Earn Your Registered Nurse Degree!
The LPN to RN program is an accelerated pathway for Licensed Practical Nurses to complete an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. The program is designed to take 16 months and will prepare students to practice as Registered Nurses in a variety of healthcare settings.
The curriculum will provide students with classroom and clinical experiences to meet the community’s diverse and changing healthcare needs and beyond. Upon completing the LPN to RN program, graduates are eligible to take the National Council License Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion of this examination is required for licensure and practice.
Clinical nursing experiences are offered under faculty supervision at Marietta Health System, WVU Medicine: Camden Clark and Highland Psychiatric Hospital in Clarksburg, WV.
Completion of the nursing courses, general education degree requirements and subsequent posting of the degree provides eligibility for students to apply for licensure as registered nurses. Licensing requirements are the exclusive responsibility of the State Boards of Nursing. Admission to, and graduation from, the nursing program does not guarantee that the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses will endorse the graduate as a candidate to sit for the licensure examination. The Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses may deny testing to any applicant proven guilty of certain infractions such as, but not limited to, fraud, felony or moral misconduct. (West Virginia Code §30-7-11.)
The associate nursing program at West Virginia University at Parkersburg is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326.
Phone (404)-975-5000 | Website www.acenursing.org.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is Initial Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program here.
Application to Program
Our Nursing and Health Sciences programs have limited enrollment and a selective review process. Applicants requesting admission to this program must first meet the requirements for general admission to the college and be admitted to the college. In addition to meeting all general admission criteria for the college, students must complete a separate Nursing and Health Sciences application, provide an official copy of their high school transcript and any prior college transcripts and complete the pre-nursing admission exam. Applications will be accepted year-round. Application forms are available in the Nursing and Health Sciences Division office or click here.
Admission criteria for the Accelerated LPN to RN program include:
- An overall GPA from all colleges of at least 2.0
- An overall score of 75 on the entrance exam, the HESI A2
- An active, unencumbered LPN license
An admission preference will be given to those applicants who meet all the admission requirements AND have completed BIOL 107/107L within the past 5 years.
Additionally, the applicant must be able to engage in educational and training activities in a manner that does not endanger themselves or others. The curricula leading to a degree in nursing from WVU Parkersburg requires students to engage in diverse and complex experiences directed at the acquisition and practice of essential nursing skills and functions. Unique combinations of cognitive, affective, psychomotor, physical and social abilities are required to perform these functions satisfactorily. In addition to being essential to the successful completion of the requirements of a nursing degree, these skills and functions are necessary to ensure the health and safety of patients, fellow students, faculty and other healthcare providers.
Technical standards that describe the non-academic qualifications required in addition to academic qualifications that the college considers essential for entrance to, continuation in and graduation from its nursing degree program can be found in the Student Nurse Handbook. Candidates for a nursing degree must be able to meet these minimum standards with or without reasonable accommodation for successful completion of degree requirements.
It is important to note that completion of the application process does not imply that the applicant will be admitted to the nursing program.
Admission Limitations: Due to space limitations, qualified applicants are ranked according to pre-nursing admission entrance test scores, and cumulative grade point averages.
The highest-ranked students who meet the admission requirements by October 15 will be admitted first and will begin the following spring semester. Other qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list. On the first day of class, the weating list is deleted. Because of competition for space, it is possible qualified applicants may not be selected for admission.
Updates to Applications: Students interested in pursuing admission in the next cycle must resubmit a completed application to the Nursing and Health Sciences Division. It is the responsibility of the student to provide appropriate documentation of changes in his/her personal and/or academic record.
To submit your application, email it to arichar2@wvup.edu, fax it to (304) 424-8211, or mail it to Nursing and Health Sciences, 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26101.
Study guides for the HESI A2 exam can be found online. We do not test on Physics or Chemistry. Find dates that the exam is being administered at WVU Parkersburg here. To take the exam, call the business office at (304) 424-8223 to pay the $45 exam fee, then ask to be transferred to the nursing office at (304) 424-8300 to register for the exam.
There are general education courses that will need to be completed either before or after admission to the program. These include PSYC 101, ENGL 101, College 101, BIOL 107, BIOL 108, BIOL 200, MATH 120 or higher, and 3 hours from the Aesthetics strand OR 3 hours from the Human Communication strand for general education courses. It is recommended that you complete BIOL 107 before beginning the program.
