All Masters level programs at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto include courses combining scholarship and practical field work experiences. The purpose of the practicum experience is to consolidate learning from the graduate program in real-life settings, utilizing the knowledge and skill of advanced practice preceptors.

Students can refer to our placement timeline documents (MN Clinical, MN HSLA, NP) for further information.

Additional resources for NP students include an FAQ document and algorithms for each area of emphasis (Adult, PHC-GH).

Student Preparedness Permits

More information on immunization documentation can be found on our Immunization FAQ (Rev.2023)  

Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you keep your documents up-to-date.

You will be required to book a new Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) appointment prior to your document’s expiration date. If you have more than one document expiring, we suggest you update them together in one appointment to avoid further charges. Expired documents will impact your clinical experience. 

The University of Toronto does not share documentation submitted by students for their student preparedness permits with third parties. The onus is on the student to verify their own information with their placement sites to meet agency-specific requirements. If requested by an agency, the Faculty of Nursing can sign attestation forms or letters.

To enroll in the MN or Post-Master NP program (PMNP), students are required to submit documentation to obtain their student preparedness permit. Failure to complete and provide these documents will affect your ability to engage in practicum and proceed in the graduate program.

All students must keep original copies of their police record check – vulnerable sector screening results and their immunization records to present to healthcare agencies on demand throughout the year.

The processing time for health and police record check reports can be lengthy depending on the region. Incomplete documents will delay student enrollment.

Students in the MN and PMNP program are advised to initiate their requests for immunization information from their healthcare provider and clearance from their regional police at the end of June in order to meet our August 12th, 2024 deadline. All documents need to be in English (translations should be certified/notarized).

All new graduate students must satisfy the MN or PMNP Year 1 requirements, including individuals who were previously enrolled in the BScN program and students returning from a leave.

MN and PMNP Year 1 Students

What do I need?

Fill out the following form: New Student Immunization Record_Rev.May 2023

Includes all of your immunization information and must be obtained and signed by your health care provider. Forms will be rejected if sections are left blank and lab results are attached separately. Incomplete submissions will result in students having to book and pay for subsequent file review appointments.

  1. A negative TB test result is valid for 12 months for most practicum agencies. Please obtain your TB Skin test result between July 1 and July 31 to ensure the result is valid until the end of the academic year – June 30. Also, students will need to consider the timing of the TB skin test in conjunction with COVID-19 vaccination.  TB skin testing can be done either 2 weeks before or 4 weeks after the COVID-19 vaccine.
  2. If you receive a positive TB test, you are required to complete the “Tuberculosis Awareness, and Signs and Symptoms Self-Declaration Form“ as part of the immunization record, and submit to Synergy.
  3. Students are strongly encouraged to receive the influenza vaccine each year and to provide their placement agencies proof of vaccination upon request. Students who choose not to have an annual influenza vaccination should be aware they may be limited from clinical placements in some organizations without documentation of vaccination. Students must adhere to the influenza policies and outbreak protocols at their placement sites. 

A primary series (2 doses) plus a third dose booster is required. Ontario has mandated third doses for all students completing clinical placements in Long Term Care (LTC) settings and we anticipate expansion of this requirement to all placement settings. Students who choose not to receive these additional doses should be aware they may be limited from clinical placements if required by institution policy. Students must adhere to the COVID-19 policies and protocols at their placement sites.

  1. Obtain a police record check – vulnerable sector screening from your regional police headquarters. The VSS expires one year from the date of issue. All documents need to be in English or notarized.
  2. Complete and submit the Annual Police Record Consent Form
  3. Costs may be associated with the application process and are assumed by the student. If you need a volunteer letter from the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, please direct your request to the Graduate Student Placement Coordinator. Email nursingstudentpracticum@utoronto.ca
  4. Students are advised to initiate their requests around June in order to have a police record check report – vulnerable sector screening in advance of each new academic year.

