Admission Requirements

Citizenship & Residency Priority

NSCC prioritizes offers of admission on the basis of citizenship and residency. For programs starting in September, offers are extended on applications received before January 1 in the following order:

  1. Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in Nova Scotia (i.e. with a permanent mailing address in Nova Scotia)
  2. Canadian citizens and permanent residents living outside Nova Scotia
  3. Individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada

Language Requirements

All NSCC programs are delivered in English. To help ensure success, applicants may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English, regardless of country of origin or citizenship status. NSCC may require a student whose language skills come into question during the course of a program to complete a competency test or engage in language skill development.

Applicants whose first language is not English may be exempt from English language testing if they have successfully completed one of the following:

  • Grade 12 High School in Nova Scotia
  • 1 full year in an accredited Canadian college or university
  • 3 years of study in English at a college or university outside Canada.

All other applicants, whose first language is not English, are required to submit the results of one of the following English competency tests:

Other Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements, individual programs may have other admission criteria. Please check the program descriptions for additional admission requirements.

Additional Information Requirements for Health & Human Services Applicants

For students applying to Health and Human Services programs, the information below is to be submitted to Admissions.

Criminal Convictions and Child Abuse Registry Self Disclosure Question on Application

The nature of study and practice of the Health and Human Services programs places NSCC students in a position of trust. Consequently, applicants must complete the screening questions regarding criminal convictions and the child abuse registry on the application form. The responses to these questions may affect the applicant's suitability to work and study in specific fields.

Students who are accepted into these programs who provide false information will impact their ability to successfully meet program requirements. Further, during their course of study students are required to report any criminal conviction or registration on the child abuse registry that could affect the student's suitability to work in this field or which would make them ineligible for registration and/or licensing in the discipline.

During each year of study students will be required to show evidence of a clear criminal record and/or child abuse registry checks. The College has established a procedure for obtaining these requirements; the applicant will receive a notice regarding this procedure once they have been accepted into a program. All programs with field placements or clinical experiences with children require a clear child abuse registry check in order for the student to be accepted into the placement or clinical experience.

Any applicant who responds "YES" to the question regarding criminal offences will still be considered for the program. However, there will be further inquiry into the applicant's suitability for work in this field and the applicant will be required to provide further information. The final decision on acceptance will rest with the appropriate campus Academic Chair, in consultation with the Dean, School of Health and Human Services.

Individuals whose criminal record check indicates a problem may apply for a pardon to clear the criminal record check. Individuals are encouraged to check Correctional Services, Government of Canada for details on applying for a pardon. This process may take as long as two years.

Disciplinary Action

If you have been a member of another health or human service discipline and have received any disciplinary action (including revocation of your licence to practise) you'll need to self disclose that information at the time of application as this may impact on your ability to be licensed after completing your new program of study.

Field Placement and Clinical Requirements

The information below is to be submitted to the Campus Registrar by the end of September 2011. Details of the collection of this information will be provided once you have been accepted into your program.

Pre-placement Requirements (26 KB)

Immunization Requirements

Up-to-date immunizations provide both the Health and Human Services worker and clients (in this case students and placement clients) with protection from infectious diseases.

Before commencing the identified programs (refer to pre-clinical/field placement chart) applicants must ensure they have current immunizations against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, varicella, and rubella. Tuberculin testing may be required prior to clinical/practicum and annually while enrolled in the program. Students working with the elderly and young children are encouraged to have annual flu shots.

It is recommended that all students who are entering programs in the Health and Human Services School be immunized for Hepatitis B. Many programs require you to be immunized for Hepatitis B (refer to chart on the following page). Students are required to maintain valid documentation related to meeting immunization and medical certificates (for selected programs), pre-clinical/field placement requirements and be prepared to present these to NSCC and/or employing agencies upon request.

Students who are unable to produce the above documentation will impact their ability to successfully meet program requirements.

CPR and First Aid

A current CPR course (BLSC – two person, adult, infant and child) and standard or emergency first aid are required prior to the beginning of any clinical or field placement. Students must also maintain currency in both CPR and First Aid for graduation. This information is required by the Campus Registrar and must be submitted prior to any placement. Please note the timing of placements and clinical. In some programs (Practical Nursing, Continuing Care, Human Services – Correctional Services), placements take place in the first term or early in the second term. This is a student responsibility and the expense for this training is not included in NSCC tuition.

The campus will arrange for a collection day during the third week of September for students to pass in immunizations and show CPR and First Aid certification.

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