Practical Nursing (PN), Technical Certificate

MAJOR CODE: 2013

The practical nursing (PN) program is offered through the Western Arkansas Technical Center (WATC) and the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences, and is open only to eligible students enrolled in WATC. It offers a technical certificate in practical nursing that combines classroom instruction with clinical experiences in the care of clients at local healthcare facilities. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). The PN Program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN).

Admission into the practical nursing program is competitive. Students must have college-ready scores on standardized admission tests such as ACT, Compass, or Accuplacer and score at least 60% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Version 7.

Parental consent is required to participate in the practical nursing program. Students are not eligible to take the NCLEXP Nlicensing examination until they are 18 years of age.

Note: The application process for PN licensure requires a state and federal criminal background check. Students who have been convicted of a crime, including those that are sealed or expunged, must seek permission from the ASBN to write the licensure exam to become a licensed practical nurse.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission into the program, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a participant in the WATC program and meet minimum requirements set forth by the WATC health.
2. Complete university admission requirements to include submission of official transcripts from all colleges/ universities attended. 
3. Meet minimum skill levels in English, reading, and math according to one of the following criteria (scores must be available by application deadline): ACT, Aspire, SAT, or Accuplacer.
4. Have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for all high school and college course work (including transfer work and excluding developmental courses) and be in good academic standing. 
5. Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Version 7 in October of their junior year. Note: The TEAS will be administered at the PEAK Innovation Center campus each fall; the test can only be taken once a year.

Selection

Selection is based on the following system:

• Quality points earned for courses on PN degree plan (college credit earned through CLEP or AP for a course will not be used for ranking purposes).
• An average score of above 60% is required on the TEAS Version 7 exam.  The score earned on the TEAS Version 7 results will be used for ranking students with equal GPA and standardized scores being considered for admission into the program.

Note: In the event that applicants have identical ranking scores, priority will be given to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average. Top applicants will be offered positions for the available seats in the PN Program. Meeting the minimum criteria for admission or taking courses on the PN degree plan does not guarantee admission into the program.

Students admitted into the PN program must submit the following additional documentation:

1. Healthcare Provider Statement/Medical Release form
2. CPR Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
3. Proof of immunizations
4. Criminal background check
5. Drug screen

Note: Many clinical facilities require a criminal background check and/or drug screen on students and have the authority to deny clinical training in their facility, secondary to outcome of either screening. Students unable to practice in any clinical agency because of the outcome of either screening will be unable to complete the program objectives, thereby revoking admission into a program or halting continued progression in the student’s program of study.

The PN program is offered through the Western Arkansas Technical Center.

Parental consent is required to participate in the practical nursing program. Students are not eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination until they are 18 years of age.