Located on our main campus in Lewiston, Idaho, this track is a four-semester program with a competitive application process. Apply online at NursingCAS.org.

How To Apply

  • Visit www.nursingcas.org to start your application or log into an existing account
    • Visit the Add Programs page to select the Lewis-Clark State College BSN (Pre-Licensure) program.
    • Complete the steps to fill out and submit your application.
    • All students must submit official transcripts to NursingCAS from every college/university ever attended.
    • Please note that to submit your application via NursingCAS you will be charged a $60 fee.
    • Many resources are available to help you complete your application, including the applicant help center
    • You can also contact NursingCAS support with questions

Decisions made by the end of March or October via email to the address you provide on NursingCAS.

Please contact your advisor to review your application prior to submitting it. If you do not have an advisor, contact NHS Program Advisor: Tiffany Pilon ph: (208) 792-2087 or [email protected]

Must be passed with a C (2.0) or better. Transfer courses must meet LCSC equivalency to be eligible. For transfer equivalencies, please visit TES:College Source.

For a preliminary evaluation of transfer credits, you may email unofficial transcripts to NHS Program Advisor, Tiffany Pilon ([email protected]).

Nursing Specific Courses:

  • Statistics
  • Nutrition
  • Chemistry + lab
  • Microbiology + lab
  • Anatomy & Physiology I (or 1 semester of Anatomy) + lab
  • Anatomy & Physiology II (or 1 semester of Physiology) + lab

Idaho General Education Courses: All core must be finished and passed before nursing with a C or better, except for Humanistic/Artistic Ways and Integrative Seminar: Ethics/Values Core. These can be taken afterward over a summer, not during the program.

See current catalog

GPA minimums must be met at the TIME of APPLICATION

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in all college coursework.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) in the courses below. Calculate your GPA
    • Anatomy & Physiology + lab (full series, 8-semester credits)
    • Chemistry + lab (General, Organic & Biochemistry preferred)
    • Microbiology + lab
    • Statistics
  • All Prerequisite courses passed with a C or better
  • Certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA), LPN/LVN, or LCSC Equivalency
  • English language proficiency (for non-native English speakers) Contact us for details ([email protected])

This information is intended for fully or provisionally admitted students to the Basic track.

View Health Requirements and Background Check info

COVID-19 (Updated 12/20/2022)

As the healthcare environment continues to evolve, we work with our clinical agency partners to provide the best learning opportunities for Nursing & Health Sciences students. Our healthcare partner agencies have specific health and background check requirements for all students that engage in practicum experiences at their facilities. It is important to understand that clinical agencies may update health requirements at any time and as of this date, many clinical agencies to which NHS program students are assigned require COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of engaging in clinical activities at their facilities. Additionally, at this time, some clinical agencies allow for medical or religious exemptions and some do not. All students must meet the onboarding requirements of the clinical agencies to which they are assigned. Inability to meet onboarding requirements may result in an inability to successfully complete practicum courses. For further questions, consult with your NHS academic advisor.

For Fall Program Entrance:

  • November 1, 2023 - Application opens on NursingCAS.org for Fall 2024
  • February 11, 2024 - Priority Deadline for Fall 2024 (for verified applications)
  • February 25, 2024 (8:59 pm PST) - Deadline to apply for Fall 2024

For Spring Program Entrance:

  • April 1, 2024 - Application opens on NursingCAS.org for Spring 2025
  • September 11, 2024 - Priority Deadline for Spring 2025 (for verified applications)
  • September 25, 2024 (8:59 pm PST) - Deadline to apply for Spring 2025

Selection Criteria

Meeting admission criteria does not guarantee admission into the program. Admission to the Pre-Licensure track is competitive and points are awarded for multiple factors.

View the point breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

No, we do not require students to complete an entrance exam. Please view our application requirements posted above for details.

We do not have a program that is labeled “Accelerated”.  Students with previous degrees still follow the 4-semester Pre-Licensure BSN curriculum plan.  Classes from earlier academic degrees are evaluated at the time of application to the college; students may meet general education core requirements as a result.

Regardless of time passed, your previous grades are part of your permanent academic transcript and will be factored into your cumulative college GPA. The minimum is 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and ineligible GPAs may be considered on a case by case basis. Please see your advisor for questions. If you don't have an advisor, please contact us at [email protected]. For questions about repeated prerequisite grades, only the most recent attempt is counted in the Science GPA.

Of course! However, the requirements for foreign students entering US colleges are sometimes difficult to meet. It is recommended that you talk directly with the Office of International Programs.

Please review our requirements for minimum English language proficiency. These tests must have been taken within two years of application. Additionally, if you have taken college or university courses in a country other than the United States, the courses have to be carefully evaluated by an outside agency for transfer to our college.

No. The college does not presently set limits on the “age” of past coursework (sciences and/or general education core).  However, it is your responsibility to carefully evaluate your knowledge from these older classes.  It may be more difficult to be successful in courses that rely on past knowledge that is not recent.

No. The Pre-Licensure track requires students to live in proximity to the Lewiston campus and expects you to be present 4-5 days/week (excluding clinical days.) Students living outside of the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley are still expected to meet attendance requirements.

Pre-licensure graduates of the BSN program are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®), the national licensure exam for Registered Nurses. To be licensed as a Registered Nurse, graduates must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN® and apply for licensure directly to a state Board of Nursing. Candidates for licensure must meet individual state requirements. LC State BSN graduates consistently demonstrate NCLEX® success, with recent pass rates of 95% for first time test-takers (recent national averages 87-89%.)