Practical Nurse Program Frequently Asked Questions
The Practical Nurse program is four quarters long and new students start in the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.
Up to forty (40) students are accepted to start in the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.
Yes, we will maintain a waitlist. If a student does not get into the program in one quarter, they can choose to be placed in the next quarter.
We will not maintain a waitlist, except for the current quarter.
No, you do not need to attend a Program Information Session, but it is highly recommended.
There will be a mandatory orientation before the first day of the quarter for all students that have been accepted into the program for that quarter.
No, the orientation is mandatory. If you do not attend the orientation, you will not be able to start the program.
The Practical Nurse Application is located at www.cptc.edu/nursing.
Instructions are included in the pdf packet. A checklist is included in the pdf packet.
Fall quarter applications: will be accepted starting June 15 and the application process will stay open until either we have filled the 40 spots or until September 2, 2022.
Winter quarter applications: will be accepted starting September 15, 2022, and the application process will stay open until either we have filled the 40 spots or December 1, 2022.
Spring quarter applications: will be accepted starting December 15, 2022, and the application process will stay open until either we have filled the 40 spots or March 1, 2023.
No, it is a first come first serve process. When you submit your application, it will be date/time stamped and this will be the order in which the applications will be processed.
When your application is processed an email /acceptance letter will be sent to your CPTC email with your next steps for registration. Please be sure that your CPTC email is activated because all communication will be sent to your official CPTC school account.
No, you can only apply for the upcoming quarter that students are being accepted for.
Yes, you can apply while completing your last pre-requisites. However, you must have a B or better in those courses in order to begin the program. An unofficial transcript must be included in your application packet and an official one will need to be submitted when grades are posted to complete the application process.
Yes, you must have all required immunizations completed and documentation for these immunizations must be submitted with your application.
If you have questions about the immunizations, you can email them to nursingprogram@cptc.edu.
• Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
o 2 MMR doses of vaccinations, or
o Proof of immunity by titer of each of the three components -Rubella, Mumps & Measles. (Lab report required)
• Varicella (Chicken Pox)
o 2 doses of the Varicella vaccinations, or
o Positive antibody titer (lab report required)
• Hepatitis B
o 3 vaccinations and
o Positive HepB sAB antibody titer (lab report is required)
• TB Skin Test (2 Step) Provide one of the following:
o Negative 2 step test (2 separate tests done 1-3 weeks apart) within the past 12 months ( you must show placement date and read date for both of the 2 steps) or
o Past negative 2 step test PLUS all subsequent annuals (latest test must have been done within the past 12 months) or
o If positive results, clear Chest X-Ray report within the past 3 years and a current year symptom-free report from your healthcare provider or
o Negative QuantiFERON Gold Blood test. You must submit a copy of the laboratory report to meet this requirement.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (TDaP)
o There must be documentation of a TDaP vaccination. If the TDaP vaccine was administered more than 10 years ago, you must also submit a recent TD booster.
• Influenza
o Submit documentation of a seasonal flu shot administered after October 1 of the current year. If after flu season (October to March) flu shot will be needed when available.
• COVID
o Must be fully vaccinated.
This is a daytime program, and the schedule will vary from quarter to quarter. In the first 2 quarters you could be in class from 2.5 days a week to 5 days a week. The schedule is not available until just before the quarter starts for each quarter that you are in the program. In quarters 3 & 4 you will have class all day Monday and then your clinical rotations could be Tuesday through Friday starting as early as 5:30 am or as late as 2 pm through 11 pm. Travel to some clinical rotations can be up to 50 miles away. We cannot work around your work schedule, and you must follow the schedule you are given by the nursing department. Do not go by the schedule printed off when you register for your courses each quarter.
The cost of this program for a state resident is $9,761.34 and for a non-resident, it is $17,024.20. You can find a detailed list on the Practical Nurse Tuition and fee list.
updated June 1, 2022.
Yes, financial aid does cover this program and if you are eligible for the Opportunity Grant, BFET, or Worker Retraining these funding agencies might cover it. It is important to meet the Financial Aid deadlines to receive funding.
These items are available in the college bookstore and can be purchased there. You can also purchase them online or from another store as long as the scrubs are the correct color and the correct textbook and workbook.
No, this course is a full-time program and is only offered on weekdays. Clinical hours in the 3rd & 4th quarters may be an evening shift and/or weekends.
No Practical Nurse program courses are offered online.
For these prerequisites you must achieve a 2.0 or better in each course and only if required for the prerequisites that require a B or better:
• CHEM&110 or higher (5CR)
• BIOL&160 or 175 (5CR)
For these prerequisites you must achieve a B or better in each course:
• BIOL& 241 Human A & P 1 w/lab (5CR)
• BIOL& 242 Human A & P II w/lab (5CR)
• BIOL& 260 Microbiology with lab (5CR)
• ENGL& 101 English Composition OR ENGL& 235 Technical Writing (5CR)
• MAT 099 Intermediate Algebra (5CR) or MATH& 141, 146, or 151
• NUTR& 101 Nutrition (5CR)
• PSYC& 100DIV General Psychology (5CR)
• PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology (developmental psychology) (5CR)
Must receive a passing grade:
• COLL 102 College Success (3CR) (not required if you are transferring in 30 credits, have a similar course from another college, or you hold a degree from another college)
Yes, there are no restrictions on how many times you can take a prerequisite course to obtain the required B.
