Piedmont Technical College Nursing Program Review

From its main campus in Greenwood, as well as through its other six campuses in the surrounding area, Piedmont Technical College (founded in 1966) offers associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas in a wide variety of fields. In response to a growing need for trained healthcare professionals, the college opened its health sciences department in 1981.

As part of this development, Piedmont Technical College (PTC) started two programs in the nursing field: one at the associate-degree level and one at the diploma level. The nursing programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, and approved by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing.

Practical Nursing Diploma Program

A student who wishes to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can begin the Practical Nursing Diploma program in either the fall or the spring. The fall program takes place on the main campus in Greenwood; the spring program is offered on the Laurens campus. A student in the program must commit to full-time study, taking classes during the day and completing the clinical rotations during the day, night, evening, and weekend. Before beginning the program, a student must complete thirteen credits of prerequisite classes, including anatomy and physiology, contemporary math, English composition, and general psychology. After completing these, she may begin the three-semester course sequence, earning thirty-two additional credits. Upon graduation, she will receive a diploma in applied science, major in practical nursing. After this, she is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Practical Nurses (NLCEX-PN).

Associate Degree Nursing Program

Graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program receive an associate in applied science (AAS) degree with a major in nursing. In order to earn this degree, a student must complete a five-semester course sequence. Before beginning, however, he must take anatomy and physiology I and II, English composition, intermediate algebra or probability and statistics, general psychology, and a humanities elective. With these finished, he can start the nursing courses and clinical rotations, earning a total of sixty-eight credits. The program is offered only on the Greenwood campus, during the day. Piedmont Technical College accepts thirty-two students for the ADN program in the both the fall and the spring. Graduates of the ADN program are eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NLCEX-RN).

Associate Degree Nursing Program – LPN to ADN Nursing Program

A graduate of a practical nursing program can earn fifteen advanced placement credits for the ADN program, and complete the AAS degree with a major in nursing in just three semesters. Before starting the three-semester course sequence, the LPN must take anatomy and physiology I and II, English composition, intermediate algebra or probability and statistics, general psychology, a humanities elective, and a nursing transition course. LPNs may only begin the three-course nursing sequence in the fall, on the Greenwood campus.

Associate of Arts with Nursing Transfer Track

Piedmont Technical College cooperates with Lander University to provide a track for students who wish to earn a full Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Students on this track will take sixty credits of general education courses at Piedmont Technical College before beginning the ADN course sequence, and while completing the ADN course sequence. Once a student on this track completes both the Associate of Arts (AA) degree with Nursing Transfer Track and the ADN program, he can transfer to Lander University to complete his BSN through the RN to BSN program. He only needs to earn thirty-two additional credits at Lander University. The AA with Nursing Transfer Track program is only offered on the Greenwood campus.

Contact:
Piedmont Technical College
620 N. Emerald Road,
Greenwood, SC 29648