All admission requirements listed below must be completed before acceptance into the program. A link to apply is located at the bottom of this page.

Applicants must complete an application and meet the following qualifications:

1. Age Requirement:

• Must be at least 17 years of age.

2. CNA Certification:

• Must be a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) listed as eligible on the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Healthcare Worker Registry.
• Eligibility must be maintained throughout the program.

3. Education Requirement:

• Submit an official high school or GED transcript.
  • High school transcripts must be from a state-recognized institution.
  • Homeschooled students must provide proof of completion of an approved high school equivalency exam (GED®, HiSET®, or TASC™).
  • Transcripts must be sent:
    • In a sealed envelope from the issuing school, OR
    • Electronically via parchment.com.
  • Important: Transcripts cannot be emailed by the student.

***Note:

• Online high school transcripts (e.g., Penn Foster, Acellus) are not accepted by the Illinois State Board of Education, regardless of accreditation. Students with online high school diplomas must take a high school equivalency exam.
• Any transcript or degree obtained in a foreign country must be professionally evaluated by a NACES sponsored company. More info can be found here: https://www.naces.org/members
• In place of a high school diploma, college transcripts may be accepted if the applicant:
  • Was enrolled in a degree program and
  • Completed at least 60 semester hours.

4. TEAS Pre-Entrance Examination:

• Applicants must complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) regardless of college coursework or ACT scores.
• Testing Policy:
  • Up to three (3) attempts in a 12-month period.
  • Minimum two-week interval between attempts.
• Required minimum scores:
  • Mathematics: 54%
  • Reading Comprehension: 54%
  • English: 45%
  • Science: 35%
• Note: Passing the TEAS does not guarantee acceptance; all admission requirements must be met.

The following requirements must be completed using a CASPN viewpointscreening.com account: 

5. Background Check & Drug Screening:

• Complete both through Viewpoint at your expense.
• Admission will not be granted until:
  • The criminal background check is clear or a waiver is received.
  • A negative drug screen is confirmed. (Positive drug screens may result in denial of admission.)

6. Physical Examination & Immunizations:

• Submit a physical examination (completed on the school’s form) to Viewpoint, performed within 12 months of the program start date.
• Required immunizations or titers:
  • Tdap
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
  • Hepatitis B series
  • Varicella (Chickenpox) or proof of disease
  • Two-step TB test (must be kept current throughout the program)
  • Current influenza vaccination
• Physical examinations and immunizations are the student’s financial responsibility.

7. CPR Certification:

• Must be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association.
• A current CPR card must be uploaded to Viewpoint and maintained throughout the program.
• Students cannot attend clinicals without valid certification.

8. Financial Aid Eligibility (if applicable):

• Students seeking financial aid must not be in default on previous student loans or owe a refund on a Pell Grant.
• Applicants with financial aid concerns should contact the Financial Aid Specialist prior to applying.

To remain enrolled in the program, students must maintain:
✅ Eligibility on the IDPH Healthcare Worker Registry
✅ Compliance with all immunization requirements
✅ Current CPR certification
✅ Annual TB testing

The Capital Area School of Practical Nursing (CASPN) admits students who meet admission requirements without discrimination based on sex, age, race, religion, national origin, marital status, ethnic background, disability, or sexual orientation.