If you are a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in WA State and are interested in continuing your education to become a Registered Nurse (RN), then Bellingham Technical College’s Nursing Program LPN-RN option is for you!

Attend an online LPN to RN Information Session to  learn more about the BTC LPN-RN Nursing Program option and get information about the admissions process and requirements of our program.

The Bellingham Technical College Nursing Program is the largest nursing program in the region and has been educating nurses since 1954. The registered nursing program is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is a concept-based Associate Degree in Nursing Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Ready Pathway (DTA/MRP). Academic preparation includes core courses in arts and sciences and those focusing on basic nursing skills and knowledge.

There is one Nursing Program at BTC which has three program options, Registered Nursing (RN), LPN-RN, and Practical Nursing (PN). The two-year registered nurse associate degree is intended for students new to the nursing field and is a full-time option only. Advanced placement students who are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are admitted into the part-time, evening LPN-RN option to complete the DTA/MRP associate degree. Students who graduate from the two-year full-time RN and LPN-RN pathway are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). The third program option is the Practical Nursing Certificate.

The BTC LPN-RN Program is excited to be able to offer LPN-RN students the DTA/MRP associate degree. This degree was collaboratively developed by the Washington State community and technical colleges and four-year universities to create a streamlined pathway to the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. 

Nursing Student Handbook 2020-2021

Please 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 BTC Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC).

PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700

www.doh.wa.gov

92% Average placement rate for program graduates

Tuition Fees and Rates

Program fees address distinct and specified costs such as lab assistants, supplies, materials, equipment, rentals, software licensing, replacement and upgrade, maintenance, and other operational costs.

Apply now for the LPN-RN Part-Time Evening Cohort!

The Nursing Program enters advanced placement LPN-RN applicants into cohorts utilizing a program-ready list (waitlist). Complete applications are placed on the program-ready list in the order in which they are received by the Nursing Program.

LPN-RN Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The program will no longer be entering LPNs into the second year of the full-time Nursing Program instead all advanced placement LPN students will apply to the new part-time evening cohort. This cohort will enter 20 students in Spring quarter every two years as demand dictates. Next possible cohort start is April 2021.

ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) v.6

Applicants must score at the "PROFICIENT" level or higher in each of the four areas on one transcript. See the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills handout for more information about this entrance assessment.

Healthcare Experience

LPN-RN applicants must have an active, unencumbered WA Sate LPN license and submit the Verification of Work Experience Form documenting 1,000 hours of work as an LPN within the last five years. Proof of current LPN license is required to be included with LPN-RN admission application.

Verification of Work Experience as LPN Form (LPN-RN only)

Currently submissions are only accepted by email to nursing@btc.edu

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:

• Intro to Statistics (MATH& 146)
• Human A & P 1 (BIOL& 241)
• Human A & P 2 (BIOL& 242)
• Microbiology (BIOL& 260)
• Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM& 121 or CHEM& 161)
• English Composition I (ENGL& 101)
• Lifespan Psychology (PSYC& 200)

The following courses must be completed with a C (2.0) or higher in each course:

• General Psychology (PSYC& 100)
• General Biology with lab (BIOL& 160)
• Five (5) credits of Communication Electives (CMST&210 Interpersonal Communications can no longer be accepted as a Communication elective)
• Ten (10) credits of Humanities Electives (Only 5 credits of foreign language can be accepted)

30 credits of Practical Nursing - only required for students who completed Practical Nursing education at a college other than BTC 

The Transcript Evaluation Process must be complete before an application is submitted.

LPN-RN Program Application

Program-ready applicants are invited to submit an LPN-RN Admission Application. 

LPN-RN Admission Application form

Currently only emailed submissions are accepted to nursing@btc.edu

AFTER admissions acceptance into the program and prior to beginning program classes students must submit proof of all Clinical Placement Requirements.

• Clinical Placement Requirement Info Sheet

• This program requires a criminal history background check prior to attending the clinic practicum. Criminal History Background Check Information Sheet

The BTC Associate Degree Nursing graduate will be able to: 

• Nursing Care: Integrate the nursing process to deliver individualized culturally competent care.

• Self-Care Promotion: Formulate strategies to promote the health of self and others.

• Professionalism: Model integrity through professional boundaries, ethical behaviors, and respectful communication.

• Collaborative Leadership: Maximize positive health outcomes through the promotion of evidence-based clinical care within the interdisciplinary team.

• Clinical Judgment: Model safe nursing care by integrating critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and prioritization.

BTC graduated the first cohort of LPN-RN DTA/MRP students August 2020

First Attempt NCLEX Pass Rates From NCQAC Quarterly Reports

2019-2020
1st Quarter - No graduates
2nd Quarter - No graduates
3rd Quarter - No graduates
4th Quarter – 95%

Summary of Annual Program Completion Data

Cohort (Grad month year) - 08/20
20 began, 19 graduated
95% Retention

Job Placement Summary (Academic Year and Job Placement)

2019-2020: 75% employed 9 months after graduation*

*15 of the 19 graduates responded to survey

Registered Nurses are the most advertised job online in Whatcom county. As the Baby Boomer population ages, the number of healthcare jobs in our community and beyond is rapidly growing. The demand for nursing program graduates is high: 97 percent of Bellingham Technical College Nursing Program students have jobs within nine months of graduating. The average annual wage in this field is $78,666, with an earning potential of about $96,658 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 acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, skilled home care, hospice, clinics, day-surgery centers, schools, and public health.

Many of the Nursing Program graduates go on to complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The DTA/MRP degree that BTC offers allows graduates to seamlessly transfer to WA State RN-BSN programs. A BTC Associate Degree in Nursing is the first step on a path to further career advancement towards a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a doctoral degree.