
Olivia Chen, NP
June 26, 2025
West Virginia’s nursing education programs offer well‑defined pathways for learners at every career level, from entry‑level certification to advanced clinical practice. Whether you’re earning your credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), advancing from a Registered Nurse (RN) to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), obtaining licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or training to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), the state’s community colleges, universities, and healthcare systems blend rigorous coursework with hands‑on clinical experiences. With flexible online modules for working students alongside immersive practicum placements, West Virginia’s nursing programs equip graduates with the skills, professional credentials, and competitive salary potential needed to thrive across diverse care settings.
Fairmont, WV - Public 4-Year - fairmontstate.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Established in 1964, Fairmont State University's Associate of Science in Nursing program offers traditional, LPN-ASN, and weekend-hybrid tracks. Students gain clinical experience in hospitals and community settings, supported by simulation labs, leading to high NCLEX-RN pass rates and strong employer demand. This campus-based program prepares graduates for registered nursing roles. As an associate level program, entrance exams like ACT or SAT may be required, though specific requirements should be checked with the university.
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Fairmont State University's hybrid LPN-ASN track enables licensed practical nurses to become RNs through online coursework and clinical experiences in West Virginia, completed in three semesters. With high NCLEX-RN pass rates and employer demand, it focuses on practical skills using simulation labs. Admission requires an LPN license. As an associate level program, entrance exams like ACT or SAT may be required, though specific requirements should be verified with the university.
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Fairmont State University's Weekend-Hybrid ASN program serves non-traditional students and prior degree holders over four semesters, blending weekend classes with clinical experiences in various settings. Utilizing simulation labs, graduates achieve high NCLEX-RN pass rates and are sought by employers. This hybrid format offers flexibility for those balancing commitments. As an associate level program, entrance exams like ACT or SAT may be required, though specific requirements should be confirmed with the university.
Campus Based - Visit Website
Fairmont State University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers Traditional BSN and RN-BSN tracks, preparing students for NCLEX-RN licensure. The campus-based program features state-of-the-art labs, experienced faculty, and flexible online options for working nurses. With affordable tuition and financial aid available, it requires a high school diploma for admission. As a bachelor's level program, entrance exams like ACT or SAT may be required, though specific requirements should be verified with the university.
Concentration: School Nurse Certification - Campus Based - Visit Website
Fairmont State University's BSN program with School Nurse Certification concentration prepares registered nurses for educational settings, meeting WV Department of Education standards. This campus program utilizes simulation labs and clinical partnerships to develop practical skills for school health services. Designed for working professionals, it requires a BSN degree for admission. As a bachelor's level program, entrance exams like ACT or SAT may be required, though specific requirements should be confirmed with the university.
Huntington, WV - Public 4-Year - marshall.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Marshall University's Associate of Science in Nursing, offered in partnership with St. Mary’s School of Nursing, is a two-year hybrid program preparing students for RN licensure. With competitive admissions and financial aid options, it combines theoretical learning with practical skills, accredited by ACEN. Classes start in July and January, catering to diverse learners. As an associate-level program, it does not typically require entrance exams like ACT or SAT, focusing instead on foundational nursing education for quick entry into healthcare.
Campus Based - Visit Website
Marshall University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing equips students as professional nurse generalists, delivering comprehensive clinical training across specialties like critical care, pediatric, and community health nursing. With an NCLEX-RN pass rate over 90%, the program emphasizes hands-on experience in local and regional healthcare facilities, ensuring graduates are job-ready. Accredited by the Nursing Education Accreditation Commission, it supports diverse career paths. For bachelor's programs, note that entrance exams like ACT or SAT may be required, though specifics aren't provided here.
Concentration: Critical Care Nursing - Campus Based - Visit Website
Marshall University's BSN with a Critical Care Nursing concentration focuses on preparing students for high-demand roles through rigorous academics and extensive clinical rotations. This campus-based program in Huntington, WV, achieves a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate and requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 and prerequisite courses. Accredited by ACEN, it offers real-world experience in diverse settings. For bachelor's programs, entrance exams such as ACT or SAT are typically needed, but details aren't specified for this concentration.
Concentration: Pediatric Nursing - Campus Based - Visit Website
Marshall University's BSN with a Pediatric Nursing concentration trains students for pediatric healthcare careers, blending academic rigor with clinical practice in Huntington and nearby areas. It features a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate and requires a minimum ACT composite of 21 or equivalent SAT score, along with a high school GPA of 2.5. Accredited by ACEN, the program provides exposure to various specialties, ensuring well-rounded readiness for nursing roles.
Salem, WV - Private 4-year - salemu.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Salem University's Hybrid Associate Degree in Nursing program integrates online coursework with in-person clinical training, emphasizing holistic patient care. It requires a 3.0 GPA and general education prerequisites but no ACT or SAT. The 66-credit curriculum spans 22 months in a one-course-per-month format, achieving a 93% NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement. Financial support includes the New Student Success Grant, and features like simulation labs and small classes enhance accessibility for working students.
