Important Updates to Nursing Admissions – Beginning Fall 2025
We want to inform you of important updates to the admissions process for Northwest Technical College’s nursing programs, for application cycles beginning in Fall 2025.
We’re unable to take phone calls for individual questions related to this update. If you need clarification, please send emails to nursingapp@ntcmn.edu
What’s Changing?
NTC’s Traditional RN, Practical Nursing, and LPN Step-In programs will transition to a ranking-based admissions process. All applicants will be evaluated using a scoring model that includes:
- GPA from prerequisite courses (must be 2.76 or higher when prerequisites are complete)
- HSRT-AD entrance exam score (must be 70 or higher)
Step-In Program: Ranking is based on GPA only; HSRT-AD is not required.
Your prerequisite GPA and HSRT-AD exam score will be combined to determine your score, which will establish your rank in the applicant pool for the program to which you are applying.
New Entrance Exam: HSRT-AD
All applicants applying for the Practical Nursing and/or Traditional RN programs must take the HSRT-AD (Health Sciences Reasoning Test – Associate Degree version) on NTC’s campus.
This exam assesses:
- Critical thinking and reasoning in healthcare-specific contexts
- Skills such as analysis, inference, evaluation, induction, deduction, and numeracy
Minimum qualifying score: 70
NTC will only accept in-person ATI TEAS scores taken between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2025. TEAS exams taken on or after September 1, 2025, will not be considered. A minimum score of 64 is required for the Traditional RN program, and 53 for the Practical Nursing program. If you are submitting an in-person TEAS exam from this timeframe, you must request an official TEAS transcript be sent directly to NTC from ATI, here.
You can find more information about the HSRT-AD Exam here.
Application Windows for 2026–2027
| Program | Cohort Start | Application Period | Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional RN | Fall 2026 | Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 | March 1, 2026 |
| Practical Nursing | Fall 2026 | Rolling starting Nov 1 | Ongoing until full |
| LPN Step-In | Spring 2027 | Mar 1, 2026 – June 1, 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
General Admissions Requirements by Program
Traditional RN Program Criteria
- Be an accepted NTC student
- Show college-level Math readiness
- Meet the CNA Requirement: Certified Nursing Assistant active or completion of HLTH 1110 within 5 years
- Complete HSRT-AD Exam on Campus at NTC with a 70 or higher
- Complete (or be enrolled in*):
- BIOL 2260 Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
- ENGL 1111 College Writing I (3 credits)
- BIOL 2221 Microbiology (3 credits) or BIOL 2262 Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits)
Practical Nursing Program Criteria
- Be an accepted NTC student
- Show college-level Math & English readiness
- Meet the CNA Requirement: Certified Nursing Assistant active or completion of HLTH 1110 within 5 years
- Hold an active BLS certification
- Complete HSRT-AD Exam on Campus at NTC with a 70 or higher
- Complete (or be enrolled in*):
- BIOL 2260 Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
- HLTH 1106 Medical Terminology (2 credits)
- PSYC 2201 Lifespan Psychology (3 credits)
LPN Step-In Program Criteria
- Be an accepted NTC student
- Hold an active, unencumbered LPN license
- Complete (or be enrolled in*):
- BIOL 2260 Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
- BIOL 2262 Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits)
- BIOL 2221 Microbiology (3 credits)
- CHEM 1110 Intro to Chemistry (4 credits)
- ENGL 1111 College Writing I (3 credits)
- PSYC 2201 Lifespan Psychology (3 credits)
- MATH 1110 College Algebra (3 credits) or MATH 1930 Intro to Math Sciences (3 credits)
Admission to NTC’s nursing programs is competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
*Applicants still completing prerequisite courses at the time of application review will be placed on the waitlist only.
Tentative HSRT Test Dates – Fall 2025
September 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24, 25
October 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23
November 12, 13, 17, 18
December 15, 16, 17, 18
Registration for the HSRT exam will be shared on our website soon.