Get the Northwood Tech experience
Attend an event or schedule a campus tour/program shadow.
From submitting your application to admission to registration, Northwood Tech is available to help guide you through the admissions process. To help you successfully complete this program, Northwood Tech has developed a set of program requirements and technical standards. For students with a disability, reasonable accommodations are available to help you be successful in the program of your choice.
Admission Requirements
The first step to get admitted is to fill out a Northwood Tech application, and Northwood Tech will guide you from there. If you're not quite ready to become a student, visit a campus to get the full Northwood Tech experience. A campus tour will give you the opportunity to meet staff, instructors and students, tour the campus and get a real feel for the campus culture.
ADN Priority Petition Process
Northwood Tech no longer requires students to petition for our Associate Degree Nursing Program; students interested in the Fall 2025 term can simply apply online.
Students will be required to meet Admissions Requirements prior to July 7, 2025, to be considered for the Fall 2025 term.
Nursing - Associate Degree (pre) Admission Requirements
- Complete Online application form
- Complete Accuplacer entrance assessment to determine placement (waiver may apply with acceptable alternative test scores and/or postsecondary degree completion); NOTE: required Accuplacer entrance assessment scores for core Nursing coursework are higher than pre-Nursing scores.
- Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
- Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
- Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor
The pre-program is applicable for those who are interested in starting with their general education courses only.
Nursing - Associate Degree
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program is based on the date the student completes all admissions requirements and is first-come first-served.
- Complete Online application form
- Complete ADN admission assessment testing (academic admission requirements apply)
- Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
- Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
- Submit an official high school (or HSED/GED) transcript with graduation date.
- If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
- Complete one year, or one credit, of high school chemistry or one credit of college-level chemistry with a 2.0 or better
- Complete a Nursing Assistant course with a grade of 2.0 or better
- Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor
Program-Specific Requirements
- Submit Background Check fee
- Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, National Criminal Background Check, Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (if applicable), and other states if applicable
- Complete physical exam and health requirements, including immunizations
- Possess current certification of “BLS Basic Life Support”
- Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- Participate in a mandatory program orientation session
2025-2026 Nursing-Associate Degree Program Additional Information
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) to Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) LPN to ADN students are admitted as space is available. We do not offer a specific section of classes just for LPN to ADN students.
If you are a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and are interested in becoming a registered nurse (RN), Northwood Tech offers an LPN to ADN track. LPN to ADN students are admitted as space is available. We do not offer a specific section of classes just for LPN to ADN students. The LPN to ADN pathway provides advanced standing from an accredited program for nursing courses in ADN semesters one and two of the Northwood Tech ADN program. Additionally, credits may be transferred from the practical nursing program if the General Studies and/or elective credits were at an associate degree level. Contact the campus admissions advisor for more information.
Nursing - LPN to ADN Admission Requirements
- Complete Online application form
- Complete Accuplacer assessment to determine placement (waiver may apply with acceptable alternative test scores and/or postsecondary degree completion)
- Submit an official high school (or HSED/GED) transcript with graduation date.
- If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
- If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
- Complete one year, or one credit, of high school chemistry or one credit of college-level chemistry with a 2.0 or better
- Submit a copy of current, unrestricted active LPN license from U.S. State Boards of Nursing. Applicants without a U.S. issued state board of nursing license will need to apply and obtain a license from the state in which they reside.
- Submit an official LPN transcript from a program that was accredited at the time of graduation.
- Send statement of good standing from Dean of Nursing or Nursing Program Director at most recent college attended core (nursing core)
- Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
- Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
- Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor
- Confirmation of admission from the Northwood Tech Counselor, who has confirmed the
following:- Have completed and passed or received transfer credit for the following general education classes: English Composition 1, General Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Anatomy and Physiology, Developmental Psychology, and Oral/Interpersonal Communication. NOTE: Intro to Sociology, Intro to Psychology, Microbiology, and elective courses are not prerequisites to the progression path, but are strongly recommended for completion prior to entering clinical courses.
Program-Specific Requirements
- Successfully complete the LPN to ADN Module
- Possess current certification of "BLS Basic Life Support"
- Complete physical exam and health requirements, including immunizations
- Prior to attendance in core Nursing coursework, student must:
- Submit Background Check fee
- Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, National Criminal Background Check, Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (if applicable) and other states if applicable
- Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
2025-26 LPN to ADN Additional Program Information will be available April 2025.
