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Registered Nursing

The primary purpose of the Registered Nursing program is to prepare individuals for licensure, and safe nursing practice, and to teach students the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed.

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Degree Description

Western Dakota Technical College is committed to preparing nurses to meet the demands of diverse populations across the lifespan. This Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Registered Nurse (RN) program is designed specifically for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) seeking to further their education and career path. The program provides a 1+1 bridge track for graduates who currently have a LPN license to prepare to become RNs. LPNs will expand on their technical skills gained through their LPN licensure and work experience. As a graduate of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to earn your RN license.

This program is approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing. For more information about approval, click here.

The Registered Nursing Program at Western Dakota Technical College located in Rapid City, SD is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

 The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is initial accreditation.

 View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.

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Application Process

The Western Dakota Technical College Registered Nursing program has a selective admissions process. Deadline for the Fall cohort is July 1 and the deadline for the Spring cohort is December 1. 

1. Apply to WDTC

  1. Apply for admission to WDT - ALLIED HEALTH by completing the WDT Application online.
  2. Provide an official copy of a High School transcript or GED scores. If you graduated from an international high school, you must submit your transcript to Educational Credential Evaluators to determine U.S. equivalence. Additionally, an official transcript must be submitted if you have attended other post-secondary institutions or universities.
  3. Submit immunization records verifying two doses of MMR vaccinations.
  4. Submit official college transcripts if you have previously attended a post-secondary institution.
  5. Schedule an Admissions Advising Session (can be completed on campus or by phone)
  6. Complete the ACCUPLACER test ($15.00 fee).

The ACCUPLACER test will be waived if you have an ACT sub-score of 18 or better in English, Math, and Reading.  To waive the ACCUPLACER with SAT scores a student will need a 500 on the MATH subsection of ACT and a composite of 970 to waive Writing and Reading. To place into MATH 114 a student will need a 520 on the MATH subsection.  

The ACCUPLACER test is offered Monday – Friday

2. Apply to the WDTC Registered Nursing Program

Note: If you are or have been convicted, pleaded guilty or no contest to, or received a suspended imposition of sentence for a felony or certain misdemeanors, you are advised that you may not be able to complete all course requirements for your chosen program, you may be prevented from taking required certification/licensure examinations in your chosen program field, and you may be prevented from gaining employment in your program field.

Students that sit out for a spring or fall semester or longer, will return under a new Catalog and may be required to repeat courses or successfully complete new or revised skills or competency assessments. Before readmittance, the program may need to determine if a student is eligible to continue in technical courses. Program sequencing and cohort size may prevent enrollment in technical courses.

Clinicals, practicums, and internships may include, but are not limited to, differential shifts (evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays) to meet industry expectations. This may require travel outside the Rapid City Area.

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Career Description

Western Dakota Technical College's RN program is designed for students who are seeking accessibility while continuing their education. Nursing continues to be one of the most in-demand professions and an associate’s degree in nursing provides a strong career foundation in health care with opportunities to work in entry-level nursing positions.

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Licensure and Certification

Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. WDTC will not initially enroll students in an academic program leading to professional licensure or certification unless the College has confirmed the program meets all educational requirements of the state where the student is located, per WDTC’s Student Location policy, or intends to work after graduation.

 If WDTC has not determined whether the program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state you are located in or intend to work in after graduation, please contact the Vice President for Teaching and Learning for assistance by emailing Tiffany.Howe@wdt.edu or calling 605.718.2905.

As of May 22, 2024:

  1. The program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
  2. The program curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states:
  3. WDTC has not determined whether the program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following states: AK, American Samoa, CA, CT, DC, DE, Guam, ID, LA, MA, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, MD, ME, MI, The Federated States of Micronesia, NH, NJ, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, NV, The Republic of Palau, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, VA

Virtual Tour Registered Nursing Tour

Take the Virtual Tour Now Next, schedule an on-campus tour and receive a FREE WDTC T-Shirt when you arrive.

Sim Center
Nursing Lab
General Education EMT

After Earning Your Degree

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2023, the average wage for Registered Nurses in South Dakota was $70,420.

Meet Your Faculty & Staff

Western Dakota Technical College has a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning more one-on-one learning. Individual attention from your professor can make your college experience more fulfilling.


  • Kristen Hybertson
  • Photo of Danielle Ragnone
    Danielle Beaulieu

  • Christina Zweber

  • Jennifer Bonner

Financial Aid

Continuing your education is crucial and Western Dakota Technical College wants to make sure that any student who wants to attend school, has the opportunity to do so. For this reason, WDTC is dedicated to administering the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IV Financial Assistance Program fair and consistently to anyone who needs it.

Build Dakota Scholarships

The Build Dakota Scholarship at Western Dakota Technical College will pay all your tuition and fees and prepare you for a career that is in-demand and growing in South Dakota. Build Dakota Scholarships will be awarded to students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota’s technical institutes to fill the state’s technical careers with skilled professionals.

Student Housing

Finding affordable housing during school can be a challenge for students. Western Dakota Technical College currently does not have on-campus housing, but partners with a Rapid City VRBO to offer a limited number of apartments for full-time students in the fall and spring semesters.


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Child Care

Finding child care during school is a challenge for many students. Western Dakota Technical College currently does not offer on-campus child care, but here are some resources that may help you in your search.

Youth & Family Services is an organization dedicated to helping children in Western South Dakota. They offer a variety of services, including child care at multiple locations.

The Y of Rapid City offers child care and other services.

Disclaimer: Western Dakota Technical College provides these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply affiliation, endorsement or adoption by Western Dakota Technical College of any site or any information contained therein. When you leave wdt.edu, you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern. Western Dakota Technical College makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature or reliability of third-party websites or vendors.

WESTERN DAKOTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE MISSION
Western Dakota Technical College prepares students to be highly-skilled professionals through accessible, career-focused programs to improve their lives, while adapting to community workforce needs and positively impacting our economy.

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