Training

Licensed practical nurse DEP (SASI): length, admission, cost, scholarship

The DEP Santé, assistance et soins infirmiers (5325) lasts 1,800 hours. Admission, cost, $20,000 scholarship and OIIAQ exam, according to official sources.

October 10, 2026 · Lire en français

Training

In 2026, a single diploma leads to the profession of licensed practical nurse (nursing assistant in Quebec): the DEP Santé, assistance et soins infirmiers, known as SASI. It lasts 1,800 hours. The accelerated 14-month training launched in 2022 is no longer advertised.

The current program: DEP 5325

The program is called Santé, assistance et soins infirmiers (health, assistance and nursing). Its number is 5325, and 5825 in its English version. According to Inforoute FPT, it lasts 1,800 hours, or about 20 months, and counts 120 units.

On October 10, 2026, Inforoute FPT and Admission FP show the same status: « Programme approuvé en 2009 » (program approved in 2009). Neither listing announces a new number or a replacement.

The program has 31 competencies, of 30 to 120 hours each. See the role of the licensed practical nurse.

Admission requirements

According to Admission FP, meeting one of these conditions is enough:

Hold a secondary school diploma, a recognized equivalent or a higher education diploma
Be at least 16 years old on September 30 of the school year, with Secondary 5 credits in the language of instruction and Secondary 4 credits in second language and mathematics
Be at least 18 years old at the start of the training, pass the general development test and have Secondary 5 credits in the language of instruction
Have Secondary 3 credits in the language of instruction, second language and mathematics, and take the missing general education at the same time as the DEP

Where the training is offered

The DEP is offered in the vocational training centres of the school service centres. On Inforoute FPT, open the listing for program 5325, then the tab of organizations that offer it. On Admission FP, the list can be filtered by region and by schedule. Each group shows its dates, schedule and cost. The admission application is done online there.

Actual length and cost

The length in months depends on the group's schedule. The cost changes from one centre to another. Three groups listed on Admission FP:

Centre	Dates	Hours per week	Cost, supplies included
CFP Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry, Montreal	January 5, 2027 to May 26, 2028	30	$800
CFP Pozer, Saint-Georges	January 11, 2027 to June 23, 2028	30	About $513.58
CFP Fierbourg, Quebec City	January 18, 2027 to March 30, 2029	20	To be determined

Table source: Admission FP, group listings consulted on October 10, 2026.

Internships

The Inforoute FPT and Admission FP listings do not give a number of internship hours.

The $20,000 scholarship

The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (Quebec's Department of Health and Social Services) offers 200 scholarships of $20,000 each for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, according to its description sheet. They go to recipients who will work in a Santé Québec institution.

According to Québec.ca, you must:

Have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status and live in Quebec
Be registered and accepted full time in DEP SASI 5325
Be selected by an eligible institution after its selection process
Commit to starting and completing the training within the set time limits

In return, the recipient commits to working at least two years in an eligible institution, as soon as their studies end, with availability that complies with local collective agreements. The application is filed with the health institution where you want to work.

The accelerated training

The news release of December 1^st, 2021 announced a 1,800-hour training given in 14 months instead of 22, starting in January 2022, with 2,400 scholarships of $20,000. In 2026, neither Québec.ca nor the scholarship sheet mentions an accelerated training.

After the diploma: the OIIAQ exam

The DEP is not enough. According to the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec (OIIAQ, Quebec's order of nursing assistants), you must hold a permit to practise, and pass its professional exam to get it.

The OIIAQ fee schedule, consulted on October 10, 2026, lists these fees, plus taxes:

File opening: $107
Candidate to the profession (CEPIA): $82
Professional exam registration: $342

Between the diploma and the permit, the graduate can work as a CEPIA, according to the Department's sheet. The OIIAQ announces a new version of the exam starting in September 2027. See where to apply and licensed practical nurse salary.

Recognition of prior learning

A person with experience can obtain the DEP through recognition of prior learning and competencies (RAC). CFP Pozer, of the Centre de services scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin, describes a part-time process, with continuous entry, that you follow while keeping your job. See moving from attendant to licensed practical nurse.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the licensed practical nurse DEP offered?

In the vocational training centres of the school service centres. Admission FP and Inforoute FPT list the groups by region, in the listing for program 5325.

What studies are needed to become a licensed practical nurse?

The DEP Santé, assistance et soins infirmiers, number 5325. According to the OIIAQ, you must then pass the Order's professional exam and obtain your permit.

How much does a DEP to become a licensed practical nurse cost?

The cost varies from one centre to another. On October 10, 2026, Admission FP shows $800 at CFP Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry and about $513.58 at CFP Pozer, supplies included. Registration for the OIIAQ exam costs $342, plus taxes.

What is SASI training?

SASI is the acronym for Santé, assistance et soins infirmiers. It is the 1,800-hour, 120-unit diploma of vocational studies that prepares for the profession of licensed practical nurse.

How long is the training to become a licensed practical nurse?

The DEP lasts 1,800 hours, or about 20 months according to Inforoute FPT. At 30 hours a week, a group listed on Admission FP runs from January 2027 to May 2028.

Will there be free training to become a licensed practical nurse in 2026?

No official source consulted announces free training. The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux offers 200 scholarships of $20,000 for 2026-2027, in exchange for a two-year work commitment.