Admission to the Lower Columbia College Nursing Program is contingent on receiving a passing score on the below listed exams.
Exams are designed by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) and administered online at LCC.
Students must schedule nursing admission exams after the completed application has been submitted, and payment of nonrefundable nursing admission testing fee has been made.
Instructions are included on the Application Forms, see Forms/Info.
Exams
Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V)
A multiple-choice assessment of basic academic knowledge in reading, mathematics, science and English and language usage. The objectives assessed on this exam are those which nurse educators deemed most appropriate and relevant to measure entry level skills and abilities of nursing program applicants. The test contains 170 multiple choice questions. Applicants can prepare for this test by purchasing a study guide online and/or taking the pre-test online.
The minimum score must be earned in each subject area as follows:
- Reading: 69%
- Math: 63.3%
- Science: 45.8%
- English: 60%
Once the minimum in each subject area is attained, the TEAS V total score is used for admission purposes.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the intellectual process that results in reasoned decisions and judgments. It is based on the skills of interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inferences, explanation, and self-regulation. These are characteristics that are essential to success in nursing. The Critical Thinking exam is a 40-minute, 40-item multiple choice test utilizing critical thinking skills. There is no study guide available for this exam.
The minimum composite score is 60%.
LPN STEP Assessment
The LPN STEP Assessment (required for LPNs entering the LPN2RN options) is a comprehensive 180-item test which offers an assessment of the student’s comprehension and mastery of basic principles in nursing at the PN level. It includes fundamentals of nursing; pharmacology; adult medical-surgical nursing; maternal newborn care; mental health nursing; nursing care of children; nutrition; and management. The student has 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete this assessment. Applicants can prepare for the exam by reviewing any NCLEX-PN review book.
The minimum score is 64%.