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Nursing Mobility

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

The Nursing Mobility program expands upon the foundational knowledge and skills of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who want to pursue an Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree in Nursing. The curriculum prepares nurses to practice professionalism, leadership, clinical reasoning, and adherence to the Nursing Code of Ethics. With an A.S. in Nursing, students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). This program provides a pathway for students who wish to pursue academic advancement or seek employment in a wide variety of healthcare settings.

 

PROGRAM FACT SHEET

Students completing this AS will be able to: 

  • Advocate for patients and families, in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on respect for patient’s preferences, values, and needs;  
  • Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate errors, and support decision making; 
  • Demonstrate leadership by delegating and assigning nursing activities to implement the plan of care; 
  • Examine evidence-based nursing judgment, clinical expertise and patient/family preferences for delivery of optimal health care;  
  • Function within the legal and ethical standards of the registered nurse’s scope of practice; 
  • Use quality improvement methods to improve patient care; 
  • Minimize risk of harm to patients through system effectiveness and safe nursing practice; and 
  • Function effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care. 

 

JOB OUTLOOK          COURSE SEARCH

Steps to Apply

Associate Degree Nursing applications are only accepted for Fall semester start.



Students must apply to the Associate Degree program for the Fall 2026 start. Applications will be open March 30, 2026-May 22, 2026.

Application and Acceptance timeline.

At the time of application students must have: 

  • Completed all general education coursework, with a grade of “C” or better, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the preliminary coursework. (Students with summer coursework will be considered a late applicant, and will be considered on a space available basis)
  • Be currently licensed as a Practical Nurse (LPN)  
  • Have taken the ATI TEAS exam within the last 2 years with an overall composite score of 68 or higher
    OR
  • Have taken the NLN NEX exam within the last 2 years with an overall composite score of 149 or higher

Please note: Pine Technical & Community College only accepts TEAS scores from IN-PERSON proctored exams (no virtual/online testing scores are accepted.) NLN NEX must be taken on campus in the proctored testing environment.

Please note:  Students who are graduating from the PTCC PN Program this semester and plan to apply to begin the AD program should speak with Dean of Nursing for further details.

  • Save a Pine and apply online!
  • Request all external transcripts be sent to PTCC
    • If you attended a Minnesota State school, your transcripts will automatically be sent
    • If you attended a school outside the MNState system, contact the school to have your official transcripts sent to PTCC
    • Utilize Transferology: Web-based transfer tool that provides fast and accurate course and transfer equivalency information.
  • Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

To meet entrance requirements for the AD-Mobility (RN), students may take either the ATI TEAS assessment or the NLN NEX assessment.

TEAS & NLN NEX exams will be offered at the PTCC campus this spring & summer- for testing dates click here.

*On campus testing requires valid photo ID*

For entrance exam PREP support click here.

For consideration, TEAS and NLN NEX assessment scores must be dated within 2 years of the student’s current application to the nursing program.

TEAS EXAM-

  • Register to take the ATI TEAS exam
  • The test is $97.00 (cost subject to change by ATI)
  • Students need a 68 or better to be accepted into the Associate Degree Nursing program
  • If you take the TEAS at PTCC, your scores will automatically be sent without extra costs to the student
  • If you take the TEAS at another location, you will need to have your scores sent to PTCC (extra cost)
  • You can take the TEAS more than once, and we will accept your highest score
  • Important note when registering to take the TEAS test!
    Pine Technical and Community College only accepts TEAS scores from IN-PERSON proctored exams (no virtual/online testing scores are accepted.)
  • TEAS Score Acceptance End Date: TEAS scores may be used for admission until August 1, 2028.

