Portland Community College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Portland Community College delivers a competitive, OCNE-aligned ADN (AAS Nursing) cohort on the Sylvania campus plus Nursing Assistant non-credit training. This guide pulls first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates from the Oregon State Board of Nursing, tuition and fee rates from PCC’s enrollment pages, and admissions rules from PCC Nursing / NURSINGCAS—confirm every deadline and cost before you apply.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
PCC sits inside the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE), so prerequisites, curriculum philosophy, and application expectations align with other OCNE community colleges and OHSU. That means you get a Portland-priced ADN with a defined bridge path toward a bachelor’s at OHSU or a Linfield articulation if you continue—but you still must survive a multi-phase, points-based admission cycle capped near 40 fall seats.
Overview & Why Students Choose Portland Community College
Across the Portland metro, Portland Community College (PCC) is the large public two-year option that runs a single Associate of Applied Science in Nursing track for NCLEX-RN preparation, housed with nursing administration at the Sylvania campus. PCC’s own mission statement stresses evidence-based, student-centered education aimed at producing graduates who can meet changing community health needs—language mirrored in OCNE partnership materials.
The college also operates a non-credit Nursing Assistant sequence for students seeking CNA licensure, with separate limited-entry steps from the degree program. PCC is explicit that clinical practicum occurs in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and skilled nursing sites throughout Portland, so your workload mixes campus lab time with substantial community-based practice.
According to the Oregon State Board of Nursing “RN/LPN Education Program NCLEX Pass Rates” PDF (updated January 2026), Portland Community College’s associate RN program recorded a 91% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate with 33 first-time candidates in 2025. Confirm the next publication cycle on the OSBN pass-rates document and with PCC Nursing.
Reasons students choose Portland Community College
OCNE collaboration & bachelor’s bridges
PCC is an OCNE member, sharing prerequisite expectations with partner schools; overview materials describe options to continue toward a BSN at OHSU or through Linfield University articulation after the associate degree.
Transparent Oregon OSBN outcomes
Board-published pass-rate tables let you benchmark PCC against other Oregon associate programs using the same first-time candidate counts—for example, 2024 shows 90% (31 testers) and 2023 shows 100% (29 testers) in the same OSBN compilation.
Portland clinical volume
PCC markets rotations across the region’s hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing, and community agencies, giving exposure to diverse patient populations and high-acuity settings typical of a major West Coast city.
Documented program costs
The nursing program costs page itemizes estimates for books, uniforms, ATI tools, and compliance spending atop tuition—helpful for realistic budgeting.
Defined admissions phases
Limited entry runs through NursingCAS (NCAS) with a 52-point academic and experience rubric, followed by HSRT invitations and faculty review of essays, resumes, and interest letters—clear milestones if you plan multiple application cycles.
Nursing Programs Offered
The listings below mirror PCC’s Nursing program hub and the AAS Nursing catalog-style plan (108 total credits in the 2025–2026 grid PCC publishes). PCC does not award a BSN or MSN; bachelor’s completion happens through partner universities after licensure.
Pre-licensure (RN)
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN; AAS Nursing)
Two years of full-time study after admission, blending NRS nursing courses with sciences and general education. Graduates qualify to sit for NCLEX-RN after Oregon State Board of Nursing approval of the program. PCC lists Continuing Accreditation from ACEN for the Sylvania-based associate program.
Entry-level credentials
Nursing Assistant training
PCC’s non-credit Nursing Assistant pathway prepares students for Oregon CNA credentialing; it uses separate application instructions from the AAS Nursing degree and is hosted partly at the CLIMB Center per the program overview.
Post-licensure at PCC
PCC does not list an RN-to-BSN completion degree in the nursing overview; plan on transferring to OHSU, Linfield, or another OCNE partner for bachelor’s coursework after you hold an RN license.
Community college catalogs change—if a new pathway appears, verify titles on PCC’s official nursing site and the catalog nursing discipline page rather than inferring MSN, ABSN, or LPN tracks PCC does not publish.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Oregon State Board of Nursing compilation titled “RN/LPN Education Program NCLEX Pass Rates” (updated January 2026), the most recent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for Portland Community College (associate program, Portland) was 91% among 33 first-time candidates in 2025. The same table lists 90% (31 candidates, 2024), 100% (29 candidates, 2023), 93% (27 candidates, 2022), and 94% (34 candidates, 2021) for PCC’s associate RN column.
PCC’s nursing pages also point to a student achievement data PDF summarizing multi-year NCLEX performance for internal program review—use it alongside, not instead of, the Board table when you compare cohorts. For the latest data, see the Oregon OSBN pass-rates PDF.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (2025) | 91% (33 first-time candidates) per Oregon OSBN associate-degree table |
| Recent prior years (same OSBN table) | 2024: 90% (31); 2023: 100% (29); 2022: 93% (27) |
| Source | Oregon State Board of Nursing — RN/LPN NCLEX pass rates (updated Jan 2026). Confirm current cohort statistics with the OSBN and PCC Nursing. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Always confirm the latest first-time pass rates and candidate counts with the Oregon State Board of Nursing and PCC Nursing before you make application decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
This section is general guidance, not legal, immigration, or licensure advice. PCC’s international admissions staff and the Oregon State Board of Nursing must confirm your specific situation.
