Practical Nursing Program

The Diman Regional School of Practical Nursing offers a Full-Time Day Practical Nursing Program designed to prepare students for a rewarding career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

The Full-Time Day Program is a 40-week program that begins annually on the Wednesday before Labor Day and concludes in mid to late June. Classes are held Monday through Friday, generally from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Clinical experiences vary, with hours beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. and ending as late as 3:00 p.m. Some evening clinical rotations may be required to meet course objectives.

Program Approval & Accreditation

Effective July 8, 2026, the Diman Regional School of Practical Nursing is operating under Approval with Warning status as designated by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. The Full-Time Practical Nursing Program remains approved and continues to operate while implementing the Board's required corrective actions. Graduates of the program remain eligible to apply for and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) upon successful completion of the program and satisfaction of all Board licensure requirements.

Diman Regional Technical Institute is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Effective February 8, 2024, the Practical Nursing Program became a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The program's initial ACEN accreditation site visit is scheduled for March 16-18, 2027.

For additional information regarding the program's approval status, please click here to visit our Program Approval Status & Frequently Asked Questions page.

Curriculum

The curriculum combines classroom instruction, laboratory practice, simulation, and supervised clinical experiences to prepare students for entry-level practical nursing practice.

Coursework includes instruction in:

• Biological sciences
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Nursing theory
• Skills laboratory
• Clinical nursing practice

The faculty supervises nursing care to culturally diverse individuals across the lifespan—from birth through older adulthood—in a variety of healthcare settings. While the curriculum emphasizes the care of older adults, students also gain experience with current healthcare technologies, community health, and contemporary nursing practice.

NCLEX-PN Preparation

The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to successfully complete the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and are eligible to apply for the NCLEX-PN (application and examination fees are the responsibility of the student).

Applicants seeking licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must also satisfy the Good Moral Character requirements established by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. Additional information is available on the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing website.

Graduates who successfully pass the NCLEX-PN are prepared for entry-level employment as Licensed Practical Nurses in a variety of healthcare settings or may choose to continue their nursing education through advanced nursing programs. 

All applicants for the Program are evaluated using the selection criteria outlined in this policy. All completed applications for the nursing program are reviewed and receive a response.

It is the policy if the Greater Fall River Vocational School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or homelessness in its educational policies. Enforcement of this law advances efforts to ensure that all students can attend school in a safe, supportive environment that is conducive to serious learning.

Students with disabilities may voluntarily self-identify for the purpose of requesting reasonable accommodations during the application/admission process. Information on disability submitted voluntarily by the applicant for the purpose of receiving assistance and accommodations during the entire application/admission process will not affect the applicant's admission to the Program.

Section III. Eligibility

Applicants from in-district, out-of-district towns, or out-of-state are eligible to apply to the Program on a rolling admissions process. Early admission acceptance (March 1) may be offered to those who complete the application process, meet the TEAS required scores, complete the interview process, submit references, and whose total INTERVIEW score is 55 or above.

Contact Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing for current enrollment dates. This information is also available on the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School website 

*ADMISSIONS POLICY

A.    Candidates for admission to the Practical Nurse Program are required to submit the following:

1.    A completed application form and essay, along with a non-refundable $50.00 application fee.

2.    Official High School transcript with evidence of graduation (or GED/HISET passing scores). Foreign country diplomas must be translated into English, and a certified equivalency to a U.S. education must be provided by a nationally recognized agency such as the Center for Educational Documentation (CED) or American Education and Translation Corp. (AET). An average of a C or better in high school is preferred with consideration for trends demonstrating improvement and motivation, or an undergraduate degree from a United States-accredited college.

3.    Candidates must also schedule and take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS VII) entrance examination offered through the Assessment Technology Institute, LLC (ATI), and they must meet a minimum adjusted score in each of the four sections shown below or overall score of Proficient to be further considered for the Program:

●        Reading: 65.0% or higher

●        Math: 63.0% or higher

●        Science: 42.0% or higher

●        English: 55.0% or higher

OR an overall score in the Proficient range (58.7 – 79.3%)

The TEAS test will be administered at Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing, and all candidates must take the TEAS in person at Diman. All candidates will be given instructions for obtaining study materials.

Upon completing the above-listed documentation, an interview with the Program Administrator is required. The applicant will then be requested to submit three (3) professional references after the interview (reference forms will be given at that time).

B.  Upon notification of meeting eligibility requirements for the Practical Nursing Program, the following documentation must be provided to be accepted into the program:

1.    Seat/orientation fee payment within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving a letter of acceptance.

2.    Satisfactory completion of the CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and SORI (Sexual Offender Record Information) process. All clinical facilities reserve the right to conduct additional CORI and SORI verification, Nurse Aide registry check or Federal government background check (Federal facilities only).

3.    Proof of residency.

4.    Proof of current health insurance for duration of Program (which must be maintained for the entire duration of the Program).

