Frequently Asked Questions

This nursing education program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road, Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
www.acenursing.org

1. Must have one unit of the following high school courses (or college equivalent) with a grade of “C” or higher by the end of Fall 2023:
   • Algebra I (or MTE 1-5)
   • Biology/lab (Bio 101 or Nas 2)
   • Chemistry/lab (Chm 5)
2. The following college level prerequisites must also be completed (“C” or better) by the end of Fall 2023. 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
   • BIO 142 (or equivalent) – Human Anatomy & Physiology II
   • 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, we can award Credit for Prior Learning — two credits for completion of the LPN program and LPN license.)
3. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be > 2.0 at the end of Fall 2023 semester to be eligible for the 2024 program (based on the most recent school with a GPA calculated on at least 12 college credit hours within a one year timeframe).
4. Pre-requisite GPA must be > 2.5 at the end of the Fall 2023 semester (GPA of your grades for: BIO 141, BIO 142, ENG 111, PSY 230, and SDV 101).
5. Attendance at a mandatory informational session is required between September 1 and November 1, 2023.
6. 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 must be above the 45th percentile. Any applicant who has even one score below 45% will have their name removed from further consideration.

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

Admission to the nursing program at VWCC 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 GPAs.

The nursing program can have a maximum of 130 total students in the program (includes both First level & Second level students). Therefore, for the LPN to AAS Nursing, we can typically accept between 10-18 students for each cohort, depending upon the total number of nursing students.

Admission decisions are made by a Nursing Admissions Committee. Admission decisions are mailed or scanned to student email to the applicants 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. Therefore, the committee cannot meet prior to mid-January to select the incoming class based on prerequisite GPA and Kaplan scores.

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 2025 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.

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 accepted into NSG 115 (only begins in the summer), the transition course sequence takes 1 calendar year (summer, fall, spring), if successful. The nursing content will include lecture, nursing skills lab, simulation labs, clinical experiences and required orientations to clinical facilities.

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

We have a team of advisors for Health Professions.  Ms. Pam Woody (pwoody@virginiawestern.edu) will process your academic file and evaluate previously completed coursework after a review of your official transcripts.  Our advisors will send the process letter verifying your GPA, prerequisites and evaluation of college course work to determine what can be utilized in the nursing program.  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

Ms. Rhonda Perdue (rperdue@virginiawestern.edu), our health professions career planning advisor can assist with career planning and course selections and is able to assist with preliminary information. For information on the application process, you may follow the checklist for application (PDF) or contact Ms. Yolanda Brown (ybrown@virginiawestern.edu). You may also contact our team at healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu.  All  new students should begin with a New Student Advisor located in Chapman Hall.

The CSC: Introduction to Nursing consist 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.  The BIO 142 and BIO 150 and PHI 220 are not all included in the CSC and the Nursing Elective of ENG 112, or HLT 230 or SOC 200 is not offered in the CSC. If you are using FA to cover the cost of classes, FA will not cover the cost of all three BIO 142/BIO 150 and PHI 220.It will cover one of the courses, if FA eligible. Nor will FA cover the cost of the NSG elective since it is not included in the CSC. If you wish to complete these courses prior to entry, you need to plan to pay for those courses out of pocket.  If you are accepted into the AAS Nursing program, at that time, FA will then cover those courses.  The plan change for accepted students, to be placed into the AAS program from the CSC, typically occurs in late Spring for the accepted students.