PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), which offers a range of nursing classes, is now taking applications for the fall 2023 semester. 

 

BCC offers financial aid and college credits for all courses, allowing students to easily continue their education at BCC or transfer to four-year schools. 

 

Practical Nurse (PN): BCC offers a 10-month certificate program as a lead-in to licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Prerequisites include Biology 150, English 101 and Psychology 107, and applicants must score a 258 or higher on an Accuplacer math exam. Admission is rolling, with an application deadline of July 1, 2023. The cohort begins in September 2023 and ends in June 2024. The PN program is open to Massachusetts high school students as part of the dual enrollment program. 

 

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): BCC's ADN program ranked number six in the Nursing School Almanac's Best Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Programs in Massachusetts in 2021. Students who enroll in the ADN program may sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in three years and earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree in the fourth year. The first year of the program comprises prerequisite classes, plus two years of nursing courses. Accepted students may apply for the pipeline program at Berkshire Health Systems, which offers full tuition reimbursement for the ADN program, plus full-time pay and benefits for 16 hours of work per week. The application deadline for the ADN program is June 1, 2023. 

 

LPN to ADN Bridge: This program is an opportunity for current LPNs who want to advance their career and receive an associate degree to sit for the Registered Nurse Licensure. The program has the same requirements as the ADN program, but after prerequisites are complete, the LPN can enter into the third semester of the ADN program and complete their degree in just two semesters. LPN to RN Bridge is ideal for students who wish to continue working as an LPN while completing pre-reqs for the ADN program. The application deadline for the LPN to ADN Bridge program is June 1, 2023. 

 

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): BCC employs an RN to BSN Coordinator who works with four-year colleges such as UMass, Elms College, Westfield State University, Southern New Hampshire University and University of Rhode Island to assist students in pursuing a BSN degree. Many courses can be taken at BCC, with the last 30 credits to be completed at such other universities. Application deadlines vary according to selected program and college.