- English-language proficiency: Minimum TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores for degree or non-credit pathways, plus any nursing-specific documentation PCC requires.
- Transcript evaluation: Course-by-course reports acceptable to PCC admissions and, if applicable, prior-to-NCLEX evaluations required by Oregon.
- Oregon Board of Nursing: For any RN or CNA licensing step—whether after a U.S. program or via endorsement—confirm eligibility, background checks, and NCLEX registration rules directly with the Board.
- Visa & clinical clearance: Limited-entry clinical programs often require documentation that can intersect with visa category; ask PCC whether your status supports required clinical hours.
Policies change frequently. Verify with PCC International Education, PCC Nursing, and the Oregon State Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
PCC describes the Nursing AAS as extremely competitive, accepting up to 40 students each fall. You must apply through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS / NCAS), pay the $65 NCAS fee (per PCC’s published Fall 2026 instructions), and complete 45 prerequisite credits with a minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA, grades of C or higher, and no Pass/No Pass in those prerequisites. Anatomy & physiology sequences and other sciences must fall within seven years of application.
Selection starts with a 52-point academic-and-experience worksheet detailed in PCC’s admissions guide PDF. Phase II invites top scorers to complete the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT), essays, resume, and letter of interest; faculty review those materials alongside HSRT results before Phase III orientation commitments.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 cohort | December 2, 2025 – February 16, 2026 (8:59 p.m. PST) | Apply via NursingCAS; transcripts, experience forms, essays, resume, and fee due by deadline per PCC. |
| Phase II (HSRT) | April 2026 (approx.) | Invited applicants complete HSRT and submit narrative materials. |
| Program start | September 21, 2026 (per PCC timeline) | Mandatory orientations scheduled early June and mid-September 2026. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed; cohort capped near 40 seats/year per PCC. |
| Minimum prerequisite GPA | 3.0 in the required 45 credits (PCC Nursing apply page). |
| TEAS / HSRT | ATI TEAS is not the exam highlighted on PCC’s ADN application page; instead, invited applicants take the HSRT in Phase II. Always reconfirm testing in the current NursingCAS instructions. |
| Healthcare experience | Applicants can earn points for healthcare credentials and paid or unpaid healthcare experience (see application materials). |
Honest tip: Because PCC uses a points profile, documentation (licenses, verifiable hours, completed support courses, PCC enrollment history) matters as much as GPA—start assembling evidence early and align essay prompts with OCNE competencies.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
PCC’s Tuition and fees page lists $138 per credit for students classified as residents of Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, or Nevada (and for students eligible under specified VA education benefits). Non-resident tuition is $288 per credit for other domestic or international students. Add $4.25/credit student activity fee, $7.35/credit instructional technology fee, up to $45 lab fees per course, and a $15 per term college service fee.
Nursing-specific estimates on PCC’s program costs page (based on 2024–25 when published) include about $1,100 books, $300 uniforms/shoes, $45 watch, $50–$200 stethoscope, and roughly $2,600 ATI exams & tools, plus clinical requirements such as BLS, background checks, and drug screens.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Resident tuition (border-state tier) | $138/credit + fees listed on PCC tuition page |
| Non-resident tuition | $288/credit + same fee structure |
| Nursing add-on estimates | See PCC nursing program costs for books, uniforms, ATI, and clinical compliance line items. |
| Source | PCC — Tuition and fees; PCC Nursing — program costs. Confirm current rates with PCC Enrollment Services before registering. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Licensure outcomes are summarized using the Oregon State Board of Nursing associate-degree table (see NCLEX-RN Pass Rate) and PCC’s program-level achievement PDF linked from the nursing site.
For employment context, PCC’s AAS page cites the Oregon Employment Department forecasting 20.5% growth in Portland-area nursing employment through 2027 and hourly wage ranges with an average annual salary of $106,086 for Portland-area RNs—confirm methodology and recency on PCC’s page and the state labor market site before relying on those figures in your budgeting.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (2025) | 91% (33 testers) — Oregon OSBN table cited above |
| Regional demand (PCC citation) | PCC quotes Oregon Employment Department projections for Portland-area RN employment; treat as directional and confirm with official labor data. |
| Job placement / employment rate | Not publicly disclosed on the PCC nursing pages reviewed for this guide; ask PCC Career Centers for graduate surveys if available. |
| Source | Oregon OSBN NCLEX PDF; PCC AAS Nursing overview. |
Is Portland Community College the Right Fit for You?
PCC fits applicants who want a public, OCNE-structured ADN inside Portland with board-documented NCLEX trends, but it demands disciplined prerequisite pacing and polished application materials.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Can meet the 3.0 prerequisite GPA and thrive in a multi-phase NursingCAS process.
- Value OCNE-aligned curriculum and potential OHSU or Linfield transitions after licensure.
- Want clinical immersion across a major Pacific Northwest metro rather than a single rural hospital corridor.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Expect an immediate, guaranteed seat—PCC caps near 40 fall starts annually.
