The Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program at Bellingham Technical College located in Bellingham, WA is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
404.975.5000
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Website
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate Degree Registered Nursing Program is Continuing Accreditation.
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!
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.
LPN-RN Nursing Info Session:
There is not a current Info Session scheduled. Please reach out to our College Navigators to schedule an appointment at nursingalliedhealthnav@btc.edu with any questions.
BTC’s Nursing Department has five Nursing Pathway options.
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 2024-2025
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
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
92%1 BTC graduate placement rate (Employment Security Department- WA and OR only)
100%3 BTC graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
100%3 BTC in-field graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
$95,846 starting annual wage2
$112,091 average annual wage2
$133,328 potential annual wage2
If you have questions about applying to any of the Nursing programs, please contact your College Navigator at nursingalliedhealthnav@btc.edu to schedule an appointment.
How to Apply:
The LPN-RN application portal is currently closed. The LPN-RN 2025/2026 annual year application portal will be opening in Spring 2025.
All applicants to the BTC LPN-RN Nursing Program must be Program-Ready before they can apply online during the Application Window. Graduates of BTC's Practical Nursing Program will receive priority for applications received by each sorting date.
Students are Program-Ready once they have completed the following:
NOTE: Effective April 12, 2023, the Nursing program will no longer require the ATI TEAS assessment as an admissions requirement.
NOTE: As of July 1, 2023, the LPN-RN program no longer requires a specific number of hours worked as an LPN for healthcare experience.
Pre-Application Audit
Applicants are strongly encouraged to request an audit from a Navigator before applying to their intended program. The Navigator will review the applicant’s record to ensure completion of prerequisite requirements. The following steps must be completed before an audit can be conducted:
To request an audit, email NursingAlliedHealthNav@btc.edu. Include your first and last name, intended program, and last 4 digits of your ctcLink student ID. Audit requests will be fulfilled on a first come first serve basis and may take 1-3 weeks during busy times.
Students interested in the LPN-RN program should apply to the college and contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at outreach@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.
The Nursing Program enters advanced placement LPN-RN applicants into cohorts utilizing a program-ready list (waitlist). Complete applications are placed on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.
Graduates of BTC's Practical Nursing Program will receive priority for applications received by each sorting date.
LPN-RN DTA Program Admissions Checklist
LPN-RN Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The BTC Nursing Program is educating our students in-person. Please be aware that this is not an online program.
LPN-RN applicants must have an active, unencumbered WA State LPN license. Proof of current WA State LPN license is required to apply for the LPN-RN admission application.
LPN WA State Licensure Verification Form
The LPN Licensure form must be approved by the Nursing Department prior to applying.
Do not turn in original certificates or licenses. Please follow the instructions on the form on how to submit.
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:
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 applying to the program.
AFTER a student has accepted an offer of admission 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 210 | Acute Health Concepts | 5 CR |
NUTR 210 | Nutrition In Healthcare IV | 1 CR |
PHIL 210 | Ethics & Policy In Healthcare II | 1 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
NUTR 110 | Nutrition In Healthcare I | 1 CR |
PHIL 110 | Ethics and Policy In Healthcare I | 1 CR |
NURS 215 | Acute Health Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
NURS 220 | Complex Health Concepts | 4 CR |
NUTR 220 | Nutrition In Healthcare V | 1 CR |
PSYC 220 | Psychosocial Issues In Healthcare IV | 1 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
NUTR 120 | Nutrition In Healthcare II | 1 CR |
NUTR 130 | Nutrition In Healthcare III | 1 CR |
NURS 230 | Professional Nursing Concepts | 3 CR |
PHIL 230 | Ethics & Policy In Healthcare III | 3 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
PSYC 110 | Psychosocial Issues In Healthcare I | 1 CR |
PSYC 120 | Psychosocial Issues In Healthcare II | 1 CR |
NURS 225 | Complex Health Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
The below courses are only for students who did not complete BTC Practical Nursing Program after 2018 |
PSYC 130 | Psychosocial Issues In Healthcare III | 2 CR |
NURS 235 | Professional Nursing Concepts- Clinical Lab | 6 CR |
The BTC Associate Degree Nursing graduate will be able to:
"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:
BTC graduated the first cohort of LPN-RN DTA/MRP students August 2020
BTC First Time Pass Rate
2022-2023: 93% (4 graduating classes)
2021-2022: 92% (3 graduating classes)
2020-2021: 96% (4 graduating classes)
National First Time Pass Rate
2022-2023: 80%
2021-2022: 82%
2020-2021: 86%
BTC Program Completion
Within 100% of expected program length
2022-2023: 67%
2021-2022: 78%
2020-2021: 81%
Within 150% of expected program length
2022-2023: 74%
2021-2022: 80%
2020-2021: 90%
BTC Graduate Job Placement
2022-2023: 91% (91% response rate)
2021-2022: 96% (100% response rate)
2020-2021: 94% (100% response rate)
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.
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