NLN NEX EXAM-

  • Register to take the NLN NEX exam
    • Click on log in to the student testing website and create/log in to your account
    • Purchase/register for exam in the “store” tab at the top
  • The test is $77.50 (cost subject to change by NLN)
  • Students need a 149 or better to be accepted into the Associate Degree Nursing program
  • NLN NEX exam must be taken on campus
  • You can take the NLN NEX exam up to 3 times per application period, and will accept your highest score
  • Apply online to the Associate Degree Nursing Program for Fall 2026. The application opens March 30, 2026, with the link located here. The application deadline for Fall 2026 start is May 22, 2026.
  • At the time of Fall 2026 application, you must have completed the following general education coursework with a grade of “C” or better AND a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in these courses. Students with summer coursework will be considered a late applicant, and will be considered on a space available basis):
    • BIOL 1250 General Biology
    • BIOL 1260 Anatomy & Physiology I
    • BIOL 1270 Anatomy & Physiology II
    • BIOL 1255 Microbiology
    • ENGL 1276 College Composition
    • PHIL 1220 Human Ethics
    • PSYC 1210 General Psychology
    • PSYC 1250 Lifespan Development
  • Provide proof of current licensure (MN Practical Nurse License or current state in which you are licensed to practice)
  • Have taken the ATI TEAS exam or NLN NEX within the last 2 years and met minimum score requirements.
  • Students are ranked by points using a rubric
  • Ranking points are based on prerequisite coursework GPA, TEAS or NLN NEX score, and LPN work experience
  • Bonus points for receiving PN diploma from PTCC
  • Students who were on the previous semester waitlist will receive 5 bonus points on the program admissions scoring rubric.

GPA calculator

Every fall semester 30 full time students are accepted, with an additional 10 part-time students. Students who are accepted into the part-time option will attend courses in-person 2 to 3 times a week.

Note: Number of accepted students may vary depending on faculty and clinical site availability.

Additional Information

Transferology is a free tool that can help you determine the transferability and applicability of your credits.

With Transferology you can:

  • Determine how your individual classes from other higher educational institutions will transfer to PTCC
  • Run a program plan to see how your classes could apply toward your PTCC degree
  • Plan for a smoother transfer process

Note: If your school or class is not listed in Transferology, this does not mean your credits will not transfer. The PTCC Admissions Application and AD Nursing Application must both be complete with all transcripts received before transcript evaluation begins.

For assistance, please contact PTCC Admissions at admissions@pine.edu.

Pine Technical and Community College Associate Degree in Nursing Program holds continuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037. 202-909-2487.

Program Goals:

Completion Rate:  75% of associate degree (AD) nursing students will complete the program at 150% of the program length, averaged over the past 3-years.

1st time NCLEX-RN Pass Rate:  80% (or higher) of AD nursing graduates will pass the NCLEX-RN on first attempt, averaged over 3-years.

Job Placement Rate:  90% of AD nursing graduates will either be employed in their field or be pursuing continued education in nursing at 6-12 months post-graduation.

Student Satisfaction:  80% of respondents will agree or strongly agree with survey questions regarding program satisfaction.

Results:

Completion
2021-2022            72%
2022-2023            89%
2023-2024            90%

NCLEX
2021                       90.32%
2022                       96.43%
2023                       89.47%

Job Placement
2021                       88%
2022                       82%
2023                       100%

Program Satisfaction
2022                       >80%
2023                       >80%
2024                       >80%

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call 800.521.7463.

2025-2026 Associate Degree Nursing Mobility and Practical Nursing Student Handbook.

*Handbook is reviewed and updated every summer*

Each program at PTCC may have specific requirements for laptops, tools, supplies, and uniforms. These items are essential for your success and are tailored to the unique needs of your program.

To ensure you’re fully prepared, please review the specific requirements for your program on our Program Supplies page. This page provides detailed information on what you’ll need, including:

  • Laptops: Recommended models and specifications
    • MacBooks and Google Chromebooks are not recommended due to compatibility issues with products used in the Nursing Program courses.
  • Tools, Supplies & Uniforms: Required items for your field of study

Operation LEAD is a collaborative partnership between Bemidji State University and Pine Technical and Community College. We share a rich history of cooperation and are committed to producing highly skilled nurses for central and northern Minnesota through a seamless, supported pathway between Pine Technical and Community College’s Nursing A.S. and BSU’s RN to BS program.

Why Pine?

At PTCC, we make college possible for those starting out or starting over. Whether you seek a career program, new skills or general education transferable to another college or university, Pine is an excellent choice! Join us for an on-campus or virtual information session.

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