2023-2024 Pre-Nursing Workshop Schedule

October 17, 2023 at 6 pm (register for Fall CRN 44780)

January 23, 2024 at 6 pm (register for Winter CRN 65167)

These workshops are free; however, advance registration is requested. 

2024 Pre Nursing Guide 

Chemeketa's Nursing program prepares students to graduate with an Associate of Science Degree and sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successfully passing this exam allows the graduate to become a licensed registered nurse.

See Course Sequences for more information. Fees are an estimated cost and subject to change.

Background and Drug Screening Requirements:

Upon entry into this program, you will be required to pass a criminal background check and pass a ten-panel drug screening urinalysis conducted by a college-approved vendor. If you do not pass the criminal background check and/or the drug screening, program registration will not be possible. If you are arrested during the time you are enrolled in the program, you must notify the Nursing Program Chair of the arrest. Your status in the program will be reviewed by the Nursing Program Chair and the Dean of Health Sciences. A possible outcome of the review may be that you are unable to continue in the program. Additionally, two-year programs require you to repeat the processes at the start of the second year.

For a list of disqualifying crimes, please see Disqualifying Crimes 2017. For a more in-depth list please see Disqualifying Crimes Expanded List

For licensure with the Oregon State Board of Nursing, please visit the following links for DHS and OSBN's criminal history requirements:

• Oregon Department of Human Services criminal history requirements and policies, located in Division 7
• Oregon Board of Nursing’s criminal history requirements and policies, found in Division 1 of the Nurse Practice Act 

Immunization Requirements:

Upon entry into this program you will be required to show proof of various vaccines.  Please review the Health Sciences Immunization & CPR requirements (click here).

For more information call the Health Sciences Department at 503.399.5058.

Below are the required courses for application to Chemeketa's Nursing program. These courses must be completed by the end of winter term (the year of application) with a grade of C or better. See the Course Sequences for our curriculum and prerequisites.

• BI231-233 Anatomy and Physiology (completed within seven years)
• MTH095 Intermediate Algebra (or higher)
  • This requirement cannot be waived by a placement test score

Note: BI112 is a prerequisite for BI231. 

Most students spend one or more years in pre-nursing courses to prepare for applying to the Nursing program. In order to enhance their chance of admission, most students complete the majority of general education and science requirements prior to application.

Kaplan Cost:

Starting 2024, the Kaplan fee will be increased to $100/test for both the Entrance and Fundamentals exam. 

Kaplan Entrance Exam Prep Book:

Kaplan has a textbook available entitled "Nursing School Entrance Exams Prep, 10th edition" ISBN# 9781506290362

Chemeketa has the book available for purchase at the Chemeketa Bookstore for $32.99.

The Kaplan exam prep has seven parts to include the following:

1. Strategies
2. Diagnostic Quiz
3. Verbal and Language Review
4. Mathematics Review
5. Science Review
6. Practice Tests and Explanations
7. Learning Resources

2025 Nursing Program Applicants Kaplan Testing Schedule:

Nursing student applicants will be given the chance to take the Kaplan exam that allows for 50 points on the nursing application.  Applicants will be notified of their testing date and time once the application has closed.  We do our best to accommodate applicants if the assigned testing date does not work; however, due to the high volume of applicants testing we may not be able to accommodate changes.  Students are only allowed to take the entrance exam once per application period. 

Testing dates

TBD

2025 LPN-RN Kaplan Testing Schedule:

TBD

Fall 2023 Application:  Importand Dates/Deadlines

Priority Deadline: Friday, October 28, 2022

Official transcripts of courses completed through summer 2022 from other colleges and/or universities along with the “Request for Evaluation and Transfer of Previous Credits” form submitted by this priority deadline will guarantee the evaluation will be complete in time for the nursing application deadline week.

Final Deadline: Friday, January 6, 2023

Submit official transcripts of courses completed through fall 2022 from other colleges and/or universities along with the “Request for Evaluation and Transfer of Previous Credits” form. These must be received by Chemeketa’s Transcript Evaluation office by January 6, 2023. It may take 8 or more weeks for your transcripts to be evaluated– we cannot guarantee the evaluation will be complete by the nursing application deadline week.

2024 Applications are now closed

More information for 2025 will be provided in late June. 

Requirements for the LPN-RN Program:

Must have a Current, Unencumbered LPN License

For applicants from another state, check with the Oregon State Board of Nursing by calling 503.731.4745 for information on transferring a license to Oregon.

General Elective Courses:

All students entering into the LPN-RN program are required to have all program general education courses completed (see course catalog for more information).  Required science courses (ex: BI231, BI232, and BI233) must be taken within seven years of re-entry or complete an appropriate alternative science course as approved by the Dean of Health Sciences.

Reminder: Only coursework from regionally accredited programs can be considered.

Additional Required Courses:

Applicants must take the following:

• NUR272 Pathophysiology for Nurses (3 credits)
• Your transcripts must show completion of BI231, BI232, and BI233 to take this course.

Kaplan Nursing Transition Exam

The Kaplan Transition Exam is required for all LPN-RN applicants. This exam is offered once a year in April and will be available to applicants who have completed all other entry requirements (see above). 

There are no direct study materials for this exam; however, we encourage students to study as though they were preparing for their NCLEX-PN exam.

Note: Scores remain current for five years after the exam is taken.  You can only take this exam twice. 

Work Experience

Work experience is strongly recommended for applicants who have completed their practical nursing curriculum more than one year before applying.

Applicant/Wait List

Applicants that have successfully completed all the requirements will be placed on an applicant list.  The applicants' scores from NUR272 and Kaplan will be averaged to determine placement on the applicant list.

Applicants’ acceptance into the program is based on the space available in our second-year program. This is determined in large part by the number of students moving directly from the first year into the second year of the program and priority entry for returning students.

LPN-RN Process Guideline for New Applicants

1. Apply for admission at Chemeketa (if you have not already done so)
2. Request your transcripts to be sent to Chemeketa for review (if applicable)
3. Submit a Transfer Evaluation Request form (click here)
4. Once your transcripts have been reviewed, connect with the Health Sciences office at 503.399.5058 to review transcripts to ensure all required prerequisites have been completed.
5. Complete NUR272
6. After completion all of NUR272, please complete the Application Form (2025 application coming soon)

LPN-RN Process Guideline for current/returning applicants:

1. Complete an annual Renewal Form each year (2025 renewal form coming soon)

Our program is a strong advocate for a seamless transition in attaining a bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and advanced degrees.

For registered nurses (RNs) wishing to pursue their Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing (BSN) degree, Chemeketa has established inter-institutional agreements with the following institutions:

Oregon Health & Sciences University

Bushnell University

George Fox University

Warner Pacific University

Students who are admitted to Chemeketa’s Nursing program are dually admitted to Linfield College. Upon successful completion of the nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) student may enroll in the online RN-BSN program at Linfield.

There are various other possibilities for RNs as well. Admission to nursing program is competitive. As such, RNs are responsible for learning the requirements of the school to which they plan to enroll. Applicants should make early contact with an advisor at the institution to learn of these requirements.

Once you apply to the Nursing program, visit the Chemeketa Foundation scholarships website for information and application dates. Scholarship application deadlines are time sensitive. 

For questions regarding the application process, contact the Foundation at 503.365.4747.