Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]

General & Admission
Practical Nursing [PN]
Associate Degree Nursing [RN]

General & Admissions FAQs

Applications for both the PN and ADN programs are available annually from December 1st through March 5th. You can access the online application directly on the homepage at www.dakotanursing.org

Yes. You must complete an application to your local partner institution and receive admission acceptance prior to submitting your Dakota Nursing Program application.

No. The Dakota Nursing Program at all consortium institutions has a Fall start date only.

Yes. Once the current semester is completed, advisors will review your final grades and GPA to confirm you meet all program entry requirements.

If your prerequisite or overall GPA falls below the minimum threshold, contact an academic advisor at your local institution. They will review your transcripts and help create an academic plan to get you qualified.

Applicants born outside the U.S. or Canada whose native language is not English (and who have not completed 4 years of U.S. high school with a 3.0+ GPA) must meet English proficiency standards:

TOEFL iBT: 86 combined (minimums: 26 Speaking, 20 Writing, 20 Reading, 20 Listening).
Duolingo English Test: 115 minimum overall (minimum 90 in Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing).

The Dakota Nursing Program utilizes expert faculty from across the state. Theory classes are delivered live via interactive Microsoft Teams classroom technology equipped with monitors, cameras, and microphones. Faculty can see and hear you in real time, whether they are physically in your classroom or teaching from a partner site.

Practical Nursing [PN] FAQs

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, hold a high school diploma or GED (GPA 2.5 or greater), be accepted to their local institution, hold active BLS CPR certification, meet English proficiency standards if applicable, and demonstrate math readiness (college course ASC 93, prerequisite equivalent, or Accuplacer score > 255 within 2 years).

Schedules vary slightly by campus, but standard traditional PN students can expect:

Tuesday & Thursday: Interactive theory classes.
Monday, Wednesday, or Friday: On-campus labs and clinical rotations.

Lake Region State College (LRSC) offers the only Mobility Track. Theory courses are completed online, with mandatory on-campus labs and clinicals scheduled once per week.

Acceptance capacity is set by each consortium campus based on faculty availability:

Bismarck State College: Bismarck (50), Ashley* (6), Harvey* (6), Hazen* (6), Hettinger* (6), Garrison* (6)
Dakota College at Bottineau: Bottineau (16), Minot (40), Valley City (16)
Lake Region State College: Devils Lake (16), Grand Forks (8), Mayville (8), LRSC Mobility Options (8 each for DL, GF, Jamestown, Mayville)
Williston State College: Williston (24), Watford City (8), Sidney MT (8)

*Offered every other year.

Associate Degree Nursing [RN] FAQs

Advanced Standing: For graduates of an external state board-approved PN program who hold an active, unencumbered U.S. LPN license.

Internal: For current DNP Practical Nursing students or Paramedic-to-Nurse Bridge students transitioning directly into year two.

Students achieving a score of less than 92% predicted probability on their first attempt will be required to wait 30 days before retaking the predictor exam. During this 30-day waiting period, students must complete targeted remediation prior to their second attempt.