MN-PHCNP Program

Become an advanced practice provider for individuals and families in primary care settings. In this two year program, you'll engage early and continuously in clinical practice and research, gaining the skills and experience needed to become an advanced practice nurse. Graduates are well prepared for careers as leaders in clinical practice and education.

Program Overview

Our MN-PHCNP program consists of coursework, clinical placements, integrated practicum, and systematic review. In collaboration with a consortium of nine Ontario universities, you will be taught primarily through small in-person graduate seminars, clinical placements, and self-directed learning online. You will engage in a critical examination of theory and research, applying knowledge and skills related to pathophysiology, health assessment, diagnostics, therapeutics and the primary health care nurse practitioner role. Once you complete this two-year program, you'll be eligible to apply for the Canadian family/all-ages nurse practitioner examination.

Already have a master's degree? Consider our PHCNP Diploma program.

The Nurse Practitioner Primary Health Care Program at Queen's University is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (www.cno.org).

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

Year 1

Fall:

NURS 802 - Qualitative Methodology and Methods

NURS 811 - Theoretical Bases of Nursing Research

NURS 850A - Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners

NURS 856 - Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis I (includes clinical placement)

Winter:

NURS 800 - Intermediate Statistics and Analysis

NURS 803 - Intermediate Quantitative Research Design

NURS 850B - Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners

NURS 857 - Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis II (includes clinical placement)

Spring/Summer:

NURS 898 - Project in Evidence Based Practice

Year 2

Fall:

NURS 858 - Therapeutics in Primary Health Care I (includes clinical placement)

NURS 853A - PHCNP Roles and Responsibilities

Winter:

NURS 859 - Therapeutics in Primary Health Care II (includes clinical placement)

NURS 853B - PHCNP Roles and Responsibilities

Spring/Summer:

NURS 854 - Integrative Practicum (includes clinical placement)

Clinical Placements - PHCNP

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

As students are responsible for transportation to and from clinical placements, a vehicle may be necessary.

Apply Now

Deadline to apply: Applications for Fall 2025 are due February 1, 2025.

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.

Apply Now

Academic Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited university, with a minimum overall average equivalent to B. This average is calculated from the core courses of the program.
Two academic letters of reference (e.g. course professors in undergraduate program).
One clinical reference (three referees total). See Additional Required Information tab below for more details.
Undergraduate courses in research methodology and statistics; if you are unsure whether your course meets program requirements, email grad.nursing@queensu.ca.
Active registration as a registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario. International students can only apply to this program if they have active registration as a registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario in Canada.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the online application you will submit to Queen's Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, the following must be submitted to grad.nursing@queensu.ca OR mailed as a hard copy to the Graduate Program Coordinator, School of Nursing, Queen’s University, Cataraqui Building, 92 Barrie Street, Kingston, ON Canada K7L 3N6:

One clinical reference (e.g. your manager or supervisor), submitted directly by the referee.
Proof of at least two years of relevant full-time practice as a registered nurse within the past five years (minimum of 3640 hours). All applicants must have their employer(s) complete a "Verification of Employment Hours" form.
Completed personal essay questions.
Proof of current RN Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (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.
Curriculum Vitae (Resumé).

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.

I am an international student who is not registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario, can I still apply?

To apply to the MN(PHCNP) program, you must be licensed and actively registered as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Can I take the program part-time?

No, the program is offered full-time over 2 years at Queen’s.

Is this program offered by distance?

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.

Are there scholarships available?

We encourage you to apply for external funding from professional associations, such as the RNAO Nursing Education Initiative Grant Program. You may also have the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant and/or research assistant. For more information, see the School of Graduate Studies awards and scholarships or contact us about potential external funding.

What is the time commitment for this program?

Due to the intensive time demands of the program, full-time employment is not recommended. The full-time MN-PHCNP requires substantial commitment, especially during the fall and winter terms of Year 1 and the summer term of Year 2. In the final course, students will be on placement 4-5 days per week for 12 weeks.

The Nurse Practitioner Primary Health Care 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.

MN-PHCNP Program

MN-PHCNP Program

Questions? Contact the graduate nursing office →

Program Overview

Program Overview

Year 1

Year 2

Clinical Placements - PHCNP

Apply Now

Academic Requirements

Additional Requirements

Indigenous Applicants

Frequently Asked Questions

I am an international student who is not registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario, can I still apply?

Can I take the program part-time?

Is this program offered by distance?

Are there scholarships available?

What is the time commitment for this program?