Frequently Asked Questions

• You must have one unit of the following high school courses (or a college equivalent) with a grade of C or higher by the end of Fall 2026:
  • Algebra I (or MDE 10) or placement into college-level math
  • Biology/lab (BIO 101 or NAS 2)
  • Chemistry/lab (CHM 5)
• The following college level prerequisites must also be completed with a C or better by the end of Fall 2025. Note: BIO 141 and BIO 142 must be less than 5 years old from the beginning of the program.
  • BIO 141 (or equivalent) – Human Anatomy & Physiology I
    Note: The prerequisite for BIO 141 at Virginia Western is NAS 2/BIO 101 completed within the last three years with a grade of S or C or higher. Direct enrollment into college-level math or completion of MDE 10 is required for NAS 2/BIO 101.
  • ENG 111 – College Composition I
  • PSY 230 – Developmental Psychology
  • SDV 101 (2 credits) – Orientation to Health Professions
    Please note: Upon receipt of your final official LPN transcript showing completion of the program, we can award two credits of Credit for Prior Learning for completion of the LPN program and LPN license. The program must be finished by December 2026 in order to award the credit for graduation from LPN in December 2026. Otherwise, the equivalent of a two-credit SDV must be completed by the middle of December 2026 to satisfy the requirement.
  • BIO 142 (or equivalent) – Human Anatomy & Physiology II must be completed by second week of May in Spring 2027. Official transcript, showing spring grade must be at the HPAAO office by May 24 to maintain your class position in the cohort, if accepted. Note: we can access coursework from other Virginia Community Colleges and an official transcript is not necessary. Please plan to notify us when the grade is posted on SIS for confirmation of passing the prerequisite in spring.
• Your cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be > 2.0 at the end of Fall 2026 semester to be eligible for the 2027 program (based on the most recent school with a GPA calculated on at least 12 college credit hours within a one year timeframe).
• Your pre-requisite GPA must be > 2.5 at the end of the Fall 2026 semester (GPA of your grades for: BIO 141, BIO 142, ENG 111, PSY 230, and SDV 101).
• Attendance at a mandatory informational session is required between September 1 and November 1, 2026.
• A nursing entrance examination (KAPLAN) will be required in November/December for all applicants being considered for the transition program. The KAPLAN RN entrance test covers the following topic areas: Math, Science, Reading, Writing, and includes an evaluation of Critical Thinking. Scores in all categories of the KAPLAN are preferred to be above the 45th percentile. Any applicant who has a score below 45% will not receive any points in that area for the admission rubric. In addition, the composite on the Kaplan must be 45% or higher for consideration for a class position.

Please be advised that meeting the above minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

The time an individual may work on transition prerequisite requirements varies by student. Applicants have different academic backgrounds (someone may need all the prerequisites or others may have all prereqs satisfied). Once you are accepted into NSG 115 (summer only), the transition course sequence takes 1 calendar year (summer, fall, spring), if you are successful. The nursing content will include lectures, nursing skills lab, simulation labs, clinical experiences and required orientations to clinical facilities.

You should expect the clinical assignments to take place primarily on weekdays (can be 8 or 12 hrs). However, there can be special one-time assignments for a Saturday or a night shift.

Admission to the nursing program at Virginia Western has been very competitive. LPN transition applicants should be aware that meeting the curriculum admission standards does not guarantee program admission. In the event the number of qualified applicants exceeds the space available for transition students, applicants will be considered based on the scores of the nursing entrance test (Kaplan) and GPA.

The nursing program can have a maximum of 140 total students in the program, which includes both First level & Second level students. Therefore, for the LPN to AAS Nursing Bridge we can typically accept 10-18 students for each cohort.

There is not a waiting list. All applicants who meet the deadline (October 1) and are minimally qualified are considered for the program. The core NSG courses are 10-13 credits per semester, and you will need to be able to take any support course work you still need to fulfill general requirements. Lectures and assigned skills labs are held during daytime hours only. You should expect clinical experiences to be either 6 hours (day) or 12 hours (day/evening and some weekend). Most are 12 hours. The NUR courses must be completed in sequence. Trying to work while in the program is discouraged due to the intensity of the program.

The Introduction to Nursing CSC allows applicants who may not be accepted into the AAS Registered Nursing program to academically prepare to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exam, if the EMS 111/120 course sequence is completed.  Also, if you already have a healthcare licensure/certification (such as CCMA, CNA, Phlebotomist, etc,) if you submit a copy of your current license to the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office, we can complete paperwork on your behalf to determine if  Credit for Prior Learning can be awarded for one of the options under the job skill portion of the CSC: Introduction to Nursing.

