Advanced Placement Policy

Berkshire Community College

Nursing Division

Advanced Placement Policy

Berkshire Community College recognizes the crucial role nurses play in transforming our healthcare system and acknowledges that those with Associate Degrees in Nursing (ADN) are essential to providing quality care. Additionally, we recommend that the Practical Nurse (PN) certificate serves as an initial step in a continuous academic journey. Nurses should be encouraged to pursue higher levels of education and training through an improved system that ensures seamless academic progression. BCC, along with other nursing programs across Massachusetts, is actively collaborating to make it easier for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to advance to ADN programs and for Registered Nurses (RNs) to pursue advanced degrees.

LPN to ADN Advanced Placement:

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who apply to BCC’s Associate in Science degree in Nursing challenge the first two nursing courses (NUR-101 and NUR-102) through a standardized theoretical test (NCLEX-PN or BCC LPN-ADN Entrance Exam -75 questions).  Applicants must meet all the admission requirements for the ADN program.

Advanced Placement students will need to pay for 17 challenge exam credits unless their practical nursing certificate qualifies for a waiver.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are eligible for advanced placement into NUR 201, in lieu of taking NUR 101 and NUR 102, by one of the following actions:

1. An LPN graduate from an approved practical nursing program within one year of graduation and obtaining licensure by NCLEX-PN exam within one year of application.
2. An LPN graduate from an approved practical nursing program more than a year past graduation, must hold a PN license and will be required to pass the BCC LPN-ADN Entrance Exam (75 questions). A passing score will be a minimum score of a level 2 (please see leveling system below).The leveling system is based on the probability of passing through a conversion score recommended by ATI.

• Below level 1: 0%-49.5%
• Level 1: 49.6%-65.4%
• Level 2: 65.5%-78.8%
• Level 3: 78.9%-100%

 Advanced Placement Admission Criteria:

• International transcripts will only be accepted for consideration if they have been translated and evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation service provider. BCC recommends World Education Services - www.wes.org.
• Minimum GPA OF 2.0
• Completion of prerequisite courses, including:
  • BIO-201, BIO-202 (Anatomy & Physiology 4 credits); each with a grade of C+ (77) or better within seven years of application deadline. Effective fall 2025 bridge students may take BIO 154 and BIO154L - Intro to the Human Body in place of BIO 201. (A science refresher class will be offered for students who have expired A&P or Microbiology classes. The refresher will include a comprehensive exam for that class. A student may take the refresher course and if they pass the exam with a C+ or better, will not have to repeat the expired course. This refresher class will be good for three years.)
  • Math: ACCUPLACER Next Generation QAS score of 262 or greater OR successful completion of MAT 136 or higher (with a minimum grade of C). (MAT-123 Statistics recommended for transfer).
  • ENG-101, PSY-107, and PSY-204 with a grade of C (73) or better
• Students not matriculating within one year of graduation must have proof of employment as an LPN for a minimum of 6 months of clinical experience within two years of admission into the Associate Degree in Nursing program.

Revised: ADN Faculty Committee, 12/18/18, 10/15/19; Reviewed: 11/19/19, 11/10/20; Revised: 3/4/21; Reviewed 11/3/2021, 11/2/22, Revised: 10/02/23, 10/21/24, 9/8/25, 9/30/25