Nurses provide and direct others in the provision of nursing care to patients in inpatient, outpatient, clinic and community healthcare settings. Nurses work closely with physicians and other members of the healthcare team.
Fast Facts
- The School of Nursing was the first program at BHCLR with five graduates in 1921
- The Traditional Track accepts two cohorts each year, a January start and a August start
- Most instructional weeks are four days per week
- The admissions selection review begins upon receipt of all required items
ABHES and ASBN Nursing Outcomes
Traditional Track (AAS)
The Traditional Track begins twice a year and offers two options depending on the applicant’s college experience, particularly in the sciences.
- Traditional Track: Enter directly into the 1 ½ year nursing program with six of the nine required general education courses which must include Anatomy & Physiology I & II w/labs, Microbiology w/lab, Quantitative Literacy or equivalent/higher math, and English Composition I & II. *Courses with asterisks
below must be completed or in-progress at the time of application. - Traditional Track plus Gen Ed Prep: Enter the 2 year program as a general education prep student with four of the nine general education courses which must include Composition I, Quantitative Literacy or equivalent/higher math, Anatomy & Physiology I w/lab, and one additional required science course with lab.
Required College Courses for the Traditional Track (AAS)
The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) is a postsecondary education resource service that provides comparable course information to facilitate student transfer within Arkansas public colleges and universities. Where available, ACTS course numbers are included. See Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) transfer student information for more information. Please be sure to select UA-PTC as the “transfer to” institution. All required college courses must be completed with a C or better.
The nine (9) required General Education Courses are:
| General Education ACTS Code | Requirement (Effective Fall 2026 entry) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2404* | Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2414* | Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2004* | Microbiology with Lab | 4 |
| MATH 1113* | Quantitative Literacy or equivalent/higher math | 3 |
| ENGL 1013* | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 1023* | English Composition II | 3 |
| PSYC 1103 | Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI 1013 or PSYC 2103 | Sociology OR Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| No ACTS code | Nutrition | 3 |
| TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION HOURS | 30 |
Application Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements for the Traditional Track. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Applicants are ranked based on overall academic history. It is the applicant’s responsibility to turn in all required items for the program application process. Any additional requirements will be listed on your MYBHCLR Portal.
- Completed online application.
- Must be a high school graduate or have a GED and submit official high school or GED transcript.
- Must submit official transcripts from ALL previously attended institutions.
Entrance Exam Requirements
- ATI TEAS exam scores must be no more than two (2) years old and ACT scores must be no more than ten (10) years old.
- Effective July 1, 2022, ATI TEAS exams must be taken in an on-campus, proctored environment. Remotely proctored exams will not be considered.
- BHCLR “superscores” the ACT by using the highest subset from each exam to calculate the composite score.
- Required sections for ACT or ATI TEAS: English, Reading, Math, and Science
July 2023 Entry and Forward:
- ATI TEAS – 60% minimum Composite and a 66% minimum Reading subset OR ACT – 19 minimum Composite and a 19 minimum Reading subset.
BHCLR RN Traditional Nursing Course Curriculum
Effective Fall 2026 entry and forward:
| Semester 1 (Freshman) | Foundations in Nursing Care (5 credit hours) |
| Adult Nursing I (5 credit hours) | |
| Introduction to Pharmacology (2 credit hours) | |
| Semester 2 (Sophomore I) | Adult Nursing II (7 credit hours) |
| Maternal & Newborn (4 credit hours) | |
| Mental Health (4 credit hours) | |
| Semester 3 (Sophomore II) | Adult Nursing III (6 credit hours) |
| Children’s Health (4 credit hours) | |
| Advanced Pharmacology for Nursing (1 credit hour) | |
| Synthesis of Professional Nursing Concepts (2 credit hours) |
FAQs
Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) School of Nursing graduates will receive an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree. Upon successful completion of the program and verification by BHCLR to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, graduates will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
There is no minimum GPA requirement. Applicants are required to have a C or better in all required courses and applicants are ranked according to academic criteria.
Selection of students is based on a comprehensive review and ranking of the applicant’s overall academic history. Factors evaluated include entrance exam scores, grades earned in required courses, academic history in collegiate study and performance in other nursing programs.
The ATI TEAS is a test that measures basic essential skills in the academic content domains of Reading, Mathematics, Science and English language usage.
Please click here to access the frequently asked questions about the ATI TEAS.
Click here to apply now!
Yes, please see Credit by Exam Information for BHCLR (CLEP, AP and PLA)
Please download the Nursing cost plan for estimated costs.
Earnings for Registered Nurses vary greatly and depend on many factors including work setting, years of experience and geographical location. Please visit the US Department of Labor website to find out earning information.
Robin Shepherd
Nursing Admissions
admissions3@bhclr.edu
For All Arkansas colleges, please refer to the Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) for transferability. Please be sure to select the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College as the “transfer to” institution. If you do not find your private institution listed or if your courses are from an out of state college, please email Stacey Sides at enrollment@bhclr.edu for further assistance.