The Introduction to Nursing CSC consists of specific coursework that is designed to allow applicants to the Nursing program to complete some of the courses required within the AAS and to also offer a job skill option to applicants in case of non-admittance to the program. Not all prerequisite and support classes are included in the CSC. BIO 142, BIO 150, PHI 220, and the nursing electives of ENG 112, HLT 230 or SOC 200 are not offered in the CSC. 

If you are using financial aid to cover the cost of classes, financial aid will only cover the cost of one of either BIO 142, BIO 150 or PHI 220, if you are eligible for financial aid. Financial aid will also not cover the NSG elective since it is not included in the CSC.

If you wish to complete these courses prior to entry, you need to pay for those courses out of pocket.  If you are accepted into the AAS Nursing program, financial aid will then cover those courses. The plan change for accepted students from the CSC to the AAS typically occurs in late May or early June and will not be effective until the fall term.

The registered nursing program at Virginia Western Community College at the Roanoke campus in Roanoke, Virginia is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA  30326
404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the registered nursing program is Continuing Accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN Website.

Applicants for admission to the Nursing program are considered for class positions based on their ability to meet the program admission standards, without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, or other non-merit factors.

Applicants can complete the GED and submit official scores of the GED to the HPAAO. Applicants can also submit their transcripts to one of the organizations who are members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and have the official report that verifies completion of United States High School education equivalency sent to the HPAAO. Either the copy of the GED scores or the official report from a NACES organization member must arrive by the application deadline of October 1 to be considered for the fall program. Here is a link to the current members of the NACES.

If you are interested in taking classes to prepare for future entry into the program but you are unsure when you will be eligible, please submit the 2027 Nursing application form with the appropriate transcripts. This will allow us to help you plan and suggest proper courses to begin your studies. An advisor will also evaluate your transcripts for transfer credit and can discuss your placement test results. Please attach a note to the 2027 application stating you are planning on applying for a future year.

We have a team of advisors for Health Professions.

• Pam Woody or Jasmine Terry will process your academic file and evaluate previously completed coursework after a review of your official transcripts. They will also send the process letter verifying your GPA, prerequisites, and the evaluation of your college course work. 
• Julie Ainsley is the pre-nursing advisor who can be reached at jainsley@virginiawestern.edu. She can assist with career planning and course selections and may be able to assist with preliminary information.
• New students should begin with a New Student Advisor located in Chapman Hall.

Submission of all academic materials including application and official transcripts from High School and all colleges attempted should be directed to: Attention: Pam Woody; VWCC; School of Health Professions; 3091 Colonial Avenue; Roanoke VA 24015.

You may also contact the team of advisors at healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu.

2025-2026 Kaplan Prep Guide (PDF)

Admission decisions are made by a Nursing Admissions Committee. Decisions are sent to the applicants’ student email as soon as possible, usually by late January. Please note that fall grades need to be posted to determine the prerequisite average prior to the Nursing Admission Committee meeting.

Virginia Western Community College faculty and students must comply with the policies required by clinical facilities with which we have legal agreements. If a student refuses to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement, Virginia Western Community College will attempt, but cannot guarantee, to assign a student to an alternative clinical facility. A student will be placed in an alternative location only if it meets the educational objectives of Virginia Western Community College and program requirements for clinical placement. Faculty also must be available to appropriately supervise students at the clinical facility. Refusal to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement by a student in our health programs may impede your progress in the program or your ability to remain in the program.

It is the student’s responsibility to clear their urine drug screen. A drug screen that has positive findings will not allow a student to obtain clinical placement and will result in removal from the program.  Marijuana may be legalized under state law for clinical partners associated with the nursing program, but the presence of marijuana metabolites in urine will result in a positive drug screen finding.

The AAS Nursing program is a pre-licensure nursing program that prepares graduates to take the licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) and then apply for licensure as registered nurses (RN) through the Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON). 

Successful completion of the AAS Nursing program does not guarantee licensure or eligibility to practice nursing.  All successful graduates are subject to application of licensure rules and fees as set forth by the Virginia Board of Nursing including a background check, finger printing, and meeting the passing standard of the NCLEX-RN examination.  Only the Virginia Board of Nursing determines RN licensure.

Helpful resources:

• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): https://www.ncsbn.org/publications/2025-nclex-candidate-bulletin
• Virginia Board of Nursing: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/nursing/reports/ChoosingEducationPrograms.pdf