INSTRUCTIONS BY REGION

City of Toronto: students are required to obtain a Toronto Police VSS ‘Police Reference Check Program’ Disclosure Form from their Student Placement Coordinator prior to initiating the police record check VSS with Toronto Police Service.  Once the form has been completed by both you and a Student Placement Coordinator, it should promptly be sent to the Toronto Police Service. The Toronto Police Service requires secured funds in the form of a bank draft, money order, or certified cheque. Police record check applications are not accepted in-person. Documents can be mailed to: Toronto Police Service, 40 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2J3 (please submit the signed TPS Consent to Disclosure form with payment). Students who submit their applications for a police record check report – vulnerable sector screening with Toronto Police Service after the middle of June are at risk of not receiving their report by August 12th and may not be able to start the academic year.

Durham, Halton, Hamilton, London, Niagara, York: Apply at your specific regional police service headquarters. More information can be found at the website for each regional police service.

Smaller communities: police stations may request you submit the Ontario Provincial Police Vulnerable Sector Check application form and a volunteer letter from the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

International Students: If you are living or working out-of-country, you will need a police records check vulnerable sector screening from that country as well as a police records check in Canada. All documentation must be in English. If necessary, students are responsible for having documents translated and notarized.

Submit result including Model Number and Expiry Date (Note: Must be valid until the end of the academic year – June 30). Students will be able to sign up for a mask fit appointment via a link from Advance Healthcare Solutions. Mask Fit Testing will take place on campus around late August/early September.  An email will be sent to students with further details.

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the organization where they are placed can provide the appropriate size mask as determined by the student’s mask fit test. If another fit test is required because an organization does not have the same brand of mask, the costs associated are the responsibility of the student.

If you have questions about mask fitting, please review our mask fit policy If you require an accommodation, please review our Mask Fit Accommodation Form

Note: Must be valid until the end of the academic year June 30.

  • First Aid and WHMIS certificates are not required.

  • Year 1 students can submit their documents (8 items listed above) via Synergy, a secure login-based online system.
  • You will receive an initial email from Synergy Services. Once you have your login information, you can access this secure web portal to upload your documents and book your file-review appointment with a Student Placement Coordinator.
  • File review appointments must be booked prior to August 12, 2024. The appointment is the date your file will be reviewed. You do not need to attend.
  • An initial fee will be charged for the file review and additional charges will apply for any subsequent file reviews due to incomplete or unacceptable files (do not scan one document as two separate files i.e. one page of the police record check must fit one screenshot).
  • Students in MN or Post Master NP program must receive a “pass” for their Student Preparedness Permit before August 12th, 2024, otherwise enrollment will be withheld.

  • You can book in advance and cancel/reschedule if you find you are not ready for your appointment due to missing documents.
  • You can upload your documents as you obtain them. You need to have all your documents updated by the date of your appointment.
  • Before your scheduled file review appointment, double-check every form has been signed and there is no information missing. Missed appointments or partial submissions will result in failing the student preparedness permit check.
  • You will need to book a subsequent appointment to pass your student preparedness permit check and additional charges will apply.

MN and PMNP Year 2 Students

What do I need?

Obtain your VSS between July 1 and July 31 to ensure that it is valid until the end of the academic year, June 30.

  • Residents of Toronto must complete a Toronto Police VSS ‘Police Reference Check Program’ Disclosure Form.
  • Students who are residents of Toronto will receive an email from Sharon Lee – Student Placement Coordinator around mid-June with detailed instructions about the process.
  • Students who reside outside of Toronto will need to obtain their VSS from their regional police headquarters. If you require a letter from the Faculty to apply for your VSS, contact nursingstudentpracticum@utoronto.ca  

Submit a Returning Student Immunization Record.

