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
- Review and sign Functional Abilities Disclosure
- Out-of-State applicants sign a Professional Licensure Disclosure
- Complete admissions meeting with a Northwood Tech counselor
Nursing - Associate Degree Program-Specific Requirements
Pre-Nursing students must complete the petition process to be eligible for the core Nursing program. In addition to the requirements above, students in this program must:
- 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 priority petition for admission forms:
- Have earned a high school diploma or GED certificate; current high school seniors must provide both a current high school transcript and a final (official) transcript with confer date
- Northwood Tech transcripts to verify course completion (priority admission is given to students who have completed the ADN program-required General Studies courses)
- Review and sign Background Check Disclosure
- Review and sign Functional Abilities Disclosure
- Complete and sign Intent to Enroll form
- 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
- Pass a physical exam, have current immunizations, and demonstrate negative status for tuberculosis (Tb)
- COVID vaccination---highly recommended
- NOTE: Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement or ability to progress in the program if a student is not able to meet the clinical site requirements including but not limited to; influenza vaccine, covid vaccine, negative tb skin test or QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) or T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot), up to date acceptable background check, or any other clinical requirements required by the clinical site. Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement if the clinical site must be changed due to students inability to meet the site specific requirements. Many sites require the student information 4-6 weeks prior to the clinical start date.
- Possess current certification of "BLS Basic Life Support"
- Review and sign Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- Participate in a mandatory program orientation session
2024-25 Nursing-Associate Degree Additional Program 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 the 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)
- Have earned a high school diploma or GED certificate; current high school seniors must provide both a current high school transcript and a final (official) transcript with confer date
- 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
- Review and sign Functional Abilities 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"
- Pass a physical exam, have current immunizations, and demonstrate negative status for tuberculosis (TB)
- COVID vaccination---highly recommended
- NOTE: Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement or ability to progress in the program if a student is not able to meet the clinical site requirements including but not limited to; influenza vaccine, covid vaccine, negative tb skin test or QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) or T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot), up to date acceptable background check, or any other clinical requirements required by the clinical site. Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement if the clinical site must be changed due to students inability to meet the site specific requirements. Many sites require the student information 4-6 weeks prior to the clinical start date.
- 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
Nursing - Associate Degree Transfer Student Requirements
Students must have completed at least one transferrable clinical or skills-based nursing course from an accredited ADN 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.
2024-25 Nursing-Associate Degree Program Additional Information-Transfer Track
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 official high school or equivalent (HSED/GED transcript) with confer date
- Submit official in-progress/current UWEC transcript
- Submit official college transcripts for other schools attended - if applies
- Review and sign Functional Abilities Disclosure
- 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
- Pass a physical exam, have current immunizations, and demonstrate negative status for tuberculosis (Tb)
- COVID vaccination---highly recommended
- NOTE: Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement or ability to progress in the program if a student is not able to meet the clinical site requirements including but not limited to; influenza vaccine, covid vaccine, negative tb skin test or QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) or T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot), up to date acceptable background check, or any other clinical requirements required by the clinical site. Northwood Technical College cannot guarantee clinical placement if the clinical site must be changed due to students inability to meet the site specific requirements. Many sites require the student information 4-6 weeks prior to the clinical start date.
- 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
2024-25 ADN Student Handbook
- Health Sciences Policies
- HS-i Work-based Learning Terms
- HS-ii Code of Conduct
- HS-01 Northwood Tech Mission, Vision, Values, & Tenets
- HS-02 Rules and Regulations-Student Signature
- HS-03 Safety Accountability Statement-Student Signature
- HS-04 Bloodborne Pathogen Risk Statement
- HS-05 CDC Guidelines and Links
- HS-06 Standard Precautions Chart
- HS-07 Exposure Control Procedures (Needle stick)
- HS-08 Performance-Based Instruction
- HS-09 Student Responsibilities
- HS-10 Responsibility of the Learner
- HS-11 Test-Taking
- HS-12 Studying Hints
- HS-13 Important Dispositions for Critical Thinkers
- HS-14 Good Thinking vs. Poor Thinking
- HS-15 Computer Information
- HS-16 Communication Guidelines
- HS-17 Confidentiality-HIPAA
- HS-18 Transfer Credit
- HS-19 Witnessing Legal Documents
- HS-20 Health Status
- HS-21 Health Form
- HS-22 BLS-Medic 1st Aid Requirements
- HS-23 Course Expectations for Assignments
- HS-24 Professional Expectations and Dress Code
- HS-25 Grading Policy
- HS-26 Improvement Plan
- HS-27 Academic Appeals Procedures
- HS-28 Automatic Program Dismissal
- HS-29 Complaints Concerning Health Sciences Programs
- ADN Student Policies
- Curriculum
- Program
- Student Rules and Regulations
- C-01 WI Board of Nursing Rules of Conduct
- C-02 Caregiver Background Checks
- C-03 Grading Scale and Rounding Rules
- C-04 Coursework and Testing
- C-05 Failing Grades
- C-06 Withdrawal from Coursework
- C-07 Student Resources for Dosage Calculation Exams
- C-08 Registration for Courses
- C-09 Supervision of Nursing Skills
- C-10 Clinical Performance Evaluation & Critical Incident Report
- C-11 Testing Security Policy
- C-12 General Clinical Course Absence
- C-13 Required Documentation for Clinical Courses
- Transfer, Readmission and Dismissal
- Forms
Spring 2025 Associate Degree Nursing Orientation
Student Clinical Program Clinical Requirements and SOU
- ADN Required Courses
- The ADN 2024-25 Required Courses (Fall start) and ADN 2024-25 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
- The clinical agencies that host the Northwood Tech ADN students for clinical courses have significantly increased their demands for background check scrutiny over the past several years. We want to ensure students understand prior to the start of the program that if there are no clinical agencies that will accept the student based on the background check, the student must be excused from the ADN program, regardless of the student's academic standing. This is explained in further detail in the Background Check Disclosure form listed above under Admission Requirements.
