Pre-Licensure BSN
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 Healthcare Education Center Program Advisor: Summer Kibbe ph: (208) 792-2545 or sdkibbe@lcsc.edu.
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@lcsc.edu.
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.
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 LC State Equivalency
- May be in-progress at the time of application. Certification must be completed by July 17th for Fall admission, and December 17th for Spring admission.
- Find a CNA Course
- View Equivalency Options
English language proficiency (for non-native English speakers). Contact us for details (nhs@lcsc.edu)
This information is intended for fully or provisionally admitted students to the Pre-licensure BSN track.
View Health Requirements and Background Check info
Healthcare Education Immunization Requirements
LC State's healthcare education programs, including the BSN program, do not mandate specific vaccinations in alignment with Idaho state laws. However, our healthcare partner agencies where students complete clinical rotations, maintain specific immunization requirements that must be met for program completion.
Our healthcare partner agencies have specific health, immunization, and background check requirements for all students who engage in practicum experiences at their facilities, which align with national healthcare standards and may include various immunizations such as influenza, hepatitis B, MMR, Tdap, and others. Clinical agencies may update these requirements at any time and may or may not allow for medical or religious exemptions, depending on their individual policies and regulatory requirements.
The inability to meet clinical agency onboarding requirements may result in an inability to successfully complete practicum courses and fulfill program requirements. Students are responsible for ensuring they can meet these requirements prior to clinical placement.
For further questions regarding specific immunization requirements or clinical placement policies, consult with your NHS academic advisor.
For Spring 2026 Program Entrance:
- April 1, 2025 - Application opens on NursingCAS.org for Spring 2026
- September 11, 2025 - Priority Deadline for Spring 2026 (for verified applications)
- September 25, 2025 (8:59 pm PST) - Deadline to apply for Spring 2026
For Fall 2026 Program Entrance:
- November 1, 2025 - Application opens on NursingCAS.org for Fall 2026
- February 11, 2026 - Priority Deadline for Fall 2026 (for verified applications)
- February 25, 2026 (8:59 pm PST) - Deadline to apply for Fall 2026
Degree Requirements
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.
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 nhs@lcsc.edu. 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 96% for first-time test-takers (recent national averages 87-89%.)
Lewis-Clark State College is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission for pre-licensure students to be eligible to seek licensure as a nurse technician in Washington State.