Program Start

Practical Nursing is a one-year, hybrid program with a fall term start. Students may earn a diploma in Practical Nursing and apply to take the practical nursing exam (NCLEX-PN) after completion of the program.

Application to Northwest Technical College (NTC) and application to the Practical Nursing program are separate.

• Applications to NTC may be submitted at any time.
• Applications to the Practical Nursing program open January 1, 2023 and will be accepted on a continuous basis throughout the year until the program becomes full. If/when the program becomes full, qualified students can choose to be added to a waitlist or defer their applications. Applicants will receive their acceptance status within 30 days of submitting applications.
  • Admission to NTC does not guarantee admission to the Practical Nursing program.
    
  • Admission to the Practical Nursing program is required in order to enroll in nursing classes designated with the PNSG prefix.

Onsite Requirements

Onsite requirements for lab and clinical courses will be discussed during program orientation and specified on the class schedule.

Practical Nursing Admission Criteria

• Completed application for admission to Northwest Technical College and acceptance to NTC upon submission of program application.
• Accuplacer assessment completed or waived.
  • College readiness courses: A student may be required to enroll in college-readiness courses in reading and math, as determined by the Accuplacer. The purpose of college-readiness courses is to prepare students for the demands of a college-level curriculum. A student’s scores on the Accuplacer will determine if a student is required to complete ENGL 0100: Reading, Reasoning & Writing, and / or, MATH 0081: Math Foundations. Credits may vary. Any readiness courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
• TEAS test passed with a score of 53 or higher within two years of applying to the Practical Nursing program (TEAS scores are valid for two years).
  • Students may take the TEAS twice per semester.
  • Admission into the program is competitive, so the higher your TEAS score, the better the chance for acceptance.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to purchase and utilize a TEAS study manual. TEAS study manuals may be purchased for $25 from the ATI Testing website:  https://www.atitesting.com/teas/study-manual
  • If you take the TEAS somewhere other than NTC, you must have an official TEAS transcript sent to NTC. You must order the score transcript on the ATI website.
• Prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of C or higher. Prerequisites include:
  • HLTH 1106: Medical Terminology
  • BIOL 2252: Anatomy & Physiology I
  • PSYC 2201: Developmental Psychology
  • MATH 0081: Math Foundations, or appropriate Accuplacer scores, or transfer credits
• Nursing assistant course completed with a grade of C or higher within five years of program application, or evidence of nursing assistant certification within five years of program application.
  • Nursing Assistant Prerequisite Guidelines
• GPA of 2.75 or above in the prerequisite general education courses (BIOL 2252, HLTH 1106, and PSYC 2201) is required. If BIOL 2254 has been completed at the time of application to the Practical Nursing program, that course can be used for GPA calculation.
• Completed Practical Nursing program application. The program application is available online at:  https://www.ntcmn.edu/career-paths/health-care/nursing/apply/
• Practical Nursing students must have Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification from American Heart Association or American Red Cross prior to participating in Clinical I fall semester. NTC’s HPER1410 course meets this requirement.

NTC Nursing Eligibility Requirements

Please Note

• Applicants are responsible for the completion of the requirements and the cost of testing.
• Students on current academic probation or suspension may not be considered for program admission.
• Financial holds or unpaid balances must be resolved prior to admission/registration.
• Course work in nursing from other academic institutions is not accepted.
• Applications will be reviewed by the Nursing Admissions Committee. Applicants will receive their acceptance status within 30 days of submitting applications.