Health Professions Testing Guide

UPDATE - Check out the new National League for Nursing Product Update. Click here for the PAX to NEX update.

Westmoreland County Community College uses the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Assessment to assist in the facilitation of admissions decisions. Students seeking admission into the Nursing and Dental Hygiene programs need to complete an entrance assessment and have their scores submitted to Westmoreland County Community College.

Who should take an entrance exam?

Students who have completed a health professions program application for Nursing, LPN Advanced Standing, Dental Hygiene, or Radiology Technology

Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Radiology Technology applicants should take NEX
LPN applicants applying for LPN to RN Transition Nursing should take NACE FN1.2 Foundations of Nursing v1.2

How much does the exam cost?

Nursing - NEX - $73.50/Attempt
Nursing, LPN Advanced Standing (Must be an LPN) - FN1.2 Foundations of Nursing v1.2 - $86/Attempt
Dental Hygiene - NEX- $73.50/Attempt
Radiology Technology - NEX - $73.50/Attempt

When should exam scores be submitted?

Exam scores must be submitted by the program application deadline:

January 12 - Dental Hygiene, Radiology Technology, and LPN Advanced Standing wanting to start in the daytime program
March 1 - Daytime Nursing
May 15 - LPN Advanced Standing wanting to start in the evening program
Sept 1 - Evening Nursing

Can I take the exam more than once?

Yes, but Westmoreland will only evaluate applicants based on the highest of two attempts submitted to us each application cycle.

Years are defined as:

Jan 13-Jan 12 of the following year - Dental Hygiene, Radiology Technology, and LPN Advanced Standing wanting to start in the daytime program
Mar 2-Mar 1 of the following year - Daytime Nursing
May 16 - May 15 of the following year - LPN Advanced Standing wanting to start in the evening program
Sept 2 - Sept 1 of the following year - Evening Nursing

There is a 30-day waiting period between attempts.

If an applicant does not meet the benchmark score for the selected program, the two allowed attempts for the NEX or NACE assessment exams will be nullified after the acceptance date for that program or option. Students must submit a new application for the next cycle and have received a “not accepted” notice before reattempting the NEX or NACE assessment.

Student Example

A student applies on January 2 for the Fall start Nursing program. They register for and take the NEX exam on January 7, scoring a 65. They retake the NEX exam on February 15 and score a 125. On March 15, the student was notified that they were not accepted into the Fall start Nursing program.

The student then applies for the Spring start Nursing program on May 1. As part of the new application cycle, they took the NEX exam again on May 15 and scored a 135. They retake the NEX exam on June 30 and score a 145. The student now has a qualifying NEX score for the Spring start Nursing program.

Is there a minimum score to be considered for the Nursing Program?

A minimum RN composite score of 138 is required on the NEX for consideration.

Is there a minimum score to be considered for the LPN Advanced Standing Program?

LPNs will need to score a minimum LPN composite score of 75 on the NACE for consideration.

Is there a minimum score to be considered for Dental Hygiene?

A minimum RN composite score of 138 is required on the NEX for consideration.

Is there a minimum score to be considered for the Radiology Technology Program?

A minimum of 138 is required on the NEX for consideration.

Where can I get more information or ask additional questions?

General information for testing can be found at this link
If you have additional questions regarding this process or technical issues please reach out to the NLN at studenthelp@nln.org.