Nursing Academic Preparedness

Information Last Updated: Oct. 22, 2025

Core Courses Begin: Fall & Spring

Seats Available: 32 full-time, 8 part-time per semester

NOTE: This program is in high demand and will utilize a waiting list for entry into limited capacity core program courses. Acceptance to the Nursing program at Blackhawk Technical College does not guarantee a seat in core program courses.

Waiting List Information

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Proof of Residency Courses Required Testing Required

Waiting List Status

Pre-Core: Meets the pre-core requirements (if applicable) for the program; waiting for an available program seat.
Core Ready: Students must be Core Ready prior to the deadline to be considered for a seat in Core Active courses, meaning that a student has satisfied all pre-core requirements and is currently waiting for a seat to become available. The start term for core courses can vary by program. Programs may start in the summer, fall, or spring terms.
Core Active: Students must have all their academic preparedness requirements completed before being considered Core Ready. Refer to the chart below for the deadline based on the program and term start.

Pre-Core Academic Preparedness Requirements

Complete these requirements to become eligible for a seat in core program courses.

Required Action

Provide Proof of Residency to Registration & Records Department
Complete All Required Pre-Core Courses and Meet Minimum Grade Requirements
Complete Testing and Meet Score Requirements

All Pre-Core requirements must be met before a student is eligible for a seat in core program courses.

Proof of Residency

Students are ordered on the waiting list based on their program admission date and residency. Residency is broken into three categories: in-district, out-of-district state, and out-of-state. Once you provide documentation of your residency, you cannot change your residency for waiting list purposes.

Once admitted to Blackhawk Technical College, provide proof of residency via one of these methods:

Showing address verification documents in person with the Registration & Records Department
Emailing address verification documents via Blackhawk email to registration@blackhawk.edu

Address verification will be allowed using one of the following documents:

State issued photo ID (Driver’s License, Operators License, or Identity Card)
Tax Return Document (Most Recent Filing)
Vehicle Registration Document
Bank Account Statement with Address
Voter Registration Documents

Courses Required Prior to Moving to Core Ready Status

All required courses will be subject to the College’s Course Age Limit policy. Course age is locked at the time a student becomes Core Ready and is not re-evaluated as long as they remain on the waiting list.

Course Name	Credits	Pre-requisite required	Minimum grade
Nursing Assistant (543-300)*	2	None	C
English Composition I (801-136)	3	None	C
General Anatomy & Physiology (806-177)	4	None	B
Intro to Psychology (809-198)	3	None	C

*Must be completed within five (5) years of moving to core ready status in the Nursing Program. Note: Course requirement waived if student is maintaining an active CNA license.

Documentation of completion may be requested as a condition of accepting a seat in core program courses.

Chemistry

One year of high school chemistry with lab – OR – one semester of college chemistry:

Course Name	Credits	Pre-requisite required	Minimum grade
Prep for Basic Chemistry (836-133)	2	None	C
General Chemistry (806-134)	4	None	C

Testing Required Prior to Moving into Core Ready Status

All testing needs to be completed by the core ready deadline for students. It is recommended to complete all Pre-Core coursework prior to taking the test, as the course content will prepare you to be more successful. All testing must have been completed within the past 3 years for a student to move from Pre-Core to Core Ready.

Additional information on the HESI Admission Assessment and associated fees can be found at blackhawk.edu/Admissions/Placement-Testing.

Note: If you took the TEAS exam prior to February 7, 2025, provide your scores to Blackhawk for review to see if the HESI requirement can be waived.

HESI Test	Minimum score
Composite	75%
A&P	75%
Math	75%
Reading Comprehension	75%
Critical Thinking	800

Core Ready

Core Ready means you have completed all the Pre-Core academic preparedness requirements and are waiting for a seat to become available in the program’s core courses.

General Education Courses - Required for Graduation

Students may take these courses during Pre-Core or Core Ready status. If not completed prior to becoming Core Active, students should meet with their advisor to determine the best time during the core program course structure to take the remaining general education courses. Courses are listed in their order of priority.

All required courses will be subject to the College’s Course Age Limit policy. Course age is locked at the time a student becomes Core Ready and is not re-evaluated as long as they remain on the waiting list.

NOTE: Students will need to complete additional tasks (e.g., background checks, immunizations, drug screening, etc.) after they are notified of an available seat in program’s core courses. Additional information will be provided by the program faculty once a seat is offered.

Course Name	Credits	Pre-requisite required	Minimum grade
Developmental Psychology (809-188)	3	Introduction to Psychology	C
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology (806-179)	4	General A&P and a chemistry class	B
Speech (801-198)	3	None	C
Microbiology (806-197)	4	General A&P	B
Introduction to Sociology (809-196)	3	None	C

Core Active

Core Active means you have been offered a seat in the program’s core courses. View Academic Plan