All students offered a reserved seat in this major are required to maintain a math/science grade calculation of 2.5 or greater and a cumulative graduation GPA of 2.5 or greater prior to entering the first nursing course. If a student does not maintain the required grade calculations, the student will relinquish their seat and be placed into the pre-nursing major. Re-selection into the major will be required during the next selection period and will follow the current selective admission criteria. In addition, all students must earn a “C” (2.0) or higher in all NUR, CHM, and BIO courses; if a lower grade is earned in any of these courses, the course must be repeated.

The following grading system is applied to all nursing courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades: 
A = 90-100 
B = 80-89.99 
C = 75-79.99 
F = 74.99 and below

Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.

Child abuse clearances and criminal background checks are required for this major as established by clinical affiliation agreements. Agencies can prohibit students from participating in clinical experiences at their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Pennsylvania College of Technology students to be at clinical sites, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing. Inability to complete clinical, fieldwork, or intern educational experiences will result in the inability to meet program and course outcomes. For additional clarification, students can speak with their program director.

The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing advises that a drug-related conviction and/or conviction of a felonious act or two misdemeanors might result in denial and/or revocation of a license to practice nursing. In accordance with The professional Nurse Law, Act of 1951, P.L. 317, No. 69, as amended, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing shall not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felonious act prohibited by the Act 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 at least 10 years have elapsed from the date of the conviction.

Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription, or which may impair a student’s ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.

Students must acquire their own tools and laptop computer as noted below.

Required Tools, Uniforms, and Supplies

Students in this major are expected to purchase a dual head stethoscope, a custom nursing kit (must be purchased at the College Store), uniforms, malpractice insurance, medical insurance, clearances, certifications, and various smaller items. Refer to the estimated expenses and equipment costs list for a complete list.

Required Laptop Computer

• Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited.
• Unless otherwise specified by your major, MacBooks and other Apple products are not recommended for coursework.
• Windows 11 or higher (recommended).
• Intel Core i5 or i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processor (recommended).
• ARM based processors are not recommended.
• 16+ GB RAM (recommended). 
• 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended).
• The laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
• The laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
• Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required).
• Extended support agreement, including accidental damage protection (recommended).
• Power bank suitable for your laptop (recommended). 

The associate nursing program at Pennsylvania College of Technology located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the:  

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(404) 975-5000 

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is continuing accreditation. 

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/search-programs.

This major will follow the transfer standards established by the College, which requires a minimum of a "C" grade in transfer courses. Official transcripts must be sent to the Pennsylvania College of Technology Admissions office. The College may also request official high school transcripts or an official GED score report. Students seeking acceptance for spring must submit official transcripts and a copy of the Pennsylvania LPN license by December 1st. Applicants transferring from other colleges will have their nursing credits evaluated by a Penn College Nursing official after they have been accepted into the major.

International health credentials/licensure, sciences courses, and most math courses will not be accepted to satisfy requirements of this major. Please see additional information for international students applying to the School of Nursing & Health Sciences majors.

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

• Program Review Executive Summary
• Students must meet Essential Functions for Nursing established by the Nursing Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements.

The Nursing programs at Pennsylvania College of Technology meet the state education requirements for a registered nursing license in the state of Pennsylvania. The College has not determined if the Nursing programs meet the education requirements in other states, U.S. territories, or the District of Columbia.

As of July 7, 2025, Pennsylvania fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) which allows registered nurses residing in Pennsylvania to obtain a multistate license. Graduates who obtain a multistate license in Pennsylvania are eligible to practice as registered nurses in all NLC member states without needing additional licensure. Students who pass the national council licensure examination and intend to practice in another state can apply for licensure by contacting that state's Board of Nursing or by applying for a multistate license. State licensing requirements and contact information can be found at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website at https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/licensure/nurse-licensure-guidance.page.

5-Year NCLEX RN Pass Rates

Accreditation & Outcomes Information

Contact the Program Director:

Amber Morgan; Kelly Bidlespacher
nursingadministration@pct.edu 
570 320 2400 ext. 4525

Nursing Advisory Committee Members