Nursing 70 Credit* Associate Degree
Program Description
Nursing is the dynamic interpersonal, goal-directed process that seeks to promote optimal health within the context of individuals, family, community and society. The concept of caring, which is central to nursing, is communicated through both attitude and action.
Nursing uses the nursing process, a problem solving approach, to provide holistic care to individuals, families and groups within the health care system. Nurses assess health and make clinical decisions to provide safe and effective nursing care according to standards of practice within the legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks. Nursing practice is based on its own body of knowledge. Through collaboration with other health care professionals, nursing is responsive to the needs of the community across the health-illness continuum.
Accreditation Information: The Nursing Associate Degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326; telephone 404.975.5000; www.acenursing.org.
Approximate Cost
Starting Salary
Financial Aid
Competitive Admissions
This program has no waitlist, but uses a competitive admissions process.
Program Overview Video
Availability
Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.
* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.
Outcomes
Graduates will be able to…
- Demonstrate appropriate written, verbal, and nonverbal communication in a variety of clinical contexts
- Integrate social, mathematical, and physical sciences, pharmacology, and pathophysiology in clinical decision making
- Provide patient centered care by utilizing the nursing process across diverse populations and healthcare settings
- Minimize risk of harm to patients, members of the healthcare team, and self through safe individual performance and participate in system effectiveness
- Implement one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving professional identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and quality care
Careers
Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:
- Registered Nurse
Courses
The Nursing Associate Degree is a 70 Credit* program. In addition to our full-time option that can be started in either the fall or spring term, we offer a fifteen-term, part-time option that starts only in the fall term with courses that are taken on nights and weekends.
4 terms (Full-time)
15 terms (Part-time)
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
* College 101 (10-890-165) is not part of the program credit requirements but is a College Requirement for graduation that must be passed with a “C” or better. This requirement is effective for students beginning the program in Spring 2021 and beyond.
Credit for Prior Learning Available
View All Detailed Course InformationAccreditation
The associate degree nursing program at Northcentral Technical College located in Wausau, WI, is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326; telephone 404.975.5000; www.acenursing.org. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is continuing accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm.
NCLEX Pass Rate
The NCLEX is the licensure exam for Registered Nurse Candidates that measures entry level nursing practice. During the 2020 calendar year, Northcentral Technical College candidates had a 97% pass rate.
Graduation Rate
48% of Nursing Associate Degree students who began the program during calendar year 2019 graduated within 2 academic years with their Associate Degree in Nursing.
70% of Nursing Associate Degree students who began the program during calendar year 2018 graduated within 3 academic years with their Associate Degree in Nursing.
Transfer Information
You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.
Program Transfer
The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.
| School Name | Degree Name |
|---|---|
| Alverno College | Nursing |
| American Public University | B.S. in Nursing |
| Capella University | Nursing |
| Cardinal Stritch University | Nursing |
| Carthage College | Nursing |
| Chamberlain University | BS in Nursing |
| Concordia University | Nursing |
| Franklin University | B.S. in Nursing |
| Grand Canyon University | BS in Nursing |
| Herzing University | BS in Nursing |
| Lakeland University | Nursing |
| Marian University | Nursing |
| Mount Mary University | Nursing |
| Ottawa University | Nursing (BSN) |
| Purdue University Northwest | Nursing |
| Rasmussen College | BS in Nursing |
| Upper Iowa University | Nursing (RN to BSN) |
| UW Eau Claire | Nursing |
| UW Green Bay | B.S.N. (Campus Track or Online) |
| UW Madison | Nursing |
| UW Milwaukee | Nursing |
| UW Oshkosh | Nursing |
| UW Oshkosh | Nursing 4 Year Plan |
| UW Stevens Point | Nursing |
| UW Superior | Health and Human Performance Community/Public Health Performance |
| Viterbo University | B.S. in Nursing |
| Western Governors University | B.S. in Nursing |
| Western Governors University | M.S. in Nursing Education (RN to MSN bridge program) |
| Western Governors University | M.S. in Nursing Leadership and Management (RN to MSN bridge) |
General Transfer
All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.
View all transfer guidesAdditional Information
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Nursing Associate Degree Pathway
Are you a Licensed Practical Nurse looking to return to Nursing? NTC provides a pathway that allows LPNs to bridge their education and training into a Registered Nurse (RN) Associate Degree. After successful completion of the Return to Nursing course, students can begin third semester Nursing Associate Degree coursework.
Licensure/Certification Information
NTC’s Nursing Associate Degree is designed to meet the State of Wisconsin's licensing criteria. However, NTC has not made a determination whether this program meets licensure/certification requirements in states other than Wisconsin. Students who may be seeking professional licensure or certification in states other than Wisconsin should contact the appropriate licensing board in that state to verify that the NTC program meets licensure or certification requirements.
Admissions Process
Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.
Before you apply, you should know
- This program may require a Criminal Background Check and/or Health Record. Acceptance to Northcentral Technical College will not be denied based on a criminal background or health record, however, a check may be required for placement at clinical sites or field experiences.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification is required prior to starting program courses or within the timeframe discussed at program orientation. Accepted certifications include BLS CPR from American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
- After admission to the college, you will be considered a pre-nursing student. Students are eligible to submit a financial aid application at this point and can work to complete general education courses as laid out in the program curriculum. Students interested in beginning the core clinical nursing program courses will submit an online form during designated petition dates.
Fill out our application
The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. The $30.00 application fee is being waived at this time.
Apply NowThen, submit one of the following
Documentation can be sent via email to admissions@ntc.edu, via mail, addressed to: Northcentral Technical College, ATTN: Admissions, 1000 W. Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401, or delivered in person to any NTC campus.
- High school transcript indicating a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. Contact the high school you attended if you do not have a copy of your transcript.
- ACT composite score of 18 or above. Request an ACT College Report from ACT or contact the high school you graduated from if you do not have a copy on hand.
- Accuplacer scores. Score requirements vary by program and version of the Accuplacer test that was taken. For more details, please contact Admissions. If you did not take the Accuplacer at NTC, contact the college at which you took it to obtain a copy of your scores.
- College transcript indicating a cumulative GPA of 2.5 over a minimum of 12 credits, earned at a single college.
If you do not meet any one of the above criteria, don’t worry, complete the application anyway and we will contact you to discuss your options.
What’s Next?
We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be mailed to you.