Practical Nursing Certificate
The Dakota Nursing Program offers a pathway from Practical Nurse (year one) to Associate Degree, RN (year two). Students can choose to complete the first year and work as an LPN after passing the NCLEX, or they can continue to the second year to become an RN.
Getting Started
Admission Requirements
Core criteria for admission to the PN program.
- High School / GED: Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA required.
- Prerequisite Courses: Must be completed with a 2.75 GPA or higher.
- Age Eligibility: Must turn 18 by December 31st of the entry year.
- Program Application: Submit applications to both the college and Dakota Nursing Program.
- Certifications: Current Basic Life Support (BLS Provider) CPR certification.
TEAS Exam Overview
Testing guidelines and score eligibility requirements.
- Mandatory Exam: Required test assessing Reading, Math, Science, and English skills.
- Qualifying Scores: Scores below 55% do not qualify; scores between 55%–58% require ATI Launch!
- Attempt Limits: Maximum 2 attempts per cycle with a mandatory 28-day waiting period.
- Score Validity: Official scores are valid for up to 2 years prior to the March 5th deadline
English Proficiency [ESL]
Language requirements for non-native English speaking applicants. Required for applicants without 4 years of in-person U.S. high school.
- TOEFL iBT Score: Minimum composite score of 86 (with at least 26 Speaking, 20 Writing, 20 Reading, 20 Listening).
- Duolingo (DET) Score: Minimum overall score of 115 (with sub-scores of 90+ across all categories).
- Testing Policy: Maximum of 2 attempts per application cycle, (28 days apart); scores valid for 2 years.
Program Resources & Printable Guides
Access official program outlines, full policy documents, and financial breakdowns below
Partner Colleges
1133 College Dr
Bismarck, ND 58501
701-224-5575
105 Simral Blvd
Bottineau, ND 58318
701-845-7680
1801 College Dr. N
Devils Lake, ND 58301
701-662-1600
1410 University Ave
Williston, ND 58801
701-774-4290
PN Curriculum
16 total credits
COURSE NUMBER
BIOL 220
PSYCH 111
NURS 120
NURS 121
NURS 122
COURSE TITLE
A & P 1
Intro to Psych
Foundations of Nursing
Practical Nursing 1
Clinical Practice 1
SEMESTER CREDITS
4
3
2
4
3
17 total credits
COURSE NUMBER
BIOL 221
PSYCH 250
-or-
ENGL 110
NURS 127
NURS 145
NURS 124
PHRM 215
COURSE TITLE
A & P 2
Developmental Psych
-or-
Composition 1
Practical Nursing 2
Intro to Maternal/Child
Clinical Practice 2
Intro to Pharmacology
SEMESTER CREDITS
4
3
3
2
2
3
3
9 total credits
COURSE NUMBER
NURS 129
NURS 126
PSYCH 250
-or-
ENGL 110
COURSE TITLE
Practical Nursing 3
Clinical Practice 3
Developmental Psych
-or-
Composition 1
SEMESTER CREDIT
3
3
3
3
Completing the Practical Nursing Certificate fulfills Year 1 of the Dakota Nursing Program, preparing graduates for the NCLEX-PN® exam and Practical Nurse licensure. Students in good academic standing can seamlessly transition into Year 2 to complete their Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing and qualify for the NCLEX-RN® exam.
Note: PSYC 250 and ENGL 110 may be taken prior to or at any time during the PN program. Students enrolled through WSC are also required to complete a college strategies/transitions course (0.5 to 1 credit)
Practical Nursing Application Assessment Calculator
Use the calculator below to estimate your total admission score based on the 62-point scale. Enter your exact cumulative and nursing GPAs, TEAS test scores, prerequisite course grades, and qualifying status criteria to view your real-time score total.
(Note: This tool is for personal planning and self-assessment; official verification occurs during the formal review process.)