Testing: Health Education Systems, Inc. Exam (HESI)
Required testing for nursing
All nursing applicants must pass the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) admission assessment exam with a score of 75 or higher. This examination measures general aptitude for nursing. HESI A2 composite scores must be within the last two (2) years. The HESI admission exam may be completed twice per admission cycle. The attemps must be a minimum of 45 days apart. The exam may be taken four times in a 12-month period.
TESTING DATES & TIMES
Tests will be offered before each deadline date scheduled as needed.
Applicants may register for two attempts to pass the HESI A2 exam; twice per admission cycle. Each attempt must be a minimum of 45 days apart.
Dates:
- October 17, 20, 24, and 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- February 6, 9, 13, and 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- April 2, 5, 9, and 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you wish to learn more about the HESI Exam and are an LPN to RN program student or are interested in the program, please contact kathy.frum@wvup.edu or 304-424-8300.
Effective February 19, 2019, it is the expectation that the HESI Admission Exam is taken on the date that you register. Failure to attend the registered test date will result in forfeiture of the testing fee. The student must pay the test fee to reschedule an exam.
Cost
The testing fee of $45 must be paid in the Business Office prior to registering for the exam and is non-refundable. The cost of the exam will be assumed by the applicant. You must bring your receipt to the Nursing and Health Sciences Division office to register for the exam. Seating is limited and filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Where
All tests will be conducted in the nursing computer lab, room 2318 or 2332.
What to Bring
A photo ID is required for admission to the test.
Other Details
A study guide is available in the WVU Parkersburg bookstore. Contact the Nursing and Health Sciences Division at 304-424-8300 with any questions.
Associate
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing
The nursing program prepares students for professional nursing practice while providing a knowledge base for career mobility and further academic study. Completion of the program of study provides eligibility to apply for licensure as a registered nurse.
What can I do with this degree?
Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a registered nurse.
Potential Careers
Surgical Technician
Pharmacy Technician
Nurse
Patient Care Technician
TUITIONEstimated rates for the 2023-2024 academic year. Additional course fees may apply and rates are subject to change. |
|
|---|---|
| Per Credit Hour | $180 - $249 |
| Per Semester | $2,160 - $2,988 |
| Fall & Spring Semesters | $4,320 - $5,976 |
| Per Credit Hour | $376 - $401 |
| Per Semester | $4,512 - $4,812 |
| Fall & Spring Semesters | $9,024 - $9,624 |
| Per Credit Hour | $50 |
| Per Semester | $600 |
| Fall & Spring Semesters | $1,200 |
Estimated Costs of AttendanceEstimated total costs of attendance for students, varied based on residential status and living situation. |
|
| Room & Board | $3,600 |
| Transportation | $1,500 |
| Tuition & Fees | $5,040 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,500 |
| Miscellaneous | $2,000 |
Total | $13,640 |
| Room & Board | $7,200 |
| Transportation | $1,500 |
| Tuition & Fees | $5,040 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,500 |
| Miscellaneous | $2,000 |
Total | $17,240 |
| Room & Board | $3,600 |
| Transportation | $1,500 |
| Tuition & Fees | $9,792 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,500 |
| Miscellaneous | $2,000 |
Total | $18,392 |
| Room & Board | $7,200 |
| Transportation | $1,500 |
| Tuition & Fees | $9,792 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,500 |
| Miscellaneous | $2,000 |
Total | $21,992 |
Background Checks
Criminal background checks are required for all students entering Nursing and Health Sciences Division programs. The cost associated with the state and federal criminal history checks will be the responsibility of the student. A clinical facility has the right to refuse student access to clinical experiences based on the results of the criminal background check, which may prevent progression in the program. The Nursing and Health Sciences Division reserves the right to nullify a student’s admission based on the results of his or her background check.
Providing false information and/or failure to disclose background information on the application to the program is grounds for immediate dismissal.
Once you have been admitted into the nursing program, you must be fingerprinted by the WVU Parkersburg Security Office in Room 1405 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You must bring your driver’s license. After being fingerprinted, take the fingerprint card, cover letter and a money order in the amount of $18 (made payable to the Treasury of the United States) to the Nursing and Health Sciences Division office.