  • A negative TB test result is valid for 12 months for most practicum agencies.
  • Obtain your Mantoux test result between July 1-July 31 to ensure result is valid until the end of the academic year June 30.
  • Time you TB skin test in conjunction with COVID19 vaccination. TB skin testing can be done two weeks before or 4 weeks after receiving a COVID19 vaccination. Please review and discuss this information with your healthcare provider.
  • If your TB test was positive last year you are required to complete the “Tuberculosis Awareness, and Signs and Symptoms Self-Declaration Form” and submit to Synergy. See p.4 of the immunization record).
  • You are strongly encouraged to receive the influenza vaccine each year and to provide your placement agencies proof of vaccination upon request. Students who choose not to have an annual influenza vaccination should be aware that they may be limited from clinical placements in organizations without documentation of vaccination. Students must adhere to the influenza policies and outbreak protocols at their placement sites.

  • Submit if second Hep B series or other health matters in progress

Year 1 New Student Immunization Record – [PDF]

  • Note: Must be valid until the end of the academic year June 30.

  • Note: Must be valid until the end of the academic year June 30.

  • Year 2 students can submit their documents via Synergy a secure online system using their login from Year 1.
  • Book your file review appointment before August 12, 2024. Your appointment is the date you submit all of your documentation and it will be reviewed. You do not need to attend your appointment.
  • An initial fee will be charged for the first file review and additional charges will apply for any subsequent file reviews due to incomplete/unacceptable files.
  •  You must receive a “pass” for your Student Preparedness Permit before August 12th, 2024, otherwise enrollment will be withheld.
  • Missed appointments or partial submissions will result in failing the student preparedness permit check. You will need to book a subsequent appointment to pass your student preparedness permit check and additional charges will apply

  • Orientation documents may be provided by your placement agency. It is your responsibility to complete orientation documents prior to your first day of clinical.
  • Orientation information is posted on HSPnet for most of the teaching hospitals. Students should also check their email for messages about onboarding documentation.
  • Expiry dates cannot occur prior to June 30 at the end of Year 2. Students should time their certifications and immunizations, so they are covered until the end of June.
  • First Aid and WHMIS certificates are not required.

MN – HSLA and MN- Clinical Placement Info

MN Clinical

In our MN Clinical field of study, students complete a 30-hour placement in the Fall term of their first year for the required course NUR1170. Students also complete a clinical placement for 160 hours for their final consolidation course NUR1179.

MN Clinical

In our MN Health Systems Leadership & Administration field of study, students complete a 30-hour placement in the Spring term of their first year for the required course NUR1152. Students also complete a clinical placement for 160 hours for their final consolidation course NUR1169.

For both fields of study, placements can be completed within a variety of practice settings including health-care facilities and government agencies. Our preceptors are knowledgeable professionals with an interest in the advancement of graduate nursing students and many are clinical appointees of the faculty.

Review information for the following

MN – NP and PMNP Diploma Placement Info

Nurse Practitioner field of study and those in the Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Diploma are required to complete four clinical placement courses:

Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management I

Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management II

Nurse Practitioners: Roles and Issues

Potential practice settings are diverse, ranging from care in community settings for at-risk populations to caring for clients in an ICU setting. The preceptors for the NP program include nurse practitioners and physicians, many with a clinical appointment at the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

How do I get assigned a placement?

Graduate practicum placements are determined via CORE Smart Match for placements in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and for those that do not require an application process. The SmartMatch scheduling process in CORE is an algorithm designed to schedule students to their preferred clinical placements while randomizing the process to ensure equal chances for everyone.  In the SmartMatch process, students make selections on where they wish to be placed.  Students can rank placement options on a scale from #1 to #’X’, with #1 being their top choice for that term.  When the SmartMatch is run, it randomizes the class list and looks at each student with the intention to match them to their preferences, starting with the first selection.  If the first selection is unavailable for any reason, it will go on to the second choice and so on until it finds a match. It then moves onto the next student until it maximizes the number of schedules possible.  The ultimate goal of the SmartMatch is to distribute schedules evenly and fairly and to match students with their top choices whenever possible.

For graduate students interested in placements outside of the GTA, the Clinical Education Office will conduct outreach in those particular regions in an attempt to secure a placement in the student’s region of interest. There is no guarantee a placement can be secured in outside of GTA regions, and students must be prepared to relocate or travel to complete some or all of their practicum experiences.