The Province has added 65 nurse practitioner (NP) training seats to three post-secondary institutions, making training accessible in five regions throughout the province and supporting the growth of B.C.’s health-care workforce.

“When you or someone in your family needs care, you shouldn’t have to wait, travel far or worry about whether your needs can be met,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “That’s why we’re expanding nurse practitioner training across B.C., so more people can get timely, personalized care right in their own communities. We’re making sure more families have trusted providers nearby and ready to help when and where they’re needed most.”

Government is adding 65 new seats to NP programs throughout B.C.: 30 seats at the University of British Columbia (UBC); 20 seats at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC); and 15 seats at the University of Victoria (UVic). Government will provide $4.7 million in annual, ongoing funding for the 65 new seats. To further support the expansions, government also provided $4.1 million to UNBC and $17.5 million to UBC for facility renovations. These seat expansions have increased the number of people training to be nurse practitioners in B.C. to 165 per year.

In September 2025, UBC moved its 30 new seats from the main Vancouver campus to a newly renovated space in Surrey. This move means that a NP program is now accessible to students in the Fraser region, in addition to the Lower Mainland, northern B.C., Vancouver Island and the southern Interior.

“Nurse practitioners play a vital role in our primary-care teams, helping people get the care they need in their own communities without long waits or long travel,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By expanding training opportunities around our province, we’re not just creating more seats in classrooms, we’re building a stronger, more connected health-care workforce that will support people and families for years to come.”

In addition, as part of Budget 2021, government helped launch a new 15-seat nurse practitioner program at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), which opened in May 2023, and a new program stream at UVic for prospective nurse practitioners who already have a master of nursing degree. Government committed to providing just over $1 million in ongoing annual funding for the new NP program at TRU and the new post-degree NP program stream at UVic.

“The expansion of the NP program into Surrey provides me with the opportunity to not only learn from, but also to engage with the community that I hope to practise in. It’s a consideration that played a large role in my decision to further my studies at UBC,” said Alexandra Jude, a second-year student in UBC’s NP program. “The ability to be closer to home allows for a sustainable and enjoyable school-life balance as I raise my young family. I know that future students will benefit greatly from this expanded option as well.”

In 2018, the Province launched its primary-care strategy to increase patient attachment and access to quality, team-based and person-centred primary-care services throughout the province. As both primary-care and acute-care providers, training more nurse practitioners will help increase B.C.’s network of care and will address gaps in underserved populations, such as those in rural or remote areas.

The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the Ministry of Health are working together to ensure B.C. has the health-care professionals the province needs, because supporting B.C.’s health workforce is one of government’s highest priorities.

Quotes:

Elizabeth Saewyc, director, school of nursing, UBC –

“Thanks to the Government of British Columbia’s investment in this significant program expansion, UBC’s school of nursing now hosts the largest nurse practitioner program in Canada, admitting 60 students each year. This growth not only helps fill an urgent need for more primary-care providers across the province, but it also expands UBC’s program in Surrey, adding classes to the clinical placements already taking place in the Fraser Health region, closer to where many students live and plan to work.”

Catharine Schiller, chair, school of nursing, UNBC –

“As UNBC’s nurse practitioner program has grown to welcome more students, each new graduate will expand access to high-quality, patient-centred care across British Columbia. This growth is particularly meaningful in northern and rural communities, where many graduates choose to practise. Their presence helps ensure residents can receive timely health services close to home while strengthening the province’s overall health system.”

Lenora Marcellus, director, school of nursing, UVic –

“This fall, UVic is welcoming our second increased cohort of 50 nurse practitioner students into our graduate program under the university’s new faculty of health. Next June, 50 NP students will graduate from the program and go on to offer much-needed primary health care to up to 50,000 people in B.C. The seat expansion at UVic will make a real difference to communities across the province that are struggling with access to health care.”

Rani Srivastava, dean of nursing, TRU –

“Thanks to the funding from the B.C. government, TRU is proud to support the valuable training provided through our master of nursing-nurse practitioner program. This pivotal funding underscores our commitment to advancing health-care education and ensuring the preparation of skilled nurses and nurse practitioners. These professionals are crucial for delivering independent and team-based health-care services, significantly enhancing primary, acute and community care across British Columbia.”

Quick Facts:

• Nurse practitioners have a background in nursing and complete master’s level clinical training to act as the “most responsible provider,” similar to physicians.
• Nurse practitioners often work as part of a primary-care network, which can include family doctors, registered nurses, pharmacists, social workers, midwives, mental-health professionals, Indigenous and community providers, and others.
• Nurse practitioners also work in acute care at hospitals or in specialized outpatient settings.
• According to the 2024 Labour Market Outlook, nurse practitioner will be a “high-opportunity occupation,” meaning that nurse practitioners are forecast to have higher demand, higher wages and more opportunities over the next decade compared to other occupations.
• Government has also added 362 registered nursing seats, 40 registered psychiatric nursing seats and 180 licenced practical nurse seats at 17 public post-secondary institutions.