Province Expands Nurse Practitioner Training to Address Health-Care Gaps

The B.C. government is addressing health-care shortages by expanding nurse practitioner (NP) training at universities across the province. A total of 65 new training seats have been added at the University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), and University of Victoria (UVic). This expansion aims to reduce wait times and improve access to care in local communities.

UBC’s 30 new seats will now be available at a renovated facility in Surrey, allowing students in the Fraser region to train closer to home. UNBC and UVic are also receiving increased funding to support the growth of their NP programs.

The initiative is part of the province’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the health-care system, especially in underserved areas. The expansion builds on previous investments, such as the launch of a new NP program at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in 2023.

These moves will help ensure more B.C. residents can access timely, personalized care from a growing network of nurse practitioners, with a focus on both rural and urban communities.