The Practical Nursing (PN) program at Wallace Community College, Dothan, Alabama welcomes applications from all qualified individuals who wish to pursue a Certificate in Practical Nursing. Applicants must meet all College and program requirements for admission. While admission is competitive, acceptance depends on the size and qualifications of the applicant pool. Seating is limited, therefore the most qualified students are chosen. Please note that meeting all admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Getting Started. . .

Enrollment to Wallace Community College (WCC) is the first step of application to the PN program. You must complete a WCC application and be UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED to WCC. This process will provide you with acceptance to WCC, but not to the PN program. The Admissions Office is the unit responsible for administering all admissions policies and procedures for admission to WCC. If you are unsure of your WCC application status or need an application, please contact the Admissions Office at (334) 556-2473. In order for you to be unconditionally accepted to WCC, the following documents must be received in the Admissions Office:

  • Wallace Community College “Application for Admission.”
  • Official high school (GED credential is acceptable) and college transcripts. It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange for all transcripts to be sent to Enrollment Services at WCC.
  • Documentation verifying identity such as an unexpired Alabama driver’s license.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware of the need for advance planning. Universities and/or colleges often take several weeks to send transcripts.

For additional information regarding admission to WCC, contact the Admissions Office at (334) 556-2473 or visit the College website at www.wallace.edu and look under Admissions.

The approximate cost of the PN program is $13,040.50 for day students and $14,128.50 for evening/weekend students. Student financial assistance programs at WCC can assist you with meeting the cost of your education. All students are encouraged to apply. To access WCC scholarships and alternative loan information, go to 1) WCC Homepage www.wallace.edu; 2) Financial Aid; 3) Scholarships and other forms of assistance. Additional alternative loan information can be found at www.salliemae.com (call toll-free 1-888-272-5543) or by contacting Wells Fargo at 1-800-658-3567.

You are also encouraged to apply for federal student aid. In order to apply you must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The quickest way to apply is online using FAFSA on the Web at https://studentaid.gov/. The code for Wallace Community College is 001018. Financial aid offices use information from the FAFSA to determine if you are eligible to receive federal student aid from grants, loans, and work-study programs. So be sure to fill out a FAFSA even if you think you won’t qualify.

Applying to the Practical Nursing program. . .

Once you have completed the general admission process, you are ready to begin the second step in the application process: completion and submission of your PN application packet. Each PN applicant is required to gather all documentation listed on the check sheet and submit it to the PN program office as a completed packet by the stated application deadline. The packet consists of:

  • Practical Nursing Application Packet Check Sheet
  • Nursing Program Application
  • Site Preference Form
  • Proof of Admission Status from the myWCC Experience student profile
  • Transcripts from each college previously attended (including Wallace Community College)
  • TEAS® or ATI TEAS® score sheet
  • Also include ACCUPLACER, ACT®, SAT®, or ACCS Biology Placement scores if used as qualifiers for ENG101, MTH116, or BIO201.

Practical Nursing Information Sessions
You are strongly encouraged to attend a Practical Nursing information session. These sessions provide an excellent overview of the WCC Practical Nursing program. It will also give you an opportunity to hear questions of other interested applicants. Topics covered are admission criteria, application process, costs, and curriculum. Students are welcomed on a walk-in basis and do not need an appointment to attend. Sessions last approximately 30 minutes. For more information regarding these sessions contact the PN program office at (334) 556-2220.

In order to be considered for acceptance into the PN program, applicants must submit a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKET. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS.

Minimum admission standards for the PN program include:

  • Completed WCC admissions application with the status of “Unconditional Admission” or “Conditional Status Cleared.”
  • Completed PN application packet received by the stated deadline.
  • Minimum GPA of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale based on the last 24 credit hours for students with previous college coursework OR a 2.3 cumulative GPA at Wallace Community College.
    • For students with undergraduate level credit hours GPA will be computed based on the most recent 24 hours of undergraduate credit hours;
    • For students with 24 or more credit hours at the graduate level GPA will be computed based on the most recent 24 hours of graduate level credit hours – undergraduate level credit hours are ignored;
    • For students with less than 24 hours at the graduate level GPA will be computed based on the most recent 24 hours of undergraduate credit hours – graduate credit hours are ignored.
    • Only transcripted hours from colleges accredited by one of the six regionally accrediting agencies (i.e. SACS) will be considered.
    • High school credits will not be used in calculating GPA except as required in the Early College Enrollment Program
    • Eligibility for ENG101 and BIO201 – refer to college website for placement. READ MORE. ENG 101 (English Composition I) eligibility is determined by successful completion of ENR098; a score of five to eight on the writing section of the ACCUPLACER® test; a score of 18 (17 will require ENG 099 and co-requisite course) or better on the ACT® (or equivalent SAT® score); or, cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or above with an A, B, or C in English IV. BIO201 (Anatomy and Physiology I) eligibility is determined by the following: completion of BIO103, Principles of Biology, with a “C” or higher or satisfactory performance on ACCS approved Biology Placement Exam.
    • Be in good standing with WCC.
    • Meet the essential functions or technical standards required for nursing. Please refer to “The Alabama Community College System Nursing Programs Essential Functions” on this site.
    • Completion of the ATI TEAS® or Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS®) taken within three years of the application deadline.

