Nursing

“Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.” – Florence Nightingale 

At WMCC, we are proud to offer an ACEN-accredited, high-quality, and student-centered nursing education. Our two-year Registered Nurse program is designed to prepare you for a rewarding career through a comprehensive blend of classroom learning, hands-on practice in simulation lab, and real-world clinical experiences. 

Guided by our dedicated and expert faculty, you will gain essential knowledge on campus and apply it in off-campus clinical rotations at hospitals, nursing homes, and social service agencies throughout northern New Hampshire. 

Program Purpose

The WMCC Nursing Program prepares students to provide safe, comprehensive nursing care to diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities across a variety of settings, including:

• Acute Care (Hospitals)
• Long-Term Care (Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing)
• Ambulatory Care (Outpatient Clinics)
• Mental Health Environments
• Other Healthcare Settings

Our curriculum integrates nursing, science, and general education courses to sharpen your clinical reasoning through classroom instruction, hands-on practice in our simulation lab, and clinical experiences at local healthcare facilities. Learning experiences and clinical practicums may vary in time and location to provide students with a broad and adaptable skill set. 

The program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to complete it on a full-time or part-time basis. However, the classroom and clinical components must be completed at the same time. All nursing courses must be completed within three years of starting the first nursing course. 

To ensure academic excellence and readiness for professional practice, students must complete nursing courses in sequence and meet the following minimum standards:

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline: February 1

To be considered for admission to the WMCC Nursing Program, applicants must:

1. Meet all standard White Mountains Community College general admission requirements.

2. Submit official high school (or GED/HiSET), previous college, and/or military transcripts directly to the WMCC Admissions Office at [email protected].

3. Achieve a minimum composite score of 60.0% or higher on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS). 

   • To ensure the integrity of the testing process, all TEAS exams must be completed in person under approved proctored conditions. Scores from remote, at-home, or unproctored testing environments will not be accepted.
   • Registration and payment for the TEAS is done at atitesting.com.
   • Applicants may take the TEAS exam a maximum of three (3) times; each attempt must be at least six (6) weeks apart.
   • Test scores remain valid for three (3) years from the date of the exam.
   • Official transcripts of TEAS scores must be sent directly to WMCC admissions by ATI. TEAS transcripts may take up to four (4) business days for ATI to finalize after the testing date. Test scores must be received by 11:59PM on February 1 in order to be considered in your application. Preliminary scores, screen shots of results, and/or student uploads of scores will not be accepted.
   • The TEAS exam will be held at WMCC on the following dates, at 8:30am:
     • Berlin Campus; October 23, 2026, December 18, 2026, January 15, 2027, March 26, 2027
     • Littleton Academic Center; September 25, 2026, November 20, 2026, January 29, 2027, February 19, 2027
4. Have completed required science courses (Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Microbiology) within five (5) years of entry into the first Nursing course at WMCC with a grade of C+ or higher to be eligible for transfer credit. 
5. Submit two (2) professional references from current or former employers, supervisors, or academic instructors.

Applications are not considered complete until the Admissions Office has received all required materials.

Selection Criteria

Admission to the WMCC Nursing Program is competitive. Selection is determined by the Nursing Admission Rubric, which evaluates applicable college coursework and grades, the ATI TEAS score, and professional references. Qualified applicants who are not initially accepted are assigned to a prioritized wait list. Students may be subsequently admitted if an opening becomes available prior to the beginning of the fall semester. If a student is not admitted, they must reapply for a future academic year.

Transfer Policy

Transfer into the Nursing Program is contingent upon seat availability. Each transfer request is evaluated individually based on the student’s qualifications and available space. For more information, please contact the Admissions office.

Upon Acceptance

To ensure safety in clinical practice and compliance with our healthcare partners, all accepted students must complete and maintain the following requirements throughout their enrollment:

1. Submit a current (within 1 year prior to beginning the first Nursing course) physical examination, and provide proof of all required vaccinations and/or titers.
2. Possess and maintain active personal health insurance coverage.
3. Acquire and maintain current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association (AHA).  Only AHA courses with an in-person skills assessment will be accepted. AHA Class Locator 
4. Complete a criminal background check through WMCC’s approved vendor.
5. Complete a drug screening through WMCC’s approved vendor.

The clinical portion of the WMCC Nursing Program is conducted at area healthcare facilities (“clinical sites”). These sites set their own requirements for individuals entering their facilities for educational purposes, which may include vaccination requirements, such as the Flu and COVID-19 vaccine. 

Clinical sites have the authority to deny participation to any student who does not meet their criteria or comply with their policies. The WMCC Nursing Program cannot secure clinical placements for students who do not meet eligibility requirements. Adhering to clinical site policies is mandatory; failure to do so will result in ineligibility to complete the Nursing Program. 

Students may request exemptions through the appropriate college or clinical coordination representative (not guaranteed to be accepted), who will then forward the request to the clinical site for consideration. Until the clinical site grants an exemption or attendance approval, students will not be permitted to participate in clinicals. Inability to attend clinicals may impact attendance, program continuation, and financial aid eligibility. 

Readmission Policy

The Nursing Faculty is committed to student success and recognizes that significant life events can sometimes interrupt a student’s academic journey.  Students who have withdrawn from or did not meet the required minimum grades in the Associate Degree in Nursing program may be considered for readmission. Readmission requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, must be submitted within one year of the student’s exit from the program, and are contingent upon seat availability. 

To be considered for readmission, students must meet the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of their readmission.  The full readmission process can be found in the Nursing Handbook.

Important Note: Students dismissed for unsafe clinical practice or professional conduct violations are not eligible for readmission into the Nursing program.

Employment/Transfer Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the associate in science degree in Nursing, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). 

Before completing all degree requirements, students may be eligible to apply to the New Hampshire Board of Nursing for additional licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) after successful completion of Nursing III.  The New Hampshire State Board of Nursing may restrict licensure for candidates with a history of civil or criminal legal actions. For questions regarding potential licensing restrictions, please contact: 

New Hampshire Board of Nursing 
Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 
Division of Health Professions 
7 Eagle Square 
Concord, NH 03301 

Email: [email protected] 
Phone (Nursing): (603) 271-2323 
Phone (Nursing Assistant): (603) 271-6382 
Fax: (603) 271-6605 

The Nursing Program also maintains articulation agreements with colleges and universities throughout New England.