No, there is no expiration for any of the prerequisites.
You will need to submit an official transcript to the Credential & Completion Specialist who will evaluate your transcript to determine the letter grade. You can email them at evaluator@cptc.edu.
The other requirements are:
• Passing score on the NLN PAX Pre-Admission exam with a score of 102 combined score or higher
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support card for the Healthcare Provider
• Personal Health insurance
• “No Record on File” report for crimes against children or vulnerable adults with the Washington State Patrol and DSHS.
• Possible drug testing for clinical rotations.
• Current immunizations completed and submitted with your nursing application, this includes the COVID vaccines, no exceptions.
The NLN PAX Admission exam is offered in the Testing Center in Building 17, Room 250 or where it is offered at other colleges or universities.
An appointment is required. Visit www.cptc.edu/testing to schedule your appointment and to find additional information, including how-to guides.
If you need help with signing up for the PAX exam, please follow the link below for step-by-step instructions.
Document
How to sign up for an exam:
Creating a new user account and purchasing a PAX exam: https://ondemand.questionmark.com/home/405669/user
Purchasing exam instructions: www.cptc.edu/nursing
Make note of your login and password. You will need them to take the exam at the Testing Center.
Register for the day and time you wish to take the exam and pay the $55.00 fee. Print the date & time for your exam from the NLN website. You must sign up for an exam at least 2 days before taking the exam.
On the day of your exam bring with you:
o your photo ID
o NLN login & password information
o the date & time document from NLN
o student ID#
Go to Cashier in Building 17, Room 140 and pay the testing fee of $10.00 before going to the Testing Center located in Building 17, Room 250 to take the exam.
You will be provided with a calculator and your scores will be available within 4 years of taking the exam.
If you have questions about this exam contact the Testing Center at testing@cptc.edu or call 253-589-6035.
You will have up to 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the NLN PAX Pre-Admission exam.
There are 3 sections:
• verbal: consists of both word knowledge and reading comprehension
• math: includes basic calculations, and word problems, and incorporates algebra, geometry, conversions, graphs, and applied math
• science: general biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science
Yes, one will be provided for you at the testing center.
Your scores will be available on your NLN account 4 hours after completing the exam.
Yes, you may take the NLN PAX as many times as needed and with no limit on how many times you can take it to obtain the score of 102. You will need to pay for the exam each time you take it.
You will need to retake the exam a second time and if your score is close to the required combined score on 102 you can email the Nursing Dept. at nursingprogram@cptc.edu and provide both score reports and a transcript of your grades for the required prerequisites and a decision regarding waiver will be made by the Nursing Programs Director.
No, there is no expiration date for this exam.
No, we do not have a way to compare admission exams and will only accept the NLN PAX exam.
Study guides can be purchased from the NLN site or Amazon.
No, not at this time.
Yes, you will need to submit an official transcript and the Credential and Completion Specialist will evaluate and transfer course prerequisites into the CPTC college system
You will need approval from the Nursing Director, and you would need to provide a syllabus for each nursing courses to the Nursing Dept.
Yes, you will need to have all immunizations completed and submitted with your application. If you have questions, you can contact the Nursing Department at nursingprogram@cptc.edu.
We recommend that you do not work if possible. If you do work, we recommend no more than 20 hours a week because of the rigor of the program. We cannot work around your work schedule.
Yes, you will need to complete each course with an 80% (B-) or Pass (in clinical practicum courses) to continue in the program and if you receive less than an 80% in one or more courses you will be able to re-enter the next quarter the courses you failed are offered.
You will need to retake the class in the next quarter it is offered. You will not be able to continue with the next quarter classes until this course has been successfully passed.
No, you must wait until this course is offered again and repeat this class. You will then take the next quarter in sequence.
Yes, a background check will be done through CastleBranch and a state and federal check will be run. Also, a background check through DSHS will be done by the facilities where you will go for clinical rotations.
Yes. It is WAC 388-113-0020 and the list of crimes is located on the site DSHS Secretary’s List of Crimes and Negative Actions.
You can email your question to nursingprogram@cptc.edu for assistance.
This occupation requires medium physical activity and handling body fluids. Nurses are often standing for long periods of time. For safety and protection of patients, the student nurse must be able to perform basic cardiac life support (CPR), and function in stressful and/or emergency situations.
Graduates must pass the state licensure NCLEX-PN exam and meet state eligibility requirements, including a criminal background check, in order to apply for licensure. Persons with some types of criminal convictions may not be eligible for licensure.
It is highly recommended that you do not miss class time during the program. This program is very rigorous and will require 3-4 hours per week per class for homework and study (e.g., 12-16 hours per week for 4 courses) in addition to actual class time. Clinical hours must be met and if time is missed you may not successfully pass these courses and need to repeat them. If you miss too many days this could result in a class or clinical failure, and you will need to repeat that class in the next quarter it is offered.
If you need an extended period of time off, you can take a medical leave of absence and re-enter the program the next quarter the courses you need are offered.
You can meet with an Entry Specialist in the Welcome Center located in Building 17. They will be able to answer your questions about the requirements for the program and admission into Clover Park Technical College.