Nursing Admission Requirements
All admission candidates should have completed 15 credit units in a college preparatory program or higher and graduated from an accredited secondary school or present an equivalency certificate (G.E.D.). Students should have fulfilled satisfactorily a high school curriculum that fulfills the following or similar components:
- 3 credit units in English
- 4 credit units in Mathematics (that included algebra I, algebra II, and geometry)
- 3 credit units in Science (that included biology and physical science)
- 3 credit units in Social Studies
- 2 credit units in one Foreign Language
How do I gain entrance into the nursing major?
Students are admitted to the College based on the same criteria as any other undergraduate applicant. Those applicants who would like to major in nursing are then reviewed for consideration. Highly qualified candidates are accepted as Direct Admit Nursing Majors. All other students begin as Exploratory Majors (Health Professions Concentration).
Direct Entry Admission to Nursing (First-Year Students)
Highly qualified students will be admitted directly into the Lebanon Valley College nursing program after they are admitted to the college. Students will be informed of their acceptance no later than March 1.
To be considered for the Direct Admit Nursing Program, students would be expected to have the following minimum qualifications:
- High School GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Must have two laboratory science courses at B or higher
- One course in high school Chemistry with B or higher
- SAT of 1000 or higher or ACT of 21 or higher (LVC is test-optional)
Please note that this is a highly competitive program and meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee automatic acceptance into the Direct Admit Program.
Admission as an Exploratory Major (Internal Transfer)
Students may also enter as Exploratory Majors (Health Professions Concentration). Their applications for admission into the nursing course sequence will be reviewed after completing their first-year courses. Nursing courses begin in the second year, second semester. At the end of the first year, the student will apply for acceptance into the nursing sequence of courses. Admission will be granted based on space availability and begin in Fall 2023. Students who enter as exploratory majors (Health Professions Concentration) will have a nursing advisor and take the same first-year classes as students who have been accepted into the Direct Admit Program.
Interested students who plan to apply after their first year at LVC should follow the First-Year Nursing Curriculum and have the following minimum qualifications:
- Completion of 30 credit hours with an overall GPA of 2.7 in courses on the program plan of study.
- A grade of C or higher in the following courses: Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Mathematics.
*If there are more applicants than seats available, then students with the highest cumulative GPA in the above required courses will be accepted first until the seats are filled. If there are students with the same GPA then students will be admitted based on date of application. Those students submitting their applications first will be admitted first.
Once the application is accepted, the student must earn a C or higher in Chemistry 105/106 and Chemistry 111/113 by the end of their third semester of study.
Students may only repeat one of the required courses for admission one time to achieve the required C course grade.
Admission as an External Transfer
For consideration into the Nursing program, students must first be admitted to Lebanon Valley College. To be considered for the nursing major, students must meet the following minimum criteria:
- 2.7 GPA cumulative GPA from all colleges attended
- 6 credits in Psychology
- 8 credits in Anatomy and Physiology (with a lab) and a B or higher
Note that this is a highly competitive program and meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into the nursing program. Admission will be granted upon space availability and begin in Fall 2023.
Students requesting to transfer nursing courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine where in the nursing sequence the student will be admitted. Transfer students must submit a letter of good standing from all nursing schools previously attended. Transfer students must complete, as a minimum, the fourth year in the LVC Nursing Program. A maximum of 90 transfer credit hours will be accepted toward a baccalaureate degree.
Nursing Admission FAQs
We do not operate with a waitlist. The most highly qualified students are accepted into the Direct Admit Nursing Program. All other students accepted to the College who would like to major in Nursing enter as Exploratory Majors (Health Professions Concentration) and the most qualified are admitted into the Nursing Program on a space-available basis.
40 students will be admitted into the Fall 2022 nursing cohort. Some of those students will be Direct Accept students and others will be invited to join the nursing program at the start of their second year. The nursing cohort that enters in the Fall of 2023 will include 50 students. Beginning with Fall of 2024 the nursing cohort will include 60 students each year.
Prior to applying to the LVC Nursing Program the student should consider the following information. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing reserves the right to deny a professional license to any applicant who has been convicted of a felony or any offense related to the use and sale of alcohol or controlled substances in Pennsylvania or any other state. The determination of licensure is a discretionary matter for the Board of Nursing.
Applicants, students in pre-nursing courses, and students in nursing courses are admonished that students with records of criminal convictions may be disqualified from licensure. Students must assume the responsibility for ascertaining their status in this regard with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing or other state board of nursing where they seek to apply for licensure. The following information is taken directly from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing: The Professional Nursing Law Act of May 22, 1951 (P.L. 317, No. 69), Section 6 as amended, June 29, 2002, P.L.651, No.99:
(c) The Board shall not issue a license or certificate to an applicant who has been convicted of a felonious act prohibited by the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act,” or convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States or any other state, territory or country unless:
(1) at least ten (10) years have elapsed from the date of conviction;
(2) the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates to the Board that he has made significant progress in personal rehabilitation since the conviction such that licensure of the applicant should not be expected to create a substantial risk of harm to the health and safety of patients or the public or a substantial risk of further criminal violations; and
(3) the applicant otherwise satisfies the qualifications contained in or authorized by this act.
As used in this subsection the term “convicted” shall include a judgment, an admission of guilt, or a plea of nolo contendere. An applicant’s statement on the application declaring the absence of a conviction shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the absence of a conviction, unless the Board has some evidence to the contrary.
Any questions about eligibility to obtain a nursing license, should be directed to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing prior to applying to the Nursing Program.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing also requires that educational and healthcare systems provide a safe environment for all patients. Every applicant, to be eligible for examination for licensure as a registered nurse, shall furnish evidence of good moral character. Therefore, other criminal offenses in addition to those listed above could prevent the student from attending clinical, graduate with a nursing degree, or obtain licensure. For any offense identified on the criminal background check, the student must consult their own legal representation.
Yes, all students who are interested will be invited to attend an orientation/information session.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the application process. Please contact the Admission’s Office.
Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 in courses on the program plan of study and earn a grade of C or higher in the following courses: Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Mathematics. Students may only repeat one of the required courses for admission one time to achieve the required C course grade.
It is expected nursing students will normally maintain continuous enrollment once the Nursing Course sequence is begun. Students readmitted after withdrawing from the nursing program may be required to retake both nursing or select support courses to demonstrate current knowledge and skills, depending on the length of the break in enrollment. Nursing courses completed more than three years prior to readmission must be retaken to meet the major requirements.
Readmission into the nursing program after receiving a failing clinical grade is up to the discretion of the faculty. Students may repeat only one nursing course. Nursing students may repeat one failed nursing course. Failure to successfully complete a nursing course, including clinical education experiences, on the second attempt, or failure of a second course or clinical experience, will result in dismissal from the Nursing Program without the possibility of re-entry.
The Nursing Program curriculum is heavily integrated and cumulative, requiring students to master material in a sequential process in preparation for participation in clinical education experiences, the licensure examination, and entry-level practice. Students readmitted into the Nursing Program will be assigned a Nursing Faculty Advisor who will provide oversight and guidance during the initial semester of enrollment upon return. Individualized remediation plans are developed by the readmitted student and the Nursing Faculty Advisor to facilitate success in meeting the standards necessary to re-enter the Nursing Program.