Associate Degree in Nursing
DTA/MRP (Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program)
Admission Update
The TCC Nursing Program is dedicated to student success and serving our community. The program is reviewing our admissions criteria and considering a more holistic admissions process. We welcome feedback from the public on this process which can be submitted at the following link: Nursing Program Admission Process Feedback until August 15, 2023. The program will not respond to individual comments, however all comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration. The anticipated implementation date is for the Fall 2024 cohort admission cycle (from June 1st to July 1st, 2024). No decisions or changes have been identified at this time. All program updates will be posted here! Thank you for your patience and interest in the nursing program.
Any LPN interested in attending the Tacoma Community College LPN to RN Bridge program for January 2024 are encouraged to apply before the deadline, even if all of the admission requirements will not be met by December 2023.
During the time that we are revising the admission process and standards, all applications submitted for the January 2024 LPN to RN cohort will be considered. This includes applications that are missing a few pre-requisites, exceed the retake policy, have TEAS scores that are below the required minimum, and LPN licensing that may be slightly delayed. The application to the Tacoma Community College is free. The Nursing Program Admission Application is also free.
A Student-Centered Progression
A pre-licensure Associate Degree in Nursing gives you a great start on the path to career advancement in the high-demand, high-wage world of nursing . You can get your BSN in just one more year as a full-time student… and after that, how far you choose to take your education is up to you.
The new degree requires changes to the nursing pre-requisites, which increases the credits needed for graduation from 122 to 135. This change offers several advantages for the student, with the primary goal of a streamlined pathway to completing a bachelors in nursing.
Because you complete the first three years of a four-year degree at a community college, the DTA/MRP degree allows you to spend significantly less money on your BSN.
The DTA/MRP also makes it easy to transfer to several local colleges.
General Degree Option
The Associate in Nursing Degree (DTA/MRP) nursing program is designed for students who want to complete their prerequisites and nursing training at the community college level. After finishing prerequisites and our two year program, graduates are eligible to:
- test to earn the Registered Nurse credential, and
- transfer to a university to complete the last 45 credits towards a Bachelors in Science in Nursing (BSN).
LPN to RN (Advanced Standing) Option
The Associate in Nursing Degree (DTA/MRP) LPN to RN Bridge nursing program is designed for students who are currently LPNs and want to complete their prerequisites and nursing training at the community college level. After finishing prerequisites and our one year program, graduates are eligible to:
- test to earn the Registered Nurse credential, and
- transfer to a university to complete the last 45 credits towards a Bachelors in Science in Nursing (BSN).
Getting Started is Easy
Accreditation
The Associates in Nursing Program at Tacoma Community College at the Tacoma campus in Tacoma, Washington is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associates in Nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by ACEN regarding this program at their website Click Here.
Student Resources
- Nursing Student Handbook
- College Catalog
- Access Services - Access Services provides reasonable accommodations and support services for students with disabilities
- Testing Accommodations -
Students using testing accommodations must also schedule their tests with the Certification and Testing Center (not Access Services). This should be done with as much advance notice as possible. This process is explained in greater detail during the student’s intake appointment. The instructor will then receive an email from the Testing Center asking for the test to be sent to them. The instructor will complete the form “Instructions for Use of Access Services Accommodated Testing” and return it to the Testing Center with the test. When the test is complete it will be sent to the instructor for grading.
Note: All students are responsible for all requirements of each specific course in the nursing program and accommodation for special needs does not guarantee that the same accommodation will be made for the student when taking the NCLEX exam for licensure.
A temporary disability will be handled in the same way as a permanent one. A written release from a primary care provider may be required to clear the student to perform all tasks.
Board of Nursing Professional Licensure Requirements (Updated December 2022)
In accordance with U.S. Department of Education Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Nursing Program at TCC has verified that our graduates are eligible for RN licensure in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. No determination has been made as to whether TCC nursing graduates are eligible for professional licensure in other states. Information regarding each state’s RN licensing requirements can be found on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.
Contact Us with Questions