    Admission to the PN program is competitive and the number of students accepted is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.For questions regarding the ACCUPLACER,  Biology ACCS placement examinations, or TEAS® or ATI TEAS®, please contact Testing Services:

    Wallace Campus, Dothan – (334) 983-3521, ext. 2294, ext. 2281, ext. 2208
    Sparks Campus, Eufaula – (334) 983-3521, ext. 4249, ext. 4210
    Online – https://www.wallace.edu In accordance with criteria established by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education for nursing admission, applicants will be required to take an academic entrance test, the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills, ATI TEAS®. The ATI TEAS® measures basic skills in reading, mathematics, science, English and language usage. A student may repeat the ATI TEAS®, but must wait six weeks between taking each test. No cut off score has been established for the ATI TEAS® test, but ranking points will be based on the actual test score one receives. A copy of the ATI TEAS® score report form must be included as part of your nursing application. ATI TEAS® scores are good for three (3) years.

    As mentioned above, the ACCUPLACER test is a requirement to determine academic placement for English and Reading courses and may be used to demonstrate eligibility for specific components of nursing application eligibility. ACCUPLACER may be repeated once during a three year period. ACCUPLACER scores are good for three (3) years.

    Registration and payment for the ATI TEAS® must be completed on-line through the vendor site—this cannot be handled through Testing Services on either campus location and payments cannot be received through the College Business Office. Applicants must create an on-line account at http://www.atitesting.com to schedule a date for testing.

    After meeting minimum requirements, applicants are rank-ordered using a 221-point system based on:

    • TEAS® or ATI TEAS® score (150 possible points)
    • Points for selected college courses (i.e., English 101, Math 116 or higher level math) and/or selected high school courses (i.e., Algebra II or higher level math, highest level Biology) (60 possible points)
    • Additional points (11 possible points) for:
    • Students currently enrolled or who have previously completed courses at WCC (including dual enrollment and/or early college admission)
    • Students who have completed a Certified Nursing Assistant program (applicant must provide documentation verifying that they are currently a Certified Nursing Assistant)

    Applications to the PN program will be processed following the application deadline. All applicants to the PN program will receive notification of acceptance status via email. No information regarding the status of an application will be given over the telephone. Applicants to the PN program should allow minimum of (6) weeks for applications to be processed.

Student Nurse Apprentice Program 

The nursing Apprenticeship program provides participants the ability to work and receive pay while advancing their learning.

The following is information regarding application to an apprenticeship:

  1. Must be an active, current student of Wallace Community College.
  2. Submit a Wallace Community College nursing program application during appropriate application periods and be accepted to the Practical Nursing program.
  3. Students accepted into a Wallace Community College Nursing Program are provided the opportunity to submit an apprenticeship application. Applications are provided at an orientation prior to the start of nursing courses during their first semester in the nursing program.
  4. A list of students who meet the minimum qualifications for apprenticeship is given to participating healthcare facilities.
  5. From that list, participating healthcare facilities select and hire apprentices, based on the number of open positions they have available. Current employees may be selected for the apprenticeship. All apprentices sign an apprenticeship agreement.
  6. Student apprentices must commit to working for the healthcare facility and participating in on the job learning at the healthcare facility during the nursing program.  Included in working days are clinical days students are performing for nursing program clinical requirements. Apprenticeship clinical days begin in the second semester of attendance.
  7. Student apprentices must apply to the Alabama Board of Nursing for an apprentice permit.
  8. Student apprentices are not paid for on-campus classes, labs, or simulation. Student apprentices are paid for clinical hours, not to include simulation.
  9. Student apprentices will work one on one with a licensed nurse from the healthcare facility. Students will be held accountable to the same clinical requirements as non-apprentice students in the program.
  10. Nursing Program applications are posted on the Wallace Community College website.

For more information, please contact Martha Compton, Career and Technical Associate Dean: 334-556-6822 or mcompton@wallace.edu.

Contact Information Changes

Applicants to the PN program are encouraged to keep all contact information current. If there is a change in your mailing address or phone number(s), you should contact the PN program office immediately.