Dakota Nursing Program Prerequisites and Checklist for Admission

DNP-PN Prerequisites & Checklist 2021-2022

Reviewed annually

Dakota Nursing Program

Prerequisites and Checklist for Admission to the

Practical Nurse Program

Admission to the Dakota Nursing Program is on a competitive basis. The following are prerequisites for

consideration for admission to the Certificate in Practical Nursing Program:

1. High School Diploma or GED Certificate

a. High School GPA of 2.5 or greater. If a student has completed 12 credits of college level classes, the

college GPA will be considered instead of the HS GPA.

2. Students must be 18 years of age by December 31

of the year they start the program.

3. Application and admission to the respective college is required before applying to the nursing program. There

are two application processes – first to the college and then to the nursing program. When completing the DNP

application online, be prepared to upload a Narrative Statement in 300-600 words summarizing your

education/work experiences and how those experiences will help you progress through the nursing program.

Also include why you want to be a nurse and why this is a good time in your life to pursue a nursing degree.

4. Current CPR Certification for BLS Provider (American Heart Association) or CPR/Healthcare Provider (Red Cross)

and must be updated to remain current throughout program.

5. Proof of Math Skill Readiness.

a. Student must have completed at minimum:

b. The developmental math course (ASC 093 or other pre-requisite math course that would qualify a

student to take Math 103) with a grade of Satisfactory or “C” or a higher level math course (such as

MATH 103 College Algebra) or

c. Equivalent scores for ACT/PLAN/SAT/COMPASS and/or Accuplacer as listed below and taken within the

past 2 years:

Test

Test Component

Minimum

Score

Comments

Accuplacer

Next Generation

College Algebra

255

Accuplacer scores effective January 2, 2019

Accuplacer

Classic

Elementary Algebra

Accuplacer scores effective October 12, 2016 –

January 2, 2019. With the scores to the left, you

would not need to take any ASC Math classes for

admission to Nursing. This platform has been

discontinued, but check with your college to see if

they will still accept Classic scores for admission.

Accuplacer

Classic

College Level Math

ACT

Math Subtest

ACT Aspire

Math Subtest

431

ACT Compass

Algebra

This assessment will no longer be available after

November 30, 2016 but scores will be accepted by

the DNP until June 20, 2019.

ACT Plan

Math Subtest

The ACT Plan has been replaced with the ACT

Aspire Assessment

SAT (old)

Reading & Math

990

SAT tests taken prior to March 5, 2016

SAT (new)

Math

530

SAT tests taken on March 5, 2016 or later

DNP-PN Prerequisites & Checklist 2021-2022

Reviewed annually

6. Proof of Academic Readiness:

a. All applicants are required to complete the most current Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI),

standardized Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) prior to application deadlines.

i. Applicants are allowed two (2) attempts at the TEAS exam with a minimum of 4 weeks (28 days)

between attempts per application period.

ii. A minimum TEAS composite score must be 45.0% or greater. Any applicant scoring below this

number will not be accepted. The best score achieved, of two attempts, may be submitted. Last

year the average TEAS score for all admitted applicants was within the Proficient level.

iii. TEAS scores are valid for up to two (2) years prior to March 5

of the year of application.

iv. It is to your advantage to double check the other parts of your application to make sure you are

qualified in the other areas before you attempt the TEAS exam.

v. It is recommended that you use the study materials on the TEAS website to score well on the

exam. As noted above you may repeat the TEAS to better your chance of admission.

b. ACT composite score of 19, or

i. ACT/COMPASS/ASSET/Accuplacer/SAT test(s) with an equivalent score, or

ii. Successful completion of 12 credits of college courses with a minimum GPA of 2.5

7. For any required college courses completed prior to admission, the grade in that course must be a 2.0 (C) or

higher, and nursing GPA for all completed required nursing courses must be 2.75 or higher.

a. Anatomy and Physiology I and II with Lab (A & P II must be taken within the last 7 years)

b. Introduction to Pharmacology (must be taken within the last 7 years)

c. Developmental Psychology (must be taken within the last 7 years)

d. Introduction to Psychology

e. Composition I

f. Other: Microbiology (required for ADN program)

g. Other: Composition II, Communications, Technology, Humanities or Computer elective. Check with

individual campuses for correct elective (required for ADN program).