Nursing - Associate Degree Transfer Student Requirements
Students must have completed at least one transferrable clinical or skills-based nursing course from an accredited nursing program to qualify for transfer into the ADN program at Northwood Tech. There is no time limit for course transferability. If students have not yet entered a clinical or skill based nursing course, they must apply to the generic track of the ADN program. Due to the limited availability of clinical slots for transfer students, transfers are admitted on a space-available basis.
2025-2026 Nursing-Associate Degree Program Additional Information- Transfer Track
2025-26 Northwood Tech/UWEC Nursing Alliance
Updated March 2025- Northwood Tech/UWEC Nursing Alliance applications are closed for Fall 2025 semester. Please check back for updated Spring 2026 information.
Admission Requirements
All Admissions Requirement items much be submitted together in one packet to the UWEC Nursing Alliance Program Director by the deadline listed on the Intent to Enroll Checklist.
- Complete Intent to Enroll Checklist
- Complete and submit Northwood Tech application form (paper only)
- Submit an official high school (or HSED/GED) transcript with graduation date.
- If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
- If you are a current high school student, you can be admitted with an unofficial, or official, current transcript. Your final official transcript with graduation date must be submitted prior to the program starting or you will be withdrawn from the program.
- Submit official in-progress/current UWEC transcript
- Submit official college transcripts for other schools attended - if applies
- Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
- Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
Program-Specific Requirements
Prior to class start you must submit completion of the following items to your program advisor:
- Complete one year, or one credit, of high school chemistry or one credit of college-level chemistry with a 2.0 (C) or better
- Complete a Nursing Assistant course with a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher
- Provide end-of-term official UWEC transcript to verify successful completion of all in- progress courses
- Participate in a mandatory orientation and complete/submit the following items by the dates provided at the orientation:
- Background Check fees (to Castle-Branch and/or Student Services for MN Caregiver if applicable)
- Have an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, National Criminal Background Check, Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (if applicable), and other states if applicable
- Complete physical exam and health requirements, including immunizations
- Possess current certification of "BLS Basic Life Support"
- Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- Complete and sign the Authorization to Release Student Record Information between UWEC and Northwood Tech
ADN Student Handbook
- 2025-26 Health Sciences & Nursing- Associate Degree Student Policies will be available August 2025
Fall 2025 Associate Degree Nursing Orientation
ADN Student Program Clinical Requirements and SOU
- ADN Required Courses
- The ADN 2025-26 Required Courses (Fall start) and ADN 2025-26 Required Courses (Spring start) list is to be used as a guide. Although your academic advisor can provide guidance, you are ultimately responsible for selecting courses that meet a program's graduation requirements.
- Background Checks
- To understand more about the requirements for background checks and how the results may affect you, please review the ADN Background Check Disclosure under Admission Requirements at the top of this page.
- Nursing-Associate Degree (ADN) students are required to use CastleBranch to complete the following background checks:
- WI Caregiver Background Check
- National Criminal Background Check
- Superior campus students ONLY—MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Study
- To complete the WI Caregiver and National Criminal background checks:
- Open the CastleBranch link.
- Select your campus, program, and order type.
- Review your package and complete the purchase.
- Note that you will be required to fill out this form during the process:
- To complete the MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Study
- Superior campus students ONLY
- Review the MN DHS Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices
- Contact student services at your campus for instructions
- Superior—Nikki Kruger nikki.kruger@northwoodtech.edu
- Note that you will need to pay the background study fee of $44.
- Check your email for updates about your background study.
- Information about completing the fingerprinting and photo requirement will be emailed to you. The fee for fingerprints and photos is $10.50.
- See more information on the MN DHS Background Studies website https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/background-studies/
- To update a background check
- After initial background checks are completed, you may need to update your checks. For details about this requirement or to report changes, use this form:
- Self-Report form for background checks
- Health Form and Directions
- 1. Complete the HS Health Form and save it.
- 2. Follow instructions for submission.
- Uniforms and Supplies
- ADN Uniforms and Supplies Uniforms are available to purchase through your campus bookstore.
- Name badge can be obtained through your campus Learning Resource Center
- Orientation Forms (Follow the directions on the Blackboard Orientation course)
- Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- Computer Skills Inventory
- Release Form - For release of Audio and Visual materials
- BLS Basic Life Support Course Offerings
- Fall 2025 BLS course offerings will be available soon.
- Additional Information
- Insurance Information
- 2025-26 ADN Program Technology Needs
- 2025-26 ADN Program Cost Sheet
- ADN Fall 2025 Textbook List
- Student Biographical Change Request - Please print and use this form if you change your name, address or phone number(s). You should submit it to your local Student Services to be certain that the changes are entered in the main computer system.
Nursing-Associate Degree (ADN) Withdrawal
- Instructions for Withdrawal from ADN Core Courses
- If you are at this webpage, it means your ADN Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your ADN course (543-xxx) courses.
- If you are withdrawing from your ADN core (543-xxx) courses, the ADN program would like to gather data regarding your decision to withdraw. This data is useful in the ADN planning process. Thank you for providing this information.
- Please carefully review the Withdrawal from the ADN Program form. You may complete the form electronically and email to lorraine.sacinomurphy@NorthwoodTech.edu or print and mail this form within one month of your exiting the program to the following address:
- Lorraine Sacino Murphy
- Northwood Technical College
- 1900 College Dr
- Rice Lake, WI 54868
- If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Lorraine Sacino Murphy, Associate Dean, Nursing/ADN Program Director, at lorraine.sacinomurphy@NorthwoodTech.edu or 715.788.7089.
- If you are at this webpage, it means your ADN Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your ADN course (543-xxx) courses.
ADN Reentry Students
- Process for ADN Reentry Students
- If you are an ADN student who has failed or withdrawn from a core nursing course you are now considered a Reentry Student with the ADN program. Due to limited enrollments allowed for clinical sites and available classroom space and resources for theory courses, reentry students must be prioritized for reentry into the ADN core courses.
- To begin the reentry process, a reentry student must complete the following form prior to the semester they want to reenter:
- This form should be submitted to the following email: reentryrequests@northwoodtech.edu no later than July 7 for fall and January 7 for spring prior to the start of the semester requesting reentry. Any questions related to the reentry process can be directed to the Associate Dean of Nursing/ADN Program Director and/or campus Counselor.
- Please note that while you may not be eligible to continue with core nursing courses at this time due to pre/corequisite requirements, you are still eligible to take general studies or elective courses required for graduation from the ADN program.
- Students will receive notification of their reentry status six (6) weeks before the start of the Fall semester and three (3) weeks before the start of the Spring semester they would like to reenter. There must be space available in the theory and skill courses, as well as clinical facility availability for a student to be able to reenter.
- A reentry student may not register for nursing core courses until approved by the Associate Dean of Nursing/ADN Program Director and until all prerequisite courses are completed.
- If you plan on retaking coursework through another WTCS college, you must still complete and return the E-4 form. This will ensure that you will still be considered for reentry priority status.
- If you are offered an opportunity to return and you decide to postpone your reentry to the ADN program, you will forfeit your priority reentry status and will not be eligible for reentry until after other students waiting to reenter (LPN to ADN, transfer) have had the opportunity to reenter.
- Reentry students may be required to resubmit a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check and a National Criminal Background Check, see Caregiver Background Checks Policy C-02. In addition, reentry students from the Superior campus, may be required to resubmit a Minnesota Caregiver Background Check. Background Check forms and information can be found on the ADN Program web page, Requirements & Application, scroll down to Background Checks.
- In order to be considered for reentry, the student must be current on all clinical requirements and verifications.
If you have any questions, please contact the Associate Dean of Nursing/ADN Program Director.
Lorraine Sacino Murphy, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE
Associate Dean of Nursing/ADN Program Director
Northwood Technical College
1900 College Dr
Rice Lake WI 54868
715.788.7089
lorraine.sacinomurphy@NorthwoodTech.edu
Technology Requirements
If using Macintosh or Linux based computers, coursework must be submitted using your Office365 tools provided with your Northwood Tech email account. It is important to verify with your Program Faculty if non-Windows based computers are acceptable in the program.
Get the Northwood Tech experience
Attend an event or schedule a campus tour/program shadow.
