Practical Nursing Program Overview

These courses must be completed by August 31st to be eligible to apply to the PN program:

1. ENGL& 101 (English Composition I). 2.0 or higher required
2. BIOL& 241 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I). 2.0 or higher required 
3. BIOL& 242 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II). 2.0 or higher required 
4. PSYC& 100 (General Psychology). 2.0 or higher required 
5. ACCUPLACER Placement Assessment – Reading section (Next Generation version). A score of 260 or higher is required. Register for assessment at www.olympic.edu/placement
    

These courses must be completed before starting the PN program. Completion prior to the application deadline is not required but highly recommended. To receive factor points, they must be completed by the August 31st deadline:

1. NURSE 151* (Dosage Calculations). 2.2 or higher required
2. NURSE 152* (Intro to Pharmacology). 2.2 or higher required

* NURSE 151 and NURSE 152 must be completed by the fall quarter before starting the PN program in winter

Required Support Course:
This course is required for the certificate of specialization. Completion prior to the application deadline is not required but highly recommended. Must be completed by the August 31st deadline to receive factor points:

NUTR& 101* (Human Nutrition, 2.0 or higher required) OR NURSE 118* (Nutrition for Professional Nursing, 2.2 or higher required). 
*NUTR& 101 or NURSE 118 must be completed by the end of the first quarter in the PN Program.

Optional Support Course:
This course is not required for the certificate of specialization. Must be completed by August 31st deadline to receive factor points.

1. ENGL& 102 (Composition II). 2.0 or higher required.

   Clinical Documentation Requirements

2024-25 Practical Nursing (PN) Program Cost Estimate: Tuition for this program may vary. See the Tuition and Fees webpage for more information.

• Costs are estimates and may be subject to change while in program.
• Tuition and fees (Technology Fee (college), Student Services Fee, and Security Enhancement Fees) listed below apply to the 2024-2025 academic year beginning Summer Quarter 2024 and may be changed without notice by the Washington State Legislature and/or Board of Trustees.
• All book costs listed are estimates.
• Uniform costs are estimated and do not include a watch with sweep second hand or stethoscope, which the students must have.
• Clinical placement may require a drug screen prior to clinical dependent upon clinical agency and will require an additional fee at MultiCare Occupational Med Location. 

The Practical Nursing Program at Olympic College at the Bremerton Campus in Bremerton, WA is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).

The Practical Nursing program at Olympic College at the Bremerton Campus located in Bremerton, Washington is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite
1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000

www.acenursing.org

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Practical Nursing program is Initial Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this candidate program.

Olympic College has made a determination that the Practical Nursing curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in Washington State. The curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.

Olympic College Military & Veteran Programs (MVP) helps military-connected students achieve their educational goals. We strive to provide responsive academic, social, and administrative support to student Veterans, Active Duty, and dependents. If you are a prospective student eligible for VA benefits, please reach out to our MVP office to learn more about veteran benefits. 

Please review the Practical Nursing Application Instructions below before completing the application.

Submit the Practical Nursing Online Application Form

• Before you begin your online application, you must have an OC student ID#.
  • If you do not have an OC ID#, visit our Admissions page to apply to OC (note: this could take a few days).
  • If you have forgotten your OC ID# follow this link to retrieve your ID: Forgot My Password.

Office of Admissions  
PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM 
Application instructions for the 2026 cohort.*

*These instructions are subject to change.  
(Do not include with your application) 

Revised 4/8/2025

Olympic College provides equal educational and employment opportunities without regard to race or ethnicity, creed, color, sex, pregnancy or family status, national origin, age, marital status, religion, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, reliance on public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran in its educational programs, admissions, activities, and employment policies, in keeping with the letter and spirit of all equal opportunity and civil rights laws.  

The Practical Nursing (PN) program at Olympic College located in Bremerton, Washington is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).  

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400  
Atlanta, GA 30326  
(404) 975-5000  

Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON)  
P.O. Box 47864  
Olympia, WA 98504-7877  
(360) 236-4703  

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for Practical Nursing (PN) program is initial accreditation.  

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website. 