- All ADN students are required to complete a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, Background Information Disclosure form (BID form), Student ID form, and a National Criminal Background Check through CastleBranch. In addition, if you are a Superior student, you are also required to complete a Minnesota Caregiver Background Check (see below). The steps and documents to complete these background checks will be covered in depth during program orientation.
- MN Department of Human Services (DHS) Background Studies
- The MN Dept. of Health Services NETStudy 2.0 background study requires all persons who provide services to children and vulnerable adults to be fingerprinted and photographed.
- Students will be required to provide Northwood Tech a copy of an Acceptable Form of ID for DHS Background studies (scroll down to What documents can be used to verify ID?), the completed Minnesota Caregiver Background Check and $44.
- Northwood Tech staff will verify the information provided and enter it into the MN DHS website. Background Study subjects will receive an email from IDEMIA-IdentoGO that includes an individual specific tracking number called a Universal Enrollment Identification (UE ID). The email will be sent within a few minutes of the background study application being submitted in NETStudy 2.0 by the provider. The email includes instructions for study subjects to use IDEMIA-IdentoGO's pre-enrollment system and information on locating a fingerprint location.
- Students MUST present a form of ID to be fingerprinted and photographed and will be required to pay the $10.50 fee at the fingerprint and photo location.
- Within 14 days of receiving the email from IDEMIA-IdentoGO, students must be fingerprinted and photographed. If not completed within 14 days, the above process and fee payment will need to be repeated.
- Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices
- Your instructor will indicate a due date and to whom the paperwork should be sent. After background checks are completed, students are expected to self report any changes.
- 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, eCampus.
- Name badge can be obtained through your campus Learning Resource Center
- Orientation Forms (Follow the directions on the Blackboard Orientation course)
- Functional Abilities Disclosure - listed above under Admission Requirements. Read the functions and initial/sign the page page as described. Submit to instructor by designated due date.
- Health Sciences Confidentiality Statement
- Computer Skills Inventory
- Release Form - For release of Audio and Visual materials
- BLS Basic Life Support Course Offerings
- Spring 2025 BLS course offerings will be available soon.
- Additional Information
- Insurance Information
- 2024-25 ADN Program Technology Needs
- 2024-25 ADN Program Cost Sheet
- ADN Spring 2025 Textbook List
- Elsevier Course Material Flyers
- All Campuses - 1st Semester Bundle This link includes detailed information about the bundle you will purchase as shown on the Text List.
- All Campuses - 2nd Semester Bundle This link includes detailed information about the bundle you will purchase as shown on the Text 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 on this web page, your ADN Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your ADN core (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. Please complete the form and email it 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 of Nursing/ADN Program Director, at lorraine.sacinomurphy@NorthwoodTech.edu or 715-788-7089.
- If you are on this web page, your ADN Academic Advisor has been notified that you dropped your ADN core (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 core technical courses are completed.
- If you plan on retaking coursework through another WTCS college, you must still complete and return both forms. 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.
- All reentry students must resubmit a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check and a National Criminal Background Check which must be completed. In addition, if you are a New Richmond or Superior student, you must 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 Orientation.
- 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, Nursing/ADN Program Director
Northwood Technical College
1900 College Dr
Rice Lake WI 54868
715.788.7089
lorraine.sacinomurphy@NorthwoodTech.edu
- Lorraine Sacino Murphy, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE
- Reentry Student Checklist
- 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.
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.
