Admission Criteria ADN Program

Admission to the ADN program is competitive and based on, but not limited to, ranking according to an objective ranking scale and other qualifying factors such as semester GPA, overall GPA, pattern of coursework and professional behaviors.

We are now offering admittance to the ADN program twice a year!

The applicant is responsible to verify the university鈥檚 receipt, by the deadline date, of accurate records used in the admission selection process. The nursing admissions committee determines acceptance of applicants into the nursing program. Admission or readmission to the nursing program is not guaranteed to any applicant. All students accepted to the nursing program also must be accepted to the University of Pikeville.

In addition to completing and submitting the nursing application, applicants must take the TEAS Exam, which is proctored and given online.  Dates and times for testing are listed in the ADN application packet. 

Application Deadlines:

October 1, 2024 to be considered for the two-year ADN program -Spring 2025 start.

March 1, 2025 to be considered for the two-year ADN program – Fall 2025 start.


  • Official admission to the University of Pikeville.
  • High school graduate or the equivalent.
  • Current college students must be in academic good standing with a cumulative college or university GPA of 2.0 or higher. Transcripts from all institutions attended are to be submitted; this includes courses completed by dual credit.
  • A minimum ACT composite of 19 OR minimum TEAS Nursing Entrance Exam score of 55. Applicants submitting an ACT composite score of at least 19 are not required to take the TEAS.聽 One attempt of the TEAS is allowed in a 12-month period.聽 Readmission students from the 蝴蝶直播 nursing program are not required to repeat the TEAS.
    • Submission of ACT or TEAS score is required of all applicants, however, students who have neither an ACT of 19 or TEAS of 55 will be considered for admission if they have demonstrated success in college coursework with a cumulative University/College GPA of 3.0 or more and at least 14 hours of required nursing support courses completed.
  • 鈥淐鈥 grade or better in required courses in the major that have been completed. Note: these courses are not prerequisites to admission, but if already taken, must be a 鈥淐鈥 grade or better.聽 聽The grade on a second attempt, including 鈥淲鈥 grade, stands as the final grade.聽 No required course can be taken more than twice.
  • Any exception will be determined on an individual basis by the nursing admissions committee.
  • Meet the admission criteria for all nursing applicants.
  • Meet University of Pikeville requirements for transfer applicants and transfer credit.
  • Transcript evaluation for nursing course equivalency.
  • Grade of 鈥淐鈥 (76%) or better on required Nursing Challenge exams if out of an RN program for more than a year but less than three years, or if required for transfer equivalency. Otherwise, one must apply as a new nursing student.
  • Validation of selected nursing skills.
  • Abide by an admission contract, if applicable, which may specify one or more required activities.
  • Two letters of reference, one of which must be from the applicant鈥檚 former nursing program. The letter from the former nursing program must state that the student is eligible for readmission to the program of nursing.聽 Transfer applicants from other nursing programs without letters of reference will not be considered.聽 Depending on the reason for transfer, there may be only one admission (no readmission) to 蝴蝶直播 offered.
  • Meet with the dean of nursing and/or the admissions committee for a personal interview and update on requirements.

WRI 118 College Writing OR

ENG 112 Composition II 3 hrs.

BMS 171 Anatomy & Physiology I 4 hrs.

PSY 110 General Psychology 3 hrs.

NUR 110 Fundamentals of Nursing I 8 hrs.

Total 18 hrs.

BMS 172 Anatomy & Physiology II 4 hrs.

PSY 215 Lifespan Development 3 hrs.

Or

SW 315 Human Behavior in the Social Environment

NUR 120 Fundamentals of Nursing II 4 hrs.

NUR 124 Mental Health Nursing 4 hrs.

Elective Restricted Elective* 3 hrs.
*Choose one: BIO 280, HEA 261, SOC 119, SOC 229, REL 230, or SPN 111

Total 18 hrs.

BMS 273 Microbiology w/lab 4 hrs.

NUR 200 Pharmacology in Nursing 2 hrs.

NUR 230 Nursing Lifespan I 8 hrs.

REL xxx Systematic Study of the Bible (meet Gen Ed req) 3 hrs.

Total 17 hrs.

NUR 240 Nursing Lifespan II 7 hrs.

NUR 241 Preparing for NCLEX 1 hr.

NUR 244 Family Nursing 4 hrs.

NUR 246 Professional Transitions 4 hrs.

Total 16 hrs.

Support Courses –聽 聽27 hrs.

Nursing Courses –聽 聽42 hrs.

Total Hours: 69 hrs.聽



Admission Criteria-LPN to RN Program

LPN-to-RN applicants are considered for admission once a year to Semester III of the nursing program, with an application deadline of March 1.

  • Meet the admission criteria for all nursing applicants. This includes the ACT or TEAS score requirement.
  • Meet University of Pikeville requirements for transfer applicants and transfer credit.
  • Current, unencumbered practical nurse license.
  • Clinical experience as an LPN within the last three years.
  • Grade of 鈥淐鈥 or better in prerequisite Semester I and Semester II required support courses. These courses include: WRI 118, PSY 110, BMS 171, BMS 172, PSY 215/SW 315, and the restricted elective. These hours must be complete prior to beginning the LPN bridge program in order to graduate on time.
  • Grade of 鈥淐鈥 (76%) or better on required Nursing Challenge examinations.
  • Grade of 鈥淐鈥 or better in NUR 130 received within the last two years.
  • Meet with the dean of nursing and/or the admissions committee for a personal interview and update on requirements.

Admission Criteria RN-BSN Program

Students will be accepted into the RN-BSN program at the University of Pikeville after completing an associate degree program or a diploma program with a major in nursing. For admission to the RN-BSN program, the student must meet the following:

  1. Official admission to the University of Pikeville including:
    a.) Official transcripts of high school and all college/university schools attended. b.) ACT or equivalent test scores.
  2. Submit a separate RN-BSN application to the School of Nursing.聽
  3. Be a graduate of a state-approved pre-licensure program for registered nursing.
  4. Have earned at least a 鈥楥鈥 grade in all courses taken to satisfy the nursing major at the ADN or diploma level.
  5. Have a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA).
  6. Have earned at least 26 credit hours of the 52 credit hours of general education core requirements. These 26 hours should include the equivalent of the MTH 105 prerequisite to a college level statistics course.
  7. All general education core requirements for the major must be at least a 鈥楥鈥 grade.
  8. Have validation of a current, unrestricted, and unencumbered RN license in Kentucky or a compact state.

Rural Health Nursing Fellowship

蝴蝶直播鈥檚 Elliott School of Nursing and Pikeville Medical Center have partnered in offering the Rural Health Nursing Fellowship, a new educational and employment opportunity. Students eager to pursue a career in nursing can now earn a two-year associate degree from 蝴蝶直播 and graduate debt-free by making a commitment to work at PMC upon becoming a licensed RN. With their commitment, the hospital agrees to cover the remaining education costs once financial aid is applied. 蝴蝶直播 and PMC are innovatively working together to address the ongoing nursing shortage in the commonwealth by creating an opportunity for education and employment in a lucrative career path.

Any student interested in the Elliott School of Nursing or this fellowship can get more information from the 蝴蝶直播 Admissions Office by emailing wewantyou@upike.edu or calling (606) 218-5251.