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
Salem University's 3-Year National Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a hybrid program merging ASN and RN-BSN components, focusing on holistic care. It mandates a 3.0 GPA and the TEAS entrance exam, with no ACT or SAT required. The 120-credit accelerated pathway includes online pre-nursing courses and on-campus clinicals, boasting a 90% NCLEX pass rate and 100% job placement. Accredited by the West Virginia Board of Examiners, it prepares graduates for leadership roles through diverse clinical experiences and NCLEX review.
Bridgeport, WV - Private 2-year - wvjc.edu
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport's hybrid Associate Degree in Nursing program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam in 18 months, combining classroom and clinical experiences at top WV hospitals. It emphasizes critical nursing skills in pediatrics, obstetrics, and gerontology, with direct admission to focus solely on nursing. ACEN-accredited, this program offers financial aid and scholarships for eligible students, making it a fast track to a nursing career. No entrance exam is required for this associate-level program.
Online Learning - Visit Website
The RN to BSN online program at West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport allows registered nurses to advance their careers in just 12 months through a flexible, fully accredited curriculum. Designed for working professionals, it covers healthcare policy, evidence-based practice, leadership, and multicultural communications, enhancing skills for expanded roles. This bachelor's-level program does not require an ACT or SAT entrance exam, focusing on convenient online learning for career growth.
West Liberty, WV - Public 4-Year - westliberty.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
West Liberty University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program serves high school graduates, college graduates, and registered nurses through entry-level/prelicensure and BA/BS to BSN tracks. CCNE-accredited, it blends classroom instruction with clinical training to prepare students for RN licensure. As a bachelor's program, it requires ACT or SAT scores for admission. Emphasizing professional nursing education, the program offers financial aid and focuses on affordability while delivering comprehensive healthcare training.
Campus Based - Visit Website
The BA/BS to BSN program at West Liberty University is a 16-month accelerated track for bachelor's degree holders transitioning to nursing. This full-time curriculum integrates campus courses, simulation labs, and clinical practice, covering health assessment, pharmacology, and professional nursing to ready graduates for the NCLEX. Admission demands a 3.0 GPA, prerequisite courses, and a personal essay. For this bachelor's-level program, ACT or SAT scores are required, making it ideal for career changers seeking intensive, hands-on experience.
West Virginia’s LPN programs blend classroom instruction in anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and community clinics. Students gain hands‑on experience administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and supporting patient recovery under professional supervision. After passing the NCLEX‑PN exam and obtaining state licensure, graduates bolster West Virginia’s practical nursing workforce, easing RN workloads and improving access to quality care across both urban centers and remote Appalachian communities.
West Virginia’s CNA offerings deliver six to twelve weeks of training focused on patient safety, infection prevention, and vital‑sign checks, combined with hands‑on practicums. Learners practice assisting with mobility, feeding, and hygiene care while honing observation and reporting skills. Once certified, CNAs bolster care teams in both institutional and community settings. Their presence is key to sustaining high‑quality patient support across the state.
West Virginia’s RN to BSN pathways merge flexible online learning in clinical leadership, rural and community health, nursing informatics and healthcare policy with hands-on practicums in Appalachian hospitals and local clinics. Offered in both part-time and accelerated formats, they let RNs continue working while they pursue a bachelor’s degree. Completing a BSN hones skills in evidence-driven practice, interdisciplinary coordination and systems thinking, meets employer and accreditation expectations for baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and unlocks roles in specialty certification, leadership and public health throughout the state. By advancing their credentials, West Virginia’s nurses are better equipped to serve both remote and more populated communities.
West Virginia’s Nurse Practitioner programs build on a BSN with two- to four-year MSN and DNP tracks that blend advanced coursework and hands-on clinical rotations in family practice, pediatrics, and psychiatric-mental health. Offered on-campus, online, and in hybrid formats at universities and health systems statewide, they prepare nurses for APRN certification and West Virginia licensure. Graduates step into roles as primary care clinicians, chronic disease coordinators, and telehealth providers in Charleston and Morgantown medical centers, community clinics, and remote Appalachian practices. By expanding advanced-practice capacity in underserved mountain and rural regions, these programs fortify West Virginia’s healthcare network.
| Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Very common in rural Appalachia, BSN preferred by larger hospitals |
| RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | No longer offered in West Virginia |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years (12-18 months accelerated) | High school diploma or ADN transfer | Not a BSN-in-10 state, but employers encourage ADN-to-BSN advancement |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced roles, NPs require physician collaboration |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, NPs remain limited by reduced practice authority laws |
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Concentration: School Nurse Certification - Campus Based - Website
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Concentration: Critical Care Nursing - Campus Based - Website
Concentration: Pediatric Nursing - Campus Based - Website
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