How to apply to Nursing (RN)

Fall 2026 admission period for 6 qtr RN and 4 qtr LPN-RN programs:
January 15, 2026 to April 3, 2026 at 4:30pm.

Please read all website information below for full details.  Suggested fall application timeline:
January – attend an information session and apply to Shoreline College (Step #1)
Early February – submit any course equivalency requests and official transcripts to Enrollment Services (Step #2)
Early-March – take the NLN-NEX (if haven’t already) and request employer/volunteer forms (Steps #3 and #4)
Mid March – complete online SCC Nursing application and submit all verifying documents (Steps #3 and #4). Send updated transcripts for any complete and posted winter prerequisite courses.

 

Pathway to Applying to the Shoreline Nursing Program

Planning ahead for completing requirements and gathering documentation is the focus of this section.  Admission to the Nursing Program is through an application process based on a point system.   Points are awarded for grades in pre-requisite courses, practical preparation, and experiences reflecting our diverse community populations.  

  • Make a plan to take pre-requisite courses at Shoreline CC or another institution.   Any pre-requisite courses not found on the Course Equivalency Chart will require course descriptions, official transcripts, and a Course Equivalency Form to be submitted to Enrollment Services well ahead of the application deadline (4-6 weeks) for review.

    ENGL& 101 English Composition
    MATH& 146 Intro to Statistics
    PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology
    NUTR& 101 Nutrition
    CHEM&121 Intro to Chemistry*
    BIOL&241 Human Anatomy & Physiology I*
    BIOL& 242 Human Anatomy & Physiology II*
    BIOL& 260 Microbiology*
    *All science labs must be taken in person for first attempt unless taken online due to COVID restrictions (Spring 2019-Fall 2022 only).  Retakes may be online. 
  • Complete the one-page Admission Point System Checklist  to estimate your admission points. 
  • Attend a Nursing Program Information Meeting remote for guidance and to ask questions about the admission process.
  • Plan to take the NLN-NEX test after completing most of your prerequisite courses, but within 1 year of the application period deadline. The campus testing center offers the assessment:  Campus Testing   Additional NEX Resources:  NEX Assessment  or Online NEX with Proctor
  • Seek advising as needed from your college advisor.  Shoreline CC student advising resources include:
    International students: International Program Advising - PUB (9000 Building), 206-546-4697.  
    Domestic students: Advising Center - 5229 FOSS building, 206-546-4559.
    General nursing application questions for prospective students:  sccnursing@shoreline.edu and Zoom Nursing Info Session
    Faculty advising through office hours: Faculty Advising Schedule


Application Periods

6qtr Full-time RN program and Full-time LPN to RN program: 
Fall application period:  January 15 - April 3
Winter application period: August 15 - October 3
Spring application period:  November 15 - January 10 

11qtr Part-time RN program:
January 15 – April 3 (every other year: 2025, 2027, 2029, etc.)

Admission Steps for all RN programs

Step #1 –Apply online to Shoreline College, if you haven’t already done so, to receive a student ctcLink ID 

Step #2 —Send electronic or sealed (unopened) official transcripts to Enrollment Services from all institutions except Shoreline CC where you have completed your prerequisite coursework, along with a filled-out Course Equivalence Form .  Courses not found on the prerequisite Course Equivalency Chart  will require equivalency review, which can take up to 4-6 weeks to complete. Please submit these documents to Enrollment Services well in advance of the application period deadline. 

Step #3 –Apply online to the SCC Nursing Program: Nursing Program application  A $20.00 non-refundable processing fee using a credit/debit card will be required.

Step #4 –Submit the following required additional materials by mail or hand deliver to Nursing in 2300 building before the application deadline:

  • NLN-NEX results showing composite score of 138* or higher within 1 year of exam (NEX is not required for LPN to RN program).   
    *New: starting Winter 2027, the NEX composite RN score will be corrected to a minimum of 145, to meet the 50th percentile.
  • Employment/Volunteer Verification form with specific hours listed and signed by your supervisor.  Note: you must calculate your total hours worked.  Filling in "40 hours a week" is not accepted.  (This form is required for LPN applicants; optional for RN applicants.)
  • LPN-RN applicants and Transfer Program Applicants:  see additional requirements below.

You may also submit for additional admission points, if applicable to your skills and experience:

Military Documentation

Proof of Associate Degree or Higher

Proof of NAC Classes Taken at Shoreline

Foreign Language Fluency documentation (see FAQ section below) 

 

Please Note: Incomplete files will not be processed

 

LPN to RN applicants 

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who want to become RNs may seek advanced placement into the Nursing program. Follow RN application steps and note the following exceptions:

  • Submit a currently a copy of your active LPN license
  • Submit electronic or sealed (unopened) official transcripts that show your LPN coursework
  • Submit documentation from your employer showing one year (at the time of applicant) of previous work experience as an LPN 

Nursing Transfer Program applicants 

RN program applicants wanting to transfer from their nursing program to the Nursing Program at Shoreline Community College need to apply on the regular application deadlines, meeting all admission requirements. Admission is on a space available basis. Please contact us at sccnursing@shoreline.edu prior to applying. 

