Practical Nursing

The Practical Nursing curriculum provides knowledge and skills to integrate safety and quality into nursing care.

Course work covers health care and nursing practice, emphasizing safe, individualized nursing care and participation in the interdisciplinary team. It also includes employing evidence-based practice, quality improvement and informatics.

Graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN), which is required for practice as a licensed practical nurse. Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation/long term care/home health facilities, clinics and physicians' offices.

All applicants must complete the following requirements:

• Apply to Wake Tech
• Submit official transcript(s) to [email protected]
• Complete the Nursing information session
• Apply for financial aid and veterans benefits (if applicable)
• Once admitted, follow the steps to enroll on the New Student Checklist

Practical Nursing is a limited-enrollment program, meaning it receives more applications than there is available space. A competitive admissions procedure with a point system, not a waiting list, is used to determine who can register for Nursing classes. Applicants are ranked based on points that are determined by grades earned in the general education classes required for the program, such as ENG-111 and BIO-163. Grades of "C" or better are required in all program-related curriculum classes.

NOTE: BIO classes must have been completed within five years of the first Nursing class, and math proficiency must have been completed within 10 years of the first class.

The following items are required by the program application deadline:

• Submit the following items to [email protected] by September 1 for Spring 2025 entry:
  • Practical Nursing program application
  • A copy of your active North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry listing. The listing must remain current through the start of your first NUR class.
• Request ATI to submit official TEAS scores to [email protected].
  • Applicants must have a composite score of 59 or higher on a TEAS V or higher test taken within three years of the program application deadline.
  • Only two TEAS tests are allowed per calendar year, with a minimum of 30 days between tests. Review the TEAS policies for more information.
• Meet the English language requirement. If students need to complete the TOEFL, scores must be submitted by the program application deadline. An online high school, GED or high school equivalency does not meet exemption requirements.

Once accepted into the Practical Nursing program, students are required to attend a mandatory departmental orientation and complete all clinical site requirements. Information obtained from required criminal background checks and drug screenings could jeopardize a student's ability to participate in clinical experiences, to complete the program and to be licensed and employed as a practical nurse. Any student who has not met all requirements will not be allowed to attend clinical courses and cannot advance in the program.