Practical Nursing

Thank you for your interest in the Practical Nursing Program! This program is a three quarter, full-time program. You can expect to spend 30 - 35 hours per week in this program. The program accepts students twice per year (Fall and Spring starts). 

For additional questions regarding our program, please refer to the Nursing Program Handbook.

Practical Nursing Admission's Criteria  

1. Pre-requisites with cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) or higher; Required
2. Vaccinations; 10 possible points

3. Documented Work/Volunteer Experience; 5 possible points 

   PN Applicants: The work verification form is to be completed by a professional reference in a supervisory role to verify a minimum of 1,000 hours of work experience in customer service. Examples of qualifying positions include:

   • Any customer facing positions (e.g., waiter/waitress, barista, receptionist, flight attendants, retail sales associate, hotel concierge, call center representative, bank teller, customer service manager)
   • Certified Nursing Assistant
   • Emergency Medical Technician
   • Paramedic
   • Medical Assistant  
   • Phlebotomy
   • Dental Assistant/Hygienist  
   • Pharmacy technician
   • Other positions not listed here will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

4. Caregiver Verification Documentation; 1 possible point. 

   Submit an official letter from a state agency (on official letterhead) or a physician verifying your role as a caregiver, whether you are currently providing care or have done so for a family member within the past five years. If you are a legal guardian caring for a child with in-home medical needs without receiving payment, please include documentation outlining the required medical care, along with a letter describing the healthcare services you provide.

5. Veteran status (Honorable discharge); 2 possible points.

    Applicants must be either active-duty military members or veterans with an honorable discharge. Active-duty applicants should upload their current orders as part of the nursing application, while veterans are required to submit a DD214 form. Personal information on the form may be redacted as needed. be redacted

6. Socioeconomic status; 2 possible points. 

   Please upload an official award letter from an agency or any other documentation indicating that you or one of your dependents are receiving one or more of the following benefits:

   • Unemployment benefits
   • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
   • Basic Food & Employment Training (BFET)
   • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
   • State Food Assistance Program (FAP)
   • Social Security Income (SSI)
   • Childcare Subsidy Program
   • Medicaid
   • Current financial aid awards (such as Pell Grant or Washington Opportunity Grant)
   • Reduced or free school lunch.

7. First generation college student; 1 possible point. 

   A first-generation college student is defined as someone whose parents did not earn a four-year college or university degree. You will be asked this question in the nursing application; no documentation is necessary.

8. Applicants who are Bilingual/Multilingual; 1 possible point. 

   To fulfill this requirement, applicants must demonstrate the ability to communicate with patients in at least two languages. This question will be included in the nursing application, and no documentation is necessary.

   • Which languages do you speak?
   • How long have you been speaking these languages?
   • What is your native language?

9. Information Session Attendance (Virtual or in person); 1 possible point (this will not be a criterion for the Spring 2025 application cycle, but will be for Fall 2025 application cycle)

   Students must attend an information session within the six months prior to applying to the program (attendance will be verified during the session). 

10. Essay Questions: Choose one option (250 word minimum, 500 word maximum); 20 possible points  

    1. Option A - Personal Statement: Describe a person, event, or experience in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in nursing, with a focus on providing compassionate care to a diverse patient population.

        

    2. Option B - Commitment to Education and a Future Career in Nursing: Earning a college degree requires persistence and a strong focus on your goals. Describe a long-term goal you pursued, including what motivated you, the steps you took to achieve it, and how you overcame any obstacles along the way.

LPN-RN Associate Degree Program

Thank you for your interest in the LPN-RN Associate Degree Program! This program is a five quarter, Part-time, evening and weekend program. You can expect to spend 15 - 20 hours per week in this program. Some quarters are heavier than others. The program accepts students twice per year (Fall and Spring starts). 

For additional questions regarding our program, please refer to the Nursing Program Handbook.

LPN-RN Associate Degree Admission's Criteria  

1. Pre-requisites with cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) or higher; Required
2. LPN License; Required
3. Vaccinations; 10 possible points

4. Documented Work/Volunteer Experience; 5 possible points 

   LPN-RN bridge program applicants: The work verification form is to be completed by a professional reference in a supervisory role. This form verifies that the applicant has completed 2,000 hours of work experience as an LPN.