To be eligible for transfer, the student must:

  • Apply with the regular admission process, showing you meet minimum requirements for Shoreline admission and the Nursing Program
  • Submit transcrtips showing completed nursing prerequisite courses with a passing grade (2.0 or higher)
  • Submit transcrtips showing passing grades in all nursing courses previously attempted
  • Be currently enrolled in a U.S. nursing program or enrolled within the last 12 months
  • Submit a verification letter from your previous program, stating that you are eligible for re-entry to, and in good standing at, the original nursing program



Frequently Asked Questions

We generally see the most successful applicants have at least 90 points, however, each admission period has people with different skills and experiences that influence point totals.  It is a competitive admission process so take your time to gather the best coursework grades and to document all your experiences and skills for the maximum admission points for the quarter you apply.  Use your Admission Point System Checklist to track your progress. 

You may have PSYC, NUTR, and 1 science (CHEM/BIOL) course in progress.  Proof of registration is required to be submitted.  Please note: you will be granted limited points for in-progress courses and you may find it more beneficial to wait until grades are posted.   

Yes, for the 6qtr and 11qtr RN program, there is a time-limit of 10 years for prerequisite science courses. LPN-RN program applicants do not have this limit.

Work experiences at up to 2 sites (with minimum of 50 hours per site) should involve direct healthcare experience working with patients and families. Clerical, retail, stocking or other non-patient experience will not qualify. You will ask your supervisor to document the location, total number of hours worked, work duties, and a signature on the employment/volunteer verification form.

Fall 2026: We do award extra admission points* for experiences that reflect a focus on underserved or vulnerable populations.  These may include organizations that specialize in supporting health equity for BIPOC populations within long-term care facilities, acute care hospitals, community clinics, food banks, homeless shelters.  You will ask your supervisor to document this focus on the employment/volunteer verification form.

*New: Because we see most of our applicants already have a diverse range of experience within healthcare, we will not be awarding separate points for this category starting Winter 2027. We encourage all our applicants to continue seeking out opportunities to focus on underserved or vulnerable populations in their work in healthcare.

LPN-RN applicants must have 1 year of LPN work experience at the time of admission.  This must be documented on the employment/volunteer verification form.

6qtr and 11qtr RN program applicants are not required to have work or volunteer experience but it can offer important admission points and provide applicants with valuable insight into the profession before starting school.

There are a maximum of 3 points available to be awarded for showing fluency in a language other than English. You may show a copy of test results from a language testing agency, including www.languagetesting.com or Language Testing Services | ALTA Language Services . Points will be awarded based on level of proficiency. Or you can show proof of educational credentials in a language other than English.

  • Language fluency assessment             
     1 pt = tested intermediate low/mid; ASL 1   
    2 pts= tested intermediate high; ASL 2   
    3 pts=tested advanced; ASL 3; HS diploma/college degree showing education in a language other than English; F-1 student*; US immigrant after age 12 from a non-English language country*
  • 1 pt is offered with a passing grade for SPAN 292 Special Topics in Spanish: Spanish for Healthcare Workers taken at SCC

*NEW: starting Winter 2027, fluency points for languages other than English will be granted only by testing agency scores or HS diploma/college degree showing education in a language other than English.

 

 

Begin the online nursing program application 

What You Will Need to Complete the Online Application Process  

  • ctcLink ID (once Shoreline CC application is complete)
  • Personal contact information
  • LPN licensure information (if applying to LPN-RN program)
  • NLN-NEX composite score (LPN-RN program - not required)
  • Coursework
    Course numbers (i.e. CHEM& 121)
    Results / Grade
    Where Taken
  • Employment / Volunteer Info (if applicable)
    Type of work
    Business Name
    Supervisor
    Address
    Job title
    Start / End Dates
    Full / Part Time
    Number of hours

Credit Card Information

Application link

 

Program notification and acceptance

After the application window closes, file review will begin.  All materials must be submitted to be considered and incomplete files will not be reviewed.  Approximately six weeks after the admission application deadline passes, we will notify all applicants by email.  There will be an opportunity to appeal any disqualifications or denials shortly after notification.  After acceptance to the program, students will need to attend a mandatory onboarding meeting to secure their space in the program.  

Spring 2026 timeline (tentative):

  • Spring 2026 admission decisions are anticipated to be sent in late February.
  • Appeals meetings will be the last week in February over Zoom.
  • The mandatory onboarding meeting for admitted applicants will take place in early/mid March.


Once admitted to the program, nursing students must pass a national and state background check, provide documentation of the ability to meet the Essential Functional Ability with or without reasonable accommodation, submit evidence of appropriate tuberculosis testing, documentation of immunization or immunity to several communicable diseases, documentation of health insurance (major medical coverage), a clear Criminal Background check, and a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider.

 

Admissions Documents List

Admission Point System Checklist
Employment/Volunteer Verification Form 
Pre-requisite Course Equivalency chart
Course Equivalency Review Form

 

Contact Us
If you have any questions, contact the Shoreline Community College Nursing Program by email: sccnursing@shoreline.edu or 206-546-4743.