Vermont State offers students a comprehensive undergraduate progressive pathway option in nursing education, composed of the Practical Nursing certificate (PN), the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and the Bachelor’s degree completion in Nursing (BSN) (1+1+2). Students admitted into either the PN or ADN programs may progress directly through to the post-licensure bachelor’s degree or may choose to stop out after receiving the PN and/or ADN credentials.
PN to ADN Progression Criteria and Process
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Students must declare their intent to progress on a Nursing Direct Progression form no later than January 31 of their PN year.
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Students must receive a minimum grade of a B- in all in all current nursing coursework, with the prefix NUR, during each PN semester.
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Students must attend the Practical Nursing program in three consecutive semesters (fall, winter, spring 2). Students attending the program for fewer than three consecutive semesters may apply for direct progression only with approval of the Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences.
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Students must request their site preferences for the ADN program on their Nursing Direct Progression form.
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Students must obtain Practical Nursing licensure (LPN) during the summer between the PN and ADN years.
Students will receive one progress update after the first PN term. Students will receive their final Direct Progression decision after the completion of the three PN terms.
Students who do not meet minimum eligibility requirements to progress from the PN to ADN will not be eligible to progress for the immediate fall term. These students may apply for a future year once additional, relevant coursework has been completed which sufficiently raises their GPA to a 2.85. For the purposes of admission after the PN year, overall cumulative GPA will not be considered. Admission will be based on the GPA calculated during the three PN terms and subsequent, relevant coursework.
Vermont State will assign first priority to students requesting to remain at their PN site–in order of GPA. Once the ADN slots are filled for any site, Vermont State will try to place students in the ADN site of their next highest stated preferences, if seats are available. Students whose first preference is to attend an ADN site other than that at which they took their PN program will be considered for the preferred site after qualified students attending that site for their PN have been offered a seat in that ADN program.
While Vermont State guarantees direct progression from the PN to the ADN program for qualified students, it cannot guarantee direct progression at the same site at which the PN certificate was obtained. Because of the competitive demand for ADN seats and the limitations of clinical ADN placements in some areas of the state, some students may have to continue their nursing studies at a site other than their first choice or the site at which the PN certificate was obtained.
ADN to BSN Degree Completion Direct Progression Criteria and Process
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Students must declare their intent to progress on a Nursing Direct Progression form prior to May 1 for direct progression
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Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA through the PN and ADN levels
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Students must obtain Registered Nurse licensure (RN) during the summer after completing the ADN degree
Additional Information
Students wishing to take off a semester or more after completing the PN or ADN program may apply for re-admittance to the nursing program through the regular nursing program admissions process, but will not be guaranteed admittance.
Our BSN program coursework is offered entirely online with additional required local precepted experiences.
This process will be reviewed and evaluated on an ongoing basis to ensure viability and sustainability.
Revised September 2023
Vermont State University