5. Caregiver Verification Documentation; 1 possible point. 

   Submit an official letter from a state agency (on official letterhead) or a physician verifying your role as a caregiver, whether you are currently providing care or have done so for a family member within the past five years. If you are a legal guardian caring for a child with in-home medical needs without receiving payment, please include documentation outlining the required medical care, along with a letter describing the healthcare services you provide.

6. Veteran status (Honorable discharge); 2 possible points.

    Applicants must be either active-duty military members or veterans with an honorable discharge. Active-duty applicants should upload their current orders as part of the nursing application, while veterans are required to submit a DD214 form. Personal information on the form may be redacted as needed. be redacted

7. Socioeconomic status; 2 possible points. 

   Please upload an official award letter from an agency or any other documentation indicating that you or one of your dependents are receiving one or more of the following benefits:

   • Unemployment benefits
   • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
   • Basic Food & Employment Training (BFET)
   • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
   • State Food Assistance Program (FAP)
   • Social Security Income (SSI)
   • Childcare Subsidy Program
   • Medicaid
   • Current financial aid awards (such as Pell Grant or Washington Opportunity Grant)
   • Reduced or free school lunch.

8. First generation college student; 1 possible point. 

   A first-generation college student is defined as someone whose parents did not earn a four-year college or university degree. You will be asked this question in the nursing application; no documentation is necessary.

9. Applicants who are Bilingual/Multilingual; 1 possible point. 

   To fulfill this requirement, applicants must demonstrate the ability to communicate with patients in at least two languages. This question will be included in the nursing application, and no documentation is necessary.

   • Which languages do you speak?
   • How long have you been speaking these languages?
   • What is your native language?

10. Information Session Attendance (Virtual or in person); 1 possible point. (this will not be a criterion for the Spring 2025 application cycle, but will be for Fall 2025 application cycle)

    Students must attend an information session within the six months prior to applying to the program (attendance will be verified during the session). 

11. Essay Questions: Choose one option (250 word minimum, 500 word maximum); 20 possible points  

    1. Option A - Personal Statement: Describe a person, event, or experience in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in nursing, with a focus on providing compassionate care to a diverse patient population.

        

    2. Option B - Commitment to Education and a Future Career in Nursing: Earning a college degree requires persistence and a strong focus on your goals. Describe a long-term goal you pursued, including what motivated you, the steps you took to achieve it, and how you overcame any obstacles along the way.

Reason for the CPTC Nursing Department's Admission Process Update

The holistic admissions process at CPTC aims to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive nursing community by evaluating applicants beyond academics. This approach values life experiences, resilience, and cultural awareness, enabling us to admit students who reflect and understand the communities they will serve. This shift supports our commitment to diversity and inclusion, allowing us to consider a wide range of backgrounds and skills essential for compassionate, culturally sensitive care.

We’re excited to announce that the new application process will begin with the upcoming cycle on December 1st. With the launch of our new holistic admissions process, a point-based system will be implemented. The application process will consist of two phases:

Phase 1 includes the online submission of the following:

• Prerequisite courses
• Vaccination records
• Relevant work or life experiences
• Veteran status
• Socioeconomic status
• First-generation college status
• Bilingual/multilingual skills
• Information session attendance
• Essay Application fee no longer required

Applicants with the highest scores in Phase 1 will be invited to Phase 2, an interview involving both questions and hands-on activities. Those with the highest combined scores will be admitted to our program.

Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses prior to the quarter they are applying, achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-) or better. There are no limitations on the number of attempts, nor do prerequisites have expiration date requirements. No exceptions will be made to this requirement.  

Accreditation Information 

The Clover Park Technical College Practical Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education  Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20032, 202-909-2526. 

Clover Park Technical College Practical Nursing Program is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing. Clover Park Technical College is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. 

• NCLEX pass-rate - 3-year average 2019-2022: 83% 
• Program Completion Rate within 18 months of program start - 3-year average 2019-2022: 91.5% 
• Graduates reporting that they are working as Licensed Practical Nurses within 6-12 months of graduation — the 3-year average is 86%
• Graduates reporting satisfaction with the CPTC nursing program - 92% (past three cohorts)
• Community stakeholders, employers and clinical partners report high levels of satisfaction with graduates from the CPTC Practical Nurse program when responses are received. Advisory board members report satisfaction with graduates they have employed. 

Additionally, the Clover Park Technical College LPN-ADN Program holds pre-accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20037. 202-909-2487. Holding pre-accreditation status does not guarantee that initial accreditation by NLN CNEA will be received.