8. Guidelines for approval include:

a. High School GPA of 2.5 or greater or

b. If a student has completed 12 credits of college level classes, the college GPA will be considered instead

of the HS GPA. Nursing GPA for any completed required nursing program courses must be 2.75 or

higher.

c. Overall cumulative GPA for all college courses completed must be 2.5 or higher.

d. No required course may have a grade lower than 2.0 (C).

e. If a student repeats a required science course or previous nursing course, a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher

must be obtained in the first repeat (A & P I and II, Microbiology). An appeal process may be sought if

the student has failed science courses more than 2 times.

f. Critical courses completed more than 7 years prior to program application must be repeated: Anatomy

and Physiology II, Developmental Psychology, and Introduction to Pharmacology.

g. Experience working in a health care environment is encouraged before making application to the

nursing program. For example; Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Medical

Assistant, Direct Support Professional (DSP), etc.

9. A certain level of English proficiency is necessary for academic success in nursing as well as for client safety. In

addition to general college English proficiency requirements, all applicants born outside of the United States or

Canada and applicants for whom English is not their native language (including International and/or U.S.

residents) or who have not attended 4 years of U.S. high school and achieved a HS GPA of 3.0 or higher must

meet additional language proficiency requirements for admission to the Dakota Nursing Program. These

requirements must be met prior to consideration for admission.

DNP-PN Prerequisites & Checklist 2021-2022

Reviewed annually

Minimum TOEFL Scores for Admission to the Dakota Nursing Program

To be considered for admission to the pre-licensure program, English as a second language (ESL) applicants must

achieve minimum scores on the TOEFL internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) of:

Minimum Cumulative Score of:

 86 Combined

AND Minimum Individual Scores of:

 26 in Speaking

 20 in Writing

 20 in Reading

 20 in Listening

Test Preparation and Registration

a. Complete information on the TOEFL iBT, including free test preparation materials, testing sites, and

registration is available online at https://www.ets.org/toefl. Applicants may register for the TOEFL iBT

by Internet, telephone (1-800-468-6335) or mail.

b. Request official TOEFL iBT scores to be sent to:

• Bismarck State College – Enter Institution DI Code: 6041

• Dakota College at Bottineau - Enter Institution DI 3398.

• Lake Region State College - Enter Institution DI Code: 6163

• Williston State College - Enter Institution DI Code: 6905

c. Only official score reports will be accepted. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.

d. The cost of any/all required testing is the sole responsibility of the applicant.

e. Applicants are allowed two (2) attempts at the TOEFL exam with a minimum of 4 weeks (28 days)

between attempts per application period.

Nursing students for whom English is not their native language should be aware that they may not be able to

complete the program of study within the described time frame. Students are encouraged to consult the

nursing advisor before submitting the nursing program application. This gives the opportunity to discuss

requirements and to make arrangements to either take the TOEFL exam if applicable or seek assistance to be

successful on the TOEFL exam in the future.

Reference:

A Minimum English Proficiency Standard for The Test of English as a Foreign Language

Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) (2009). Retrieved July 12

, 2015 at

https://www.ncsbn.org/TOEFL_iBT_Proficiency_Standard_Process.pdf

 Students accepted into the nursing program must have access to reliable, high speed internet.

 Students must have transportation available to and from campus, clinical, etc.

Checklist for the Practical Nurse Program

1. _____Complete an application for admission to your local college (BSC, DCB, LRSC or WSC)

2. _____Complete the electronic application for the Dakota Nursing Program

3. _____Submit copy of current CPR certification for BLS Provider

4. _____Provide proof of math skill readiness (ACT, SAT or COMPASS, or transcript with math course)

5. _____Provide proof of academic readiness (ACT, SAT, or COMPASS, or transcript with 12 required credits)

6. _____Submit TEAS test results

7. _____If required by English as a second language (ESL) applicants, TOEFL exam results

DNP-PN Prerequisites & Checklist 2021-2022

Reviewed annually

If your application is complete and you meet all requirements above, you will be invited to interview

as a final step in the application process.

After you are accepted into the Program, your Nursing Director will be sending you information on how to

enroll in CastleBranch which is a software program that will guide you through completing a Background Check

and Drug Screen as well as keeping track of the required immunizations for the Nursing Program. The total cost

is $145.00.

Required Immunizations once you are admitted to the Dakota Nursing Program:

o Measles, Mumps & Rubella vaccine x2 or positive blood titer or repeat series

o Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine x2 or positive blood titer or repeat series

o Hepatitis B x3 or positive antiHBS titer or repeat series

o Influenza (Flu)

(to be administered between September 1

- November 1

of the current flu season)

o Tuberculosis (TB) Negative reading of 2-step tuberculosis test within the past 12 months or

QuantiFERON Gold blood test or T-Spot blood test

o Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (Tdap) History of one Tdap. Tetanus within the last 10 years

o Other immunizations as may be required by the clinical agencies.

All applicants who meet the March 5

deadline will be notified of status by June 15

Incomplete applications are not able to be processed and will be refused