This program option is designed for students interested in becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and looking for a part-time option that better meets their needs. The prerequisite foundational courses for the PN Certificate are fewer than those for the 2-year RN and LPN-RN options. Students will complete 6 quarters part-time including summer quarter then upon graduation sit for the NCLEX-PN. The graduates of the PN Certificate pathway are eligible to apply to the LPN-RN program option to complete the DTA/MRP Associates Degree after completing the remaining prerequisite foundational courses. Students enrolled in the PN pathway will not be allowed to transfer to the 2-year, full-time program option.
PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS:
Join us for an online Winter Practical Nursing Info Session on February 14, 2024 at 12:30-1:30p.
LPNs are in high demand and the BTC Nursing Program has partnered with Whatcom county employers to offer this program option.
Students should be aware that this pathway will take a student three or more years to complete their associate DTA/MRP degree to become an RN. This pathway is intended for students who want to work as an LPN and who part-time education better meets their needs.
Nursing Student Handbook 2023-2024
The BTC Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC)Note: BTC has not made a determination that the Nursing Program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.
The Practical Nursing Program at Bellingham Technical College located in Bellingham, WA is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing Program is Initial Accreditation.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are in demand by employers in our region. As the Baby Boomer population ages, the number of healthcare jobs in our community and beyond is rapidly growing. Projected job openings in WA State are expected to grow 12% over the next ten years.
$58,739 starting annual wage2
$61,152 average annual wage2
$72,966 potential annual wage2
The application window for the Practical Nursing program is open indefinitely. A first sorting of seat offers for the 2024/2025 academic year will happen April 9, 2024 and students who apply before the first sorting will be notified of seat offerings in May 2024 if there are enough applications to fill a cohort. A second sorting of seat offers will happen July 9, 2024 and students who apply before this deadline will be notified of seat offerings in August 2024 if there are enough applications to fill a cohort.
The application portal will remain open indefinitely.
If you have questions about applying to any of the programs, please contact your College Navigator or email nursingalliedhealthnav@btc.edu to schedule an appointment.
The 2024/2025 Practical Nursing Application Portal is now live! Program ready students are encouraged to apply for a Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 seat.
All applicants to the BTC Practical Nursing Program must be Program-Ready before they can apply online during the Application Window. Students are Program-Ready once they have completed the following:
Effective April 12, 2023, the Nursing program will no longer require the ATI TEAS assessment as an admissions requirement.
Pre-Application Audit
Students interested in the Practical Nursing program should apply to the college and contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with getting started at BTC. A college application and your score on complete guided self-placement and/or previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence.
BTC is currently accepting applications to the Practical Nursing Program!
The Practical Nursing Program enrolls new cohorts of 10 students fall and spring quarters.
Students who are program-ready may apply using the Practical Nursing Certificate Admission Application at any time. Complete applications will be added to the PN Certificate Program-Ready Waitlist in the date/time order in which they are received.
Nursing PN Certificate Checklist
PN Certificate Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The BTC Nursing Program is educating our students in-person again. Please be aware that this is not an online program.
Students will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. To be considered fully vaccinated, two weeks must have passed since the date of the second dose or first dose for the one-dose vaccine. The program’s clinical partner agencies will not accept any exemption to full COVID-19 vaccination.
Experience in healthcare may be demonstrated by certification or training in an allied healthcare field. Other experience will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by program staff. DO NOT turn in original certificates or licenses.
Healthcare Experience Verification Form (For DTA/MRP 2-year Program & PN Cert Entry Only)
Healthcare experience must be approved by the program prior to applying.
ALL COURSES MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 5 QUARTER CREDITS OR 3 SEMESTER CREDITS
The following courses must be completed with a B (3.0) or higher in each course:
The following courses must be completed with a C (2.0) or higher in each course:
The transcript evaluation process for courses taken at another institution must be complete prior to applying to the program.
AFTER admissions acceptance into the program and prior to beginning program classes students must submit proof of all Clinical Placement Requirements.
This program requires a criminal history background check prior to attending the clinic practicum. Criminal History Background Check Information Sheet
Students who test positive for THC (marijuana, including prescription marijuana) will not be allowed entrance to Nursing and Allied Health programs with clinical components. Drug screening is a requirement of our clinical partner agencies. Although private recreational and medical use of marijuana is legal in Washington state, our clinical partner agencies are governed by federal laws, and marijuana is a prohibited substance at the federal level. If your final drug test results are positive, you will be ineligible to participate in the program that year and will be allowed to reapply to the program 12 months from the date of the positive test.
