Join the Bachelor of Science Nursing program on the Portland campus: L.P.N. to B.S. Entry
Each applicant brings a unique educational background and determining the best entry option may be difficult. Our admissions advisors are available to help you determine the best entry option for you. Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions.
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Campus: Portland (10345 S.E. Market Street, Portland, OR 97216) | (509) 527-2330
GPA: 3.25 or higher (cumulative, college-level, non-vocational)
Credits: 85+ transferable credits required by program start date
Application deadline: August 30, 2025. (Fall term begins late September)
Acceptance of L.P.N.s into the Walla Walla University Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing program is based on available space in the fall quarter junior class each year.
Entry requirements
- An unrestricted L.P.N. license in any state. This license must remain unrestricted throughout the program.
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. This includes college level class work only, from all regionally accredited colleges attended. Grades from vocational courses are not included in this calculation.
- Clinical experience in direct patient care equivalent to the current beginning junior nursing students in the program.
- Successful completion of a standardized examination to validate nursing knowledge and receive advanced standing as a junior level student (fee applies). Based on successful completion of this exam, L.P.N.s with a current license are granted 16 lower division nursing credits and are exempt from taking NRSG 201, 202, 203, and 204.
- As a substitute for the standardized exam, if you took a standardized, comprehensive L.P.N. NCLEX predictor exam (ATI, Kaplan), please submit your exam results to WWU School of Nursing Portland campus to determine if your score is high enough to grant you validation. Many L.P.N. programs now give this type of exam routinely at the end of their programs.
- Completion of (by program start date) 85+ transferable credits of required prerequisites, cognates, general studies, and electives that apply to the nursing major. See the transfer guide for appropriate courses from various local colleges.
Prerequisites
- Anatomy & Physiology: a full sequence of 10-12 credits with labs
- Microbiology: 4-5 credits with lab
- Chemistry: 5-8 credits with lab(s) (must be inorganic, organic & biochemistry concepts)
- Nutrition: 3-4 credits
- General Psychology: 3-4 credits
- Human Growth & Development (through the lifespan)
- Statistics: must be descriptive & inferential. An additional math class is not required for the nursing major. Some community college statistics courses require a pre-requisite math class of 100-level or above. Statistics courses with prefixes other than MATH or STATS may not be adequate.
- Writing/English Composition: 8-9 credits of College Writing/English Composition including adequate content in research writing.
- Speech (Public Speaking or Small Group Communication)
- PE: 1 credit - activity courses only
- History: One course in U.S. History, World History, or Western Civilization. One additional course in history or philosophy required for graduation (approx. 8 credits).
- Humanities: One course in introductory art/literature/music/philosophy, critical reasoning, world music, drama/theater, creative/poetry writing. One additional course required for graduation (approximately 8 credits).
- Highly recommended elective: (see WWU nursing transfer guide for courses)
- Privilege & Oppression (or Social Inequities/Social Problems)
Note:
- Credits in Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry and Microbiology more than 5 years old are not accepted unless applicant has been working as an L.P.N. since licensure (must be in-person, not online courses).
- No grade lower than a C is accepted in all nursing prerequisites and cognate courses.
- All transfer courses must be from a regionally accredited (NWCCU) university or community college.
- All transfer courses must be a 100 level or above.
- Advance Placement (AP) credit must be documented.
- Prerequisite requirements are NOT the same as graduation requirements.
Steps to applying
1. Email a nursing advisor.
The advisor for L.P.N. to B.S. entry is at this email address, portland.advising@mikeshiner.com.
2. Apply to WWU.
Once you apply, you will have access to your Enrollment portal.
3. Request transcripts
Request the issuing institution(s) to send all official college, vocational school, and College Board (for any Advanced Placement credits) transcripts to Walla Walla University, either electronically (via the issuing institution's electronic service) to transcripts@mikeshiner.com or by mail to the following address:
Admissions
Walla Walla University
204 S. College Ave
College Place, WA 99324
From the enrollment portal, you can see when these documents are received.
4. Submit a copy of your current L.P.N. license.
Email your current L.P.N. license of any state, to portland.advising@mikeshiner.com.
5. Submit documentation
Email a passing standardized L.P.N. validation exam score (taken at WWU School of Nursing) OR an L.P.N. NCLEX predictor exam score meeting the WWU School of Nursing minimum standard to portland.advising@mikeshiner.com.
6. Obtain letters of reference
Submit three (3) letters of reference (preferred: teacher, employer, or co-worker, not a family member). Letters of reference can be filled out online or by paper copy sent to WWU Admissions (address above). From the Enrollment portal, you can see when these documents are received.
7. Complete the nursing essay.
Click on the link in the Enrollment portal to access the online form.
8. Complete pre-admission testing.
You must apply to WWU prior to testing. Work with your nursing advisor to take the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT), a 50-minute timed test that must be taken in English (see below). The testing fee is $20.
A passing score on the Health Sciences Reasoning Test is 17 or above.
This 50-minute timed test has 33 multiple-choice questions that measures critical thinking skills of health science students. Test-takers apply their skills in a variety of different scenarios in the areas of analysis, interpretation, inference, evaluation, explanation, induction, deduction, and numeracy. Learn more about the HSRT.
The application testing for L.P.N.s applying for the L.P.N. to B.S. track is usually offered during the summer quarter. Please schedule individual testing appointments with the Student Program Advisor by emailing portland.advising@mikeshiner.com. There is no need to set up a testing date in January.
A complete application includes all items above, not just the application form. To apply for financial aid, Walla Walla University's FAFSA code is #003799.
Questions?
Jan Vigil
Portland Nursing Admissions Advisor
portland.advising@mikeshiner.com
(509) 527-2163