Students with English as their second language must meet minimum proficiency standards to apply to the Pre-Licensure BSN track.

Please contact International Programs Office at LC State for detailed information for education and citizenship requirements.

These criteria are established based on recommendations from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (https://www.ncsbn.org).

When testing is required, the PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT® or IETLS Academic tests of language competency is used for all students for whom English is not the native and first language.  These tests must have been taken within two years of application to the nursing program. 

Minimum Requirements for Nursing

IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT® Score

IELTS Academic Score (minimum)TOEFL iBT Score (minimum)
Overall band score >/= 6.5Overall score >/= 84
All sub-scores >/= 6.0Verbal score >/= 26

PTE Academic Scores

ReadingWritingListeningSpeakingOverall
5050505055

References

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2010). Setting an English language proficiency passing standard for entry-level nursing practice using the Pearson Test of English Academic. Retrieved from:   https://www.ncsbn.org/NCLEX_technicalbrief_PTE_2010.pdf

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2009). NCLEX© Psychometric Research Brief: A Minimum English Proficiency Standard for The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT®) Retrieved from:  https://www.ncsbn.org/TOEFL_iBT_Proficiency_Standard_Process.pdf

National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2004). The Minimum Proficiency in English for Entry-Level Nurses: TOEFL™ Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/TOEFL_Research_Brief_vol_1.pdf