English Language Proficiency
Students with English as their second language must meet minimum proficiency standards to apply to the Pre-Licensure BSN track.
Please contact International Programs Office at LC State for detailed information for education and citizenship requirements.
These criteria are established based on recommendations from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (https://www.ncsbn.org).
When testing is required, the PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT® or IETLS Academic tests of language competency is used for all students for whom English is not the native and first language. These tests must have been taken within two years of application to the nursing program.
Minimum Requirements for Nursing
IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT® Score
| IELTS Academic Score (minimum) | TOEFL iBT Score (minimum) |
|---|---|
| Overall band score >/= 6.5 | Overall score >/= 84 |
| All sub-scores >/= 6.0 | Verbal score >/= 26 |
PTE Academic Scores
| Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
References
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2010). Setting an English language proficiency passing standard for entry-level nursing practice using the Pearson Test of English Academic. Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/NCLEX_technicalbrief_PTE_2010.pdf
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2009). NCLEX© Psychometric Research Brief: A Minimum English Proficiency Standard for The Test of English as a Foreign Language™ Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT®) Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/TOEFL_iBT_Proficiency_Standard_Process.pdf
National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2004). The Minimum Proficiency in English for Entry-Level Nurses: TOEFL™ Retrieved from: https://www.ncsbn.org/TOEFL_Research_Brief_vol_1.pdf