in each prerequisite but publishes an admission guideline in the high 80s to low 90s.
Nursing school requirements compared: McMaster, Western, Queen's, U of T, UBC
| School | Route | Prerequisites | Average | CASPer | Also note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMaster (with Mohawk) | 4-year BScN from high school (OUAC MN / MNM); 370 seats | ENG4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, and one of MHF4U, MCV4U or MDM4U | Minimum 85% | Required. Final decision is 80% grades, 20% CASPer | Mandatory clinical placements |
| Western | 3.5-year direct-entry BScN (OUAC ENW); 210 seats | ENG4U, SBI4U, SCH4U at 70%+, plus Grade 11 math (MCF3M or MCR3U) | High 80s to low 90s | Not listed for 2026–27 (see note below) | Separate 19–22 month compressed BScN for degree holders and RPNs |
| Queen's | 4-year BNSc from high school | ENG4U (75%+), SBI4U, SCH4U, any 4U math, plus two more 4U/4M | Not published on the requirements page | Not required | CPR/BLS, first aid and a criminal record check after admission |
| University of Toronto | 2-year accelerated BScN after two years of university | 10.0 university credits including human physiology, microbiology, statistics, life/physical science and social science | Minimum B (about 75%) in your last 5.0 credits; most admits are A- or higher | Not required | 500-word personal statement (AI not permitted) and leadership section |
| UBC Vancouver | 20-month BSN after university credits | Degree or 48+ transferable credits, including 3 credits of English and 6 of human anatomy and physiology | Competitive; not published as a single cutoff | Required (Casper 1) | Domestic applicants only |
McMaster: the clearest formula in Canada
McMaster is unusually transparent. Its requirements tool states a minimum of 85% and says the final decision is weighted 80% grades and 20% CASPer. There are 370 seats: 250 at McMaster and 120 at Mohawk College. The OUAC McMaster guide lists January 15, 2027 for current Ontario high school students (Group A) and February 1, 2027 for everyone else. You must complete CASPer on one of the dates Acuity lists. McMaster makes nursing offers in late April to early May. Our McMaster nursing CASPer guide breaks down each stream.
Western: high-80s average, two very different routes
Western's program page lists a 3.5-year direct-entry BScN (OUAC code ENW, 210 first-year seats, high 80s to low 90s guideline). It also lists a compressed-time-frame BScN (ENS, ENA, ENB) for students with university credits or RPN registration, with a low-80s-plus guideline. The compressed regular stream asks for anatomy, human physiology and statistics, and at least 75% in your most recent 10.0 credits.
Queen's: no CASPer, firm English minimum
Queen's Nursing calendar requires the Ontario diploma, four 4U courses (ENG4U, SBI4U, SCH4U and a 4U math) and two more 4U/4M courses, with at least 75% in English. Queen's Nursing FAQ states plainly that CASPer is not required.
U of T: two years of university first
U of T's Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing offers only a two-year accelerated BScN. You need 10.0 university credits (at least 4.0 above first year) and at least a B average in your most recent 5.0 credits. The school says most admitted students have an A- or higher. Prerequisites changed for the September 2026 intake. You now need 1.0 credit in social sciences, or 0.5 in social sciences plus 0.5 in humanities, instead of a full credit in each. The supplementary application, due February 1, includes a 500-word personal statement that you must write without AI.
UBC: 20 months, domestic applicants only
UBC Vancouver's BSN takes 20 months. It needs a completed degree or at least 48 non-nursing transferable credits, including first-year English and 6 credits of human anatomy and physiology. It accepts only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people with refugee status. UBC Nursing appears on Acuity's 2026–27 CASPer list. Our UBC CASPer guide covers the other UBC programs that use it.
Which nursing schools require CASPer in Canada?
On Acuity Insights' Dates & Fees page (Canada, English, 2026–2027 cycle), “Undergraduate Nursing” falls under Canada Casper 1 (English), CSP-10200. No nursing program is listed under Casper 2. These are the 20 nursing programs listed when we checked on October 27, 2026:
- Assiniboine College, Practical Nursing
- Brandon University, Nursing
- Brandon University, Psychiatric Nursing
- College of the Rockies, Nursing
- McMaster University, Nursing (Basic and Accelerated)
- McMaster University, Nursing (Basic, Mohawk College site)
- McMaster University, Nursing (RPN-BScN, Mohawk site)
- Mount Royal University, Nursing
- North Island College, Nursing
- Selkirk College, Nursing
- Stenberg College, Psychiatric Nursing
- Thompson Rivers University, Nursing
- Trinity Western University, Nursing
- University of British Columbia (Vancouver), Nursing
- University of Prince Edward Island, 4-year BScN
- University of Prince Edward Island, Accelerated Nursing
- University of the Fraser Valley, BScN
- University of the Fraser Valley, BScN (LPN Access)
- Vancouver Community College, Nursing
- Vancouver Island University, Nursing (Option A)
CASPer for nursing uses the same format as the other versions: 11 scenarios (four video scenarios with one minute per answer, then seven typed scenarios with 3.5 minutes for two answers), taking about 65 to 85 minutes. Your Casper 1 score is valid only for the current cycle, and only for programs on the Casper 1 list. If you are also applying to a health professions program that uses Casper 2, you need to take both. Our Casper 1 vs Casper 2 guide explains the split.
What changed for the 2026–27 cycle
We compared Acuity's nursing list for the 2025–26 cycle with the 2026–27 list. These programs were listed last cycle but are not on the 2026–27 list as of October 27, 2026:
- Western University, Direct Entry BScN
- University of Alberta, Nursing
- University of Saskatchewan, Nursing and Post-Degree BSN
- University of New Brunswick, Nursing
- University of Lethbridge, BN After Degree
- University of Northern British Columbia, Northern Baccalaureate Nursing
- Fanshawe College, Practical Nursing
- Vancouver Island University, LPN to BSN bridge-in (Option C)
The biggest change is Western. It used CASPer for its direct-entry BScN for September 2026 entry, but it is not on the current list, and Western's current program page and admission information do not mention CASPer. By contrast, Western's Engineering admissions page still requires it for 2026/27. A school can add itself to Acuity's list during a cycle, so if one of these programs is on your list, confirm with its admissions office before you skip the test. See our updated Western Nursing CASPer guide.
Other requirements: before placements and after graduation
Academic admission is not the last step. Before clinical placements, nursing schools typically ask for proof of immunizations and certifications. Queen's, for example, requires first aid and CPR at the BLS or Health Care Provider level, taken in person and dated after May 1 of your entry year, plus a criminal record check once you accept your offer (Queen's Nursing). Ontario programs also point applicants to the College of Nurses of Ontario's requisite skills and abilities for practice.
After graduation, you write a licensing exam. In Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario uses the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses, plus a jurisprudence exam on Ontario nursing law and standards. Practical nurses in Ontario and British Columbia write the REx-PN.
How to strengthen your nursing application
- Protect your prerequisite marks. English, Biology and Chemistry carry most of the weight, and a mark under 70% can make you ineligible no matter what your average is.
- Plan your math early. If you are applying to several schools, take a 4U math that every one of them accepts, such as MHF4U.
- Treat CASPer as part of your grade. At McMaster it is 20% of the decision. Learn the format, then practise with healthcare scenarios and empathy questions, the themes nursing programs care about most. Our CASPer for nursing guide has a full plan.
- Write supplementary answers yourself. U of T explicitly bans AI in its personal statement. Use specific examples from caregiving, volunteering or work that show what you did and what you learned.
- Apply broadly. Combine programs with and without CASPer so one bad test day does not decide your year. Remember that one Casper 1 sitting covers every Casper 1 nursing program you send it to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you need to get into nursing school in Canada?+
From high school you usually need Grade 12 English, Biology and Chemistry plus a math course, each at 70% or more, and a competitive average, typically 85% to the low 90s in Ontario. Some programs also require CASPer or a supplementary application. Accelerated programs require about two years of university instead.
What average do you need for nursing in Ontario?+
McMaster lists a minimum of 85%, and Western's guideline for direct-entry nursing is the high 80s to low 90s. Minimum prerequisite marks are usually 70%, but admitted averages are much higher.
Which nursing schools require CASPer in Canada?+
For 2026-27, Acuity lists 20 nursing programs under Casper 1. They include McMaster (all three streams), UBC Vancouver, Mount Royal, UPEI, Trinity Western, Thompson Rivers, the University of the Fraser Valley, Brandon, Vancouver Community College, VIU Option A, and several BC and Manitoba colleges.
Does Western Nursing require CASPer for 2027?+
Western's direct-entry BScN is not on Acuity's 2026-27 CASPer list, and Western's current nursing admission pages do not mention CASPer, although the program used CASPer for September 2026 entry. Confirm with Western admissions before deciding not to test.
Does Queen's Nursing require CASPer?+
No. Queen's School of Nursing says the CASPer test is not required for admission to its BNSc program.
How much does CASPer count for McMaster Nursing?+
McMaster says the final admission decision is weighted 80% on grades and 20% on CASPer, with a minimum average of 85%.
Can I get into nursing without Grade 12 Chemistry?+
Not into the university BScN programs we checked: McMaster, Western and Queen's all require SCH4U or its equivalent. Practical nursing college programs and upgrading routes, such as Western's accepted college pre-health courses, can fill the gap.
Sources and scope
Checked October 27, 2026 against the McMaster admission requirements tool and OUAC McMaster guide; Western's Nursing program page and admission information; Queen's Nursing calendar and BNSc page; U of T's BScN How to Apply page; UBC's Nursing program page; Acuity Insights' Dates & Fees page for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 cycles; and the College of Nurses of Ontario and REx-PN sites. Requirements are for 2027 entry and can change, so always confirm with each school. CasperCoach is independent of Acuity Insights and every school named here.