5.    Payment of student nurse liability insurance.

6.    Health requirements:

• Proof of Immunizations according to the Department of Public Health (DPH) requirements:
• Covid19 Vaccine –Updated COVID Vaccine/Booster 2025- 2026 (subject to change with DPH/CDC requirements for long-term care facilities)
• Flu vaccine for current year (completed in the fall of the year of admission to the program)
• Completed Hepatitis B series or positive titer
• Negative TB testing or negative CXR for positive converters, or negative QuantiFERON blood test
• MMR vaccine or positive titers
• Varicella vaccine, medical confirmation of the disease, or positive titer
• TDAP or Tetanus booster within 10 years
• Urine drug test

7.    Proof of physical exam within the past year

8.    Proof of current CPR (BLS Healthcare Provider with AED) certification (American Heart Association) which must be in good standing for the duration of the Program*

9.    Common Clinical Requirements include: CORI/SORI checks, Drug Tests, Liability Insurance, COVID Booster, Flu vaccine, COVID testing.

*Students not able to submit proof of certification will be required to sign up for classes and submit certification prior to the start of the program.

The Program Administrator and Program faculty are responsible for establishing admission policy and procedures. Responsibilities of this committee include:

1. Determine the standards for admission

2. Develop and implement admission procedures

3. Processing of applications

4. Ranking students

5. Acceptance of students according to the procedure and criteria contained in the admission policy

6. Establishment and maintenance of a waitlist for acceptable candidates

 Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing disseminates information about the Program using a variety of methods:

1. Informational sessions are offered monthly from December to May to assist interested applicants in gathering information about the Program and the application process.

2. Students and faculty participate in the School Open House annually.

3. The Practical Nurse Program open house brochure is distributed to local high school guidance offices, career centers, and health care agencies along the Southcoast.

4. The Program Administrator attends local college career days and is available to speak to area agencies that may have employees or interested candidates.

5. The Program Administrator or designee meets with juniors and seniors from the school’s Health Assisting Program to provide information about the program and application process.

6. The school website https://www.dimanregional.org/our-programs/practical-nursing contains frequently asked questions about the Program, application, test dates, and informational session dates being offered.

Section VI. Application Procedure

Applicants interested in applying for admission must:

1. Obtain an application by downloading it here https://www.dimanregional.org/our-programs/practical-nursing and scrolling down to forms, or by picking up an application at the Practical Nurse Program office (appointments necessary). 

2. Submit a completed application form, typed essay, and the $50.00 application fee by mail or in person to the Practical Nurse Program office.

3. Select an entrance exam test date for the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS VII) Examination. Pre-registration and payment are required prior to the testing date. The testing schedule may be found on the LPN website under TEAS Test. The test is given at Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing at 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA 02720

   1. Applicants are required to bring a valid government-issued photo ID or passport when registering for the test. TEAS VII covers reading, math, science, and English. The test takes approximately four (4) hours. Students are requested to arrive at school at least one (1) hour before the scheduled start time. Students are advised to prepare in advance for the exam.

   2. TEAS VII study manuals may be purchased online from ATI (www.atitesting.com) and are also available on Amazon (Amazon.com) and Barnes and Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com) websites.

   3. As of November 1, 2022, Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing will only accept TEAS testing in person at our facility. Student-supplied copies are not considered official, and TEAS results can NOT be more than one year old. Applicants must wait thirty (30) days between retakes for scores to be accepted by the program, and are only allowed three (3) attempts in one year.

4. It is highly recommended that applicants attend an informational session before applying/testing. Informational sessions begin in September. Information regarding these sessions may be found on the school website or by clicking https://www.dimanregional.org/our-programs/practical-nursing, scrolling down to Information Sessions. Pre-registration is required by emailing: csantos@dimanregional.org 

5. Completed applications must include:

   1. The application to Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing

   2. $50.00 Application Fee

   3. Official high school transcript with evidence of graduation or GED/HISET pass scores

   4. Application Essay addressing "Why I want to be a Practical Nurse" and "Why am I choosing Diman Regional School of Practical Nursing?" The essay will be reviewed for content, sentence structure, spelling, and grammar.

   5. Three (3) professional references: immediate supervisor (past or present), an employer (past or present), teachers or counselors, or a person with whom you have collaborated on a completed project or community service are suggested. Immediate family, friends, or coworkers will not be considered. Reference forms will be given at the time of the interview. Do not send generic references with the application.

   6. At the time of the interview, a spontaneous 100-word maximum handwritten essay will be required. The essay is scored for content and format.

Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and/or Program Administrator.

Click here to download the application

Applications are reviewed and evaluated using the following criteria:

TEAS VII Score Rubric..................................... 25 points

Three (3) reference forms….............................. 5 points

Interview Rubric............................................ 30 points

Essay Rubric................................................. 10 points

Note: Scores listed are the maximum score for each category. Final admission is also contingent upon satisfactory results of the Criminal Offender Record Information Release (CORI) and Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI), if 18 years or older, health requirements, and CPR requirements.

Applicants will be ranked and accepted by the Admissions Committee and/or Program Administrator according to the procedure and criteria contained in this policy. A wait list will be established by the Committee. The wait list is valid for the current academic year. In-district applicants will be given priority when scores are equal. All applicants will be notified of their status.

     Accepted      __Placed on wait list      __Not Accepted

The applicant, upon receipt of a letter from the Program indicating that the applicant was not accepted or was placed on a wait list for admission, may request a review of this decision by requesting an appointment with the Program Administrator.

The Program Administrator will respond in writing to the findings within 30 days. If further review is necessary, the applicant may send a letter requesting a review to the Superintendent-Director. The Superintendent-Director will respond in writing to the letter with findings of the review within 30 days.

Revised 2/14, 4/17, 6/17, 1/2020, 10/2022