NURS 113 | PN Introduction to Health Concepts | 4 CR |
PHIL 113 | PN Ethics and Policy in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
NUTR 113 | PN Nutrition in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
PSYC 113 | PN Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare I | 1 CR |
NURS 114 | PN Introduction to Health Concepts - Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
NURS 123 | PN Health and Illness Concepts 1 | 5 CR |
NUTR 123 | PN Nutrition in Healthcare II | 1 CR |
PSYC 123 | PN Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare II | 1 CR |
NURS 124 | PN Health and Illness Concepts 1 - Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
NURS 133 | PN Health and Illness Concepts 2 | 3 CR |
NUTR 133 | PN Nutrition in Healthcare III | 1 CR |
PSYC 133 | PN Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare III | 2 CR |
NURS 134 | PN Health and Illness Concepts 2 - Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
MATH& 146 | Introduction to Statistics | 5 CR |
BIOL& 241 | Human A & P 1 | 5 CR |
BIOL& 242 | Human A & P 2 | 5 CR |
CHEM& 121 | Introduction to Chemistry | 5 CR |
OR |
CHEM& 161 | General Chemistry w/Lab I | 5 CR |
ENGL& 101 | English Composition I | 5 CR |
PSYC& 100 | General Psychology | 5 CR |
BIOL& 160 | General Biology with Lab | 5 CR |
The BTC Practical Nursing graduate will:
"Nursing Program Outcomes link to College and National Standards"
MISSION STATEMENT
Bellingham Technical College’s Nursing Program delivers high-quality nursing education to benefit the health of our region.
VISION STATEMENT
The Nursing Program will be a recognized leader in providing innovative, effective, and progressive nursing education. The Program creates options for career success by developing a professional nursing workforce.
PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING
Nursing is both an art and a science; an art requiring creativity and skill, and a science requiring knowledge and the application of evidence-based practice. Nursing provides safe, patient-centered care in collaboration with the healthcare team.
NURSING PROGRAM VALUES
In accordance with Bellingham Technical College’s values, the nursing program has established the following values:
Year: 2021
Percentage Passed at BTC: 100%
Percentage Passed National: 80%
3-year mean BTC: 100%
3-year mean National: 83%
Year: 2021
Rate completed within 100% of expected program length: 100%
Rate completed within 150% of expected program length: 100%
Year: 2021
Number of graduates: 10
Survey response rate: 100%
Job placement: 90%
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are in demand by employers in our region. As the Baby Boomer population ages, the number of healthcare jobs in our community and beyond is rapidly growing. Projected job openings in WA State are expected to grow 12% over the next ten years. The average annual wage in this field is $46,240, with an earning potential of about $62,160 per year.
BTC graduates are highly sought after by employers in our region and beyond. Graduates of BTC find top jobs in a variety of healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, skilled home care, hospice, acute care hospitals, clinics, and schools.
The BTC Nursing Program has partnered with employers in Whatcom County on its PN Certificate pathway to help meet the need for LPNs in our community.
Nursing Support Specialist - Advising for all Nursing and Pre-Nursing Master of Education Bachelor of Science – Mathematics I am a dedicated, goal oriented, team player with eight years’ experience teaching and four years teaching Middle School Summer School, three years running an After School Homework Center, and four years as an Accounting Clerk. I have been a Site Team Chair, Mathematics Head Chair, and the Middle School and High School Curriculum Director for Mathematics. I like challenges and finding solutions to them. I thrive on providing excellence in all areas of my job. My undergraduate schooling was completed at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama where I earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mathematics and was awarded one of four of the University’s top awards, the George S. Benson Citizenship Award for Outstanding Contribution in Academics and Athletics. I have completed my Master of Education Degree and Teaching Certification in Secondary Education at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington
Mary Curran has experience in providing nursing care in a variety of settings. Mary began her pursuit in the field of nursing at Bellingham Technical College by completing the nursing assistant program in 1991 and practical nursing program in 1993. The solid nursing foundation gained at Bellingham Technical College laid the ground work for her journey in nursing. Working at each level Mary continued her nursing education: Associate's Degree in Nursing, Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, and Master's Degree in Nursing. Mary is dedicated to quality nursing care and education through role modeling.
If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.
Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email NursingAlliedHealthNav@btc.edu