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Practical Nursing Admission Requirements in Philadelphia and New Jersey

Nursing school students with arms crossed

Working as a practical nurse (PN) provides a gratifying career. You’ll be able to take on exciting roles in medical facilities and forge engaging relationships with patients, doctors, and other medical personnel. If you’ve never considered going to school to become a practical nurse, you could be missing out on a successful career.

At Prism Career Institute, we offer an accelerated practical nursing school with campuses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, to help you get set up for success. Let’s learn more about our program and what nursing school requirements you’ll need to fulfill if you want to enroll.

Our Practical Nursing Program’s General Admission Requirements

Applying to our practical nursing school means you’re committing to your future. Our program offers challenging courses and hands-on training that will prepare you for life as a nurse. However, you’ll need to meet these basic requirements for admission:

  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older
  • You are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate from an institution that has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You’ll be asked to submit a copy of this document along with a high school transcript and/or a written certification by a cognizant authority for home-schooled students
  • You’ll need to complete an interview with one of our representatives

This will help us determine if you’re a good fit and ensure that you feel comfortable with the school and the program requirements.

Passing the Practical Nursing ATI TEAS Exam

Aside from these general requirements for admission, those looking to enroll in one of our practical nursing programs will need to achieve a passing score on the entrance exam. At Prism Career Institute, we require our practical nursing students to take the Assessment Institute of Technologies Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS).

Regardless of which campus you are planning to attend, you’ll need to pass the TEAS entrance exam. For the New Jersey campus, the ATI TEAS Exam minimum score is 50, and for the Philadelphia Campus, the ATI TEAS Exam minimum score is 46. Applicants can take the test a total of three times, with the second attempt coming at least 48 hours after the first and the third attempt coming after another 14 days. Once you pass the exam, your test score will remain valid for one year, allowing you to start classes at your earliest convenience.

Other Nursing School Requirements

You will also need to pay specific fees to enroll in this program. These fees include:

  • Admissions TEAS entrance exam fee ($45 per attempt)
  • $35 criminal background review fee for the Philadelphia campus
  • $35 drug screen test fee (required at our Philadelphia location only)
  • $15 child abuse clearance fee, which must be submitted no later than the start of Term 2 (Pennsylvania applicants only)

Helpful Qualifications to Consider for the PN Program

While not required to enroll in this program, there are specific traits and skills that students can possess that may make them perfect for our nursing school. If you have a background in customer service, this can help you when it comes to working in the healthcare industry. This is because providing high-quality patient care demands the same communication skills and patience.

Potential students will also benefit from having taken certain prerequisite courses, allowing them to get a jump-start on their training. If you have obtained your certified nurse assistant (CNA) certification, this will help you since you would be familiar with the duties of an LPN.

What Sets Our Program Apart?

At Prism Career Institute, we pride ourselves on delivering a curriculum that enables students to reach their potential. Our attentive and experienced instructors are prepared to help you every step of the way so that you can thrive in this field. Our accredited programs are designed to help students become eligible to apply for the PA or NJ State Board of Nursing and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).

You’ll learn the full gamut of PN responsibilities, including clinical, lab, administrative, and personal care duties, allowing your healthcare team to rely on your expertise. We also help graduates explore different career opportunities, and our career services department will even assist you in finding work through interview technique training, networking opportunities, and resume writing assistance.

Check Out Our Practical Nursing School Today

Life as a practical nurse offers just the right mix of challenging and rewarding. If you meet our nursing school requirements, enroll at our campuses in Philadelphia, PA, or Cherry Hill, NJ, today. Prism Career Institute works hard to provide an education that helps you build a foundation for professional success. Even more exciting, our PN program can be completed in as little as 15 months. We also provide financial aid to students who qualify to make pursuing an education more affordable. Contact us today if you have any questions or apply online now.