All Applicants 

• Review the Nursing Program website and FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).  
• Attend an Information Session (dates and times available on the website). 
• Meet with a Healthcare Student Success Coach if you need assistance with planning or have more questions (this can be scheduled with @email).  
• Complete Accuplacer placement assessment if needed for Math and English. If you have already completed math and English classes, the Reading Comprehension section is still required of all applicants. Visit the OC Placement website for testing information or contact the Assessment and Testing Center at 360-475-7238. 
• Complete online application. 
• Submit the following documents with your online application: 
  • Official Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Proficiency Test scores. Reading scores from any other placement exams will not be accepted. 
  • Reflective Statement describing how your unique experiences and attributes (background, identity, culture, beliefs, values, or experiences) will contribute to your success in the Practical Nursing Program and align with the Olympic College Nursing Program Mission. The reflective statement should be no more than two pages, double-spaced, size 12 font (Arial or Times New Roman) with 1-inch margins. 
  • Current resume describing the specific activities and responsibilities of your professional and academic experiences. Include any activities, certifications, and skills relevant to healthcare. Please indicate any languages spoken and proficiency on the resume if seeking cultural wealth points for being multilingual. The resume should be no more than two pages, size 12 font (Arial or Times New Roman), with 1-inch margins. 
  • Verification of Washington State healthcare professional licensure, if applicable. 
  • Submit DD214 and DD215 (if applicable) to verify military service, if applicable. 
  • Letter(s) documenting qualification for the following state or federally awarded financial aid programs (if applicable): Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Opportunity Grant, Worker Retraining, Pell Grant, Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), Washington State Need Grant, Free and Reduced Lunches. Award letters must be dated within 12 months of the application deadline.

Applicants who have attended any institution other than Olympic College 

• Complete the course review process for biology or nursing support courses (courses from other colleges/universities may not be equivalent) if applicable (pg. 9). 
• Submit official transcripts from ALL colleges other than Olympic College. 
  • Electronic official transcripts can be sent to evaluators@olympic.edu. Sealed official transcripts can be mailed to: Olympic College, Registration & Records, 1600 Chester Ave., Bremerton, WA 98337. 
  • You must provide an official transcript from each school you have attended, even if the course(s) was from a non-accredited school, was taken for “no credit,” or is not applicable to nursing. Showing transferred courses on one transcript will not be considered. 
  • If courses are in-progress in the summer quarter, and you are attending a school other than Olympic College, you will be required to submit official transcripts as soon as summer grades are posted; transcripts must be received no later than August 31st. Failure to do so will make your application ineligible. 
  • If you took Advanced Placement courses in high school, you must submit a copy of your scores from the College Board. 
    Submit a Transcript Evaluation Request. 

Admission Procedure 

Who Needs to Complete a Course Review? 

Students who took science classes (anatomy and physiology I and II) outside Washington State or from The Evergreen State College must have their classes reviewed to ensure equivalency to the classes required for the Nursing program (BIOL& 241, BIOL& 242). Students taking science courses from a Washington State college or university will not generally need a formal course review, though a course review may be required if equivalency cannot be determined. 

Students who took the following course(s) at a college or university other than Olympic College will also need to complete the course review process: 

1. Dosage Calculation 
2. Pharmacology 

To complete the course review process, please provide copies of the required documents to the Healthcare Student Success Coach via email to @email. Please keep all original documents. 

Required documents for a course review: 

1. Syllabus (not course description) with lab component clearly listed and 
2. Unofficial transcript showing the listed courses and grade received. 
3. ALL course review documents must be submitted before the August 31st deadline. 

Office of Admissions Timelines

1. Practical Nursing Admissions Application and all supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by August 31st.
   1. Practical Nursing Admissions Applications received after August 31st may not be considered for the upcoming cohort.
   2. All students whose application materials (prerequisites and required documentation) are not complete may need to apply for the following year's cohort.
2. Applicant files will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions. A letter will be sent to applicants advising them of any missing documents, Incomplete applications turned in within the last three weeks of August are not guaranteed to receive notification from the Admissions Office prior to the application deadline. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit application materials as soon as they are eligible to apply. Any required documents missing from the application packet will make your application ineligible for the current year and ineligible to receive a rollover point.  
3. The Practical Nursing Admissions Committee will meet after the deadline to determine admission to the winter cohort.
4. The admission letters for the PN program will be sent via email (listed on the application) by the Admissions Department (not the Nursing Program). Students will be notified of their status before December 1st.
   1. Please do not contact Admissions or Nursing before December 1st about acceptance letters.
   2. After December 1st, if you have not received notification of your status, you may contact Selective Admissions at 360-475-7206.

Admissions are granted for a specific cohort year, as noted in the acceptance letter. Students who have been offered admission but do not enter the program for the specific cohort year must submit a new application to be considered for a future cohort year in the Practical Nursing Program by the August 31st deadline.

Eligible applicants not admitted must submit a new application by the August 31st deadline for the next cohort year to be considered a rollover applicant. It is not necessary to resubmit official transcripts unless additional classes have been taken at institutions outside of Olympic College.

Students who have been offered admission will be required to attend mandatory Practical Nursing Program orientation sessions prior to the beginning of winter quarter.