BECKLEY, W. Va. — The West Virginia University School of Nursing is expanding its innovative Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN) program to its Beckley Campus, located at WVU Tech.
“After completing a feasibility study, we saw the demand was high in southern West Virginia for LPNs who wanted to earn their bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey, Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor. “The benefits of earning your BSN are clear — improved patient outcomes, higher earning potential, and shorter pathways to graduate level degrees.”
The LPN to BSN program provides a seamless pathway for working LPNs, offering courses on afternoons, evenings and weekends. Didactic nursing courses are offered online, with hands-on clinical experiences in state-of-the-science skills/simulation labs and healthcare facilities in the region.
One course in the program, NSG 213, is specifically designed to help the LPN transition from practical to professional nursing, focusing on assessment, advanced skills, and clinical judgment. Additionally, many resources are available to ensure student success throughout the program.
“We are so excited to offer this program in southern West Virginia,” said Hillary Parcell, Beckley Campus Chair. “This is an incredible opportunity for LPNs who want to expand their nursing education and provide more advanced levels of care to their patients.”
In the WVU program, LPN to BSN students are eligible to earn 22 hours of escrow credits for their LPN licensure and professional experience, which translates to more than a semester’s worth of work. After completing their BSN degree, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) for licensure to become a registered nurse (RN).
The School of Nursing piloted the program at its Keyser Campus, located at WVU Potomac State College. The program was quickly recognized by PracticalNursing.org as the No. 1 program of its kind in West Virginia. The LPN to BSN program is also a WVU Board of Governors Program of Excellence.
Applications for the Beckley Campus program will open Nov. 1, 2026, and the first cohort of students will be admitted for Fall 2027.
For more information, please contact Phillip Engelkemier, Director of Recruitment, at phillip.engelkemier@hsc.wvu.edu or Hillary Parcell at heparcell@mail.wvu.edu.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu