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Primary Health Care Registered Nurse Certificate Program
A focused nursing certificate advancing knowledge and practice in primary health care.
Primary Health Care Registered Nurse Certificate Program
A focused nursing certificate advancing knowledge and practice in primary health care.
Primary Health Care Registered Nurse Certificate Program
A focused nursing certificate advancing knowledge and practice in primary health care.
About Our Program
The Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing offers a 12-week, fully online Primary Health Care Nursing Certificate for Registered Nurses (RNs) who want to deepen their understanding of primary health care principles and the nursing role within interprofessional primary care teams. This course blends weekly asynchronous modules with optional live virtual drop-in sessions, and uses case-based learning to strengthen assessment, health promotion across the lifespan, chronic disease management, preventative care, and person-centred approaches for individuals across the lifespan.
This course is ideal for nurses who want to:
- Strengthen foundational primary care knowledge
- Expand their understanding of population health across the lifespan
- Prepare for future roles, including RN prescribing
Completion of the Primary Health Care Registered Nurse Certificate Program opens the door to the University of Windsor’s RN Prescribing course, with full tuition reimbursement available upon successful completion of the program as well.
- Program Name: Primary Health Care Registered Nurse Certificate Program
- Faculty: Health Sciences & Western Continuing Studies
- Contact: gradnurs@uwo.ca
- Application Deadline: September 1
- Admission is open to RNs in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (temporary or permanent registration) as well as recent graduates of any Ontario BScN program.
Why Students Choose Western Nursing
Flexible Online Learning for Working Nurses
Complete this 12‑week certificate entirely online through a blend of self-paced modules and optional live sessions. Designed for busy professionals, the flexible format lets you upskill without interrupting your work schedule, equipping you to confidently deliver high-quality care in primary health care settings.
Build Practical Expertise in Primary Health Care
Strengthen your skills in key areas such as health promotion, chronic disease management, and patient-centred care through case-based learning. The course is led by experienced Nurse Practitioners who bring current, real-world expertise to every aspect of the learning experience.
Specialized Training, Fully Reimbursed
As one of only four programs of its kind in Ontario, this innovative certificate offers a unique opportunity to advance your primary health care expertise. With full reimbursement available, you can enhance your knowledge and skills at no cost while earning a credential that supports the College of Nurses of Ontario’s Quality Assurance Program requirements.
Ready to Choose Western Nursing?
September enrollment for this course is now open and will close September 1, 2026. The schedule for any additional course offerings will be available on the Nursing website as the dates are established.
Frequently Asked Questions
This course is open to Registered Nurses (RNs) with temporary or permanent registration, as well as recent baccalaureate nursing program graduates who are eligible for registration.
It is designed for RNs from any practice setting, recognizing that primary health care principles form the foundation of high‑quality nursing care across acute care, community health, long‑term care, public health, and specialized clinical environments. Whether you're looking to broaden your scope, strengthen your clinical confidence, or advance your career, this course is ideal for nurses who value lifelong learning and are committed to ongoing professional growth.
The focus of this course is to strengthen primary care nursing practice with a strong emphasis on primary health care across the lifespan. Learners develop enhanced skills in health promotion, disease prevention, comprehensive assessment, and chronic disease management which are key competencies that empower RNs to make a meaningful impact in today’s primary care teams. Whether you're looking to expand your role, enhance your confidence, prepare for future opportunities like RN prescribing, or nurse practitioner graduate studies, this course provides the foundation you need to thrive in your role.
This is a 12-week, online, asynchronous course, allowing you to complete learning activities on your own schedule. While there are no mandatory live sessions, optional drop-in Zoom sessions are offered weekly to ask questions, connect with instructors, and engage with fellow learners.
The course is taught by experienced Nurse Practitioners with more than 15 years of clinical experience who continue to practice in primary care. Instructors bring real-world, current perspectives that directly inform course content and discussions.
Most of the people who enrol in this course are working nurses with busy schedules. To accommodate this, the course has two weekly modules delivered entirely online asynchronously. Each module is structured so students can pace their work across each week. Typically you should plan to spend about 4 hours per week on the course material with about an hour of time for preparation prior to starting the weekly learning activities.
Assessments are designed to support learning and application and include:
- Online weekly knowledge-check quizzes
- Module-level certificates of completion
- A summative assessment at the end of the course
These assessments are structured to reinforce learning while remaining manageable for working nurses.
No textbooks are required. All course materials are provided online, including readings, videos, and learning resources.
The tuition fee is $1,000, which is fully reimbursed by the Ontario government upon successful completion of the course.
How does the reimbursement work?
To be eligible for reimbursement you need to successfully complete the course. You will pay the tuition prior to starting the course and upon completion, you will receive a full refund for the tuition. If you choose to apply for the RN-Prescribing course you are also eligible for a tuition refund upon completion of the course.
Yes. This course prepares nurses for continued education in primary care and provides a strong foundation for those interested in continuing to complete the RN prescribing course. Fully funded tuition is available for eligible learners who wish to continue and complete an RN prescribing course.