- Need a fully online pre-licensure RN; the AAS requires face-to-face labs and practicum.
- Want a traditional four-year BSN or MSN on the same community-college transcript.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
PCC nursing students rotate through Portland-area acute, ambulatory, long-term, and public-health agencies. Exact contracts rotate yearly, but the metro’s major employers illustrate the complexity of patients you are likely to encounter:
| System / site type | Relevance |
|---|---|
| OHSU Hospital & academic facilities | Tertiary referral center and teaching hospital network connected to PCC via OCNE and transition advising. |
| Providence Health & Services | Large multi-hospital system operating numerous Portland-region campuses for med-surg and specialty care. |
| Legacy Health | Community-through-quaternary services with strong labor/delivery, surgical, and ICU census. |
| Kaiser Permanente Northwest | Integrated delivery model exposing students to capitated-system nursing workflows. |
| VA Portland Health Care System | Federal veterans’ care environment emphasizing chronic disease, rehab, and behavioral health services. |
Always confirm which agencies are active clinical partners during your admit year with PCC Nursing administration.
Student Experience & Campus Life
Degree-seeking nursing students center their coursework at Sylvania (SW Portland), with the Nursing office in HT 127. PCC highlights simulation-integrated labs, skills practice, and the broader Sylvania amenities—libraries, performing arts spaces, MakerLab, and sustainability programs—that support a large commuter student body. Student governance, multicultural and veterans centers, and campus shuttles connecting PCC locations help balance demanding nursing schedules with support services.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Portland, OR — Nursing office at Sylvania Campus (HT 127)
- Address
- 12000 SW 49th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219, US
- Telephone
- 971-722-6111 (Sylvania Campus main; see Sylvania location page)
- Contact email
- ADN inquiries: use PCC’s Connect with us form · Nursing Assistant: na@pcc.edu
- Website
- pcc.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Create or update your NursingCAS account and read the Fall-cycle PDF timeline on PCC’s apply page.
- Download the admissions guide and map prerequisites (including seven-year science rule) against your transcripts.
- Register for a nursing information session and draft questions about points, essays, and HSRT timing.
- Build your healthcare experience documentation (licenses, volunteer or paid hours) required for the 52-point worksheet.
- Budget ATI purchases, uniforms, and clinical compliance alongside PCC per-credit tuition.
- Review the nursing student handbook for professionalism standards before you accept a seat.
- Bookmark the Oregon OSBN NCLEX table to monitor future PCC cohort data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most recent Oregon State Board of Nursing first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for Portland Community College?
According to the Oregon State Board of Nursing RN/LPN Education Program NCLEX Pass Rates compilation (updated January 2026), Portland Community College’s associate RN program had a first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate of 91 percent with 33 first-time candidates in 2025. Prior published years in the same table include 90 percent (31 candidates, 2024) and 100 percent (29 candidates, 2023). Confirm the newest cohort with the OSBN pass-rates PDF and PCC.
Does Portland Community College offer a BSN or MSN in nursing?
PCC awards the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN pathway) for initial RN licensure preparation and offers non-credit Nursing Assistant training. Baccalaureate or graduate nursing degrees are not PCC awards; admitted students may pursue OCNE articulation to Oregon Health & Science University or agreements such as the Linfield University School of Nursing transition described on PCC’s overview page.
How much is Portland Community College tuition per credit for nursing prerequisites and degree courses?
PCC’s Tuition and fees page lists 138 dollars per credit for residents of Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, or Nevada (and eligible VA-benefit students) plus per-credit student activity and instructional technology fees, a per-term college service fee, and lab fees up to 45 dollars per course. Non-resident tuition is 288 dollars per credit before the same fee structure. Add books, uniforms, ATI tools, and clinical compliance costs using PCC’s nursing program costs page.
Does Portland Community College nursing require the TEAS exam?
PCC’s published ADN application materials emphasize Nursing Centralized Application Service (NCAS) submission, prerequisite GPA, and a multi-phase process that includes the Health Sciences Reasoning Test (HSRT) for invited Phase II applicants—not the ATI TEAS described on this page. Always confirm current testing requirements with PCC Nursing before you register for any exam.
What GPA do you need for Portland Community College’s Nursing AAS?
PCC states applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses (letter grades C or higher; Pass/No Pass not accepted) for the Nursing AAS limited-entry process, with prerequisite science and other courses current within seven years. Competitive selection also uses a 52-point scale covering academics and healthcare experience described in the admissions guide.
How selective is Portland Community College’s nursing program?
PCC describes the Nursing AAS as extremely competitive, admitting up to about 40 students each fall, with applications through NursingCAS (NCAS) and firm transcript and fee deadlines. An acceptance rate is not publicly disclosed on the pages reviewed for this guide.
Where is Portland Community College nursing located?
The ACEN disclosure lists Portland Community College’s associate nursing program at the Sylvania Campus in Portland, Oregon. PCC’s contacts page lists Nursing degree office space at Sylvania, HT 127, with general Sylvania campus address 12000 SW 49th Ave., Portland, OR 97219.
Is Portland Community College’s ADN nursing program accredited?
PCC states the associate degree nursing program at the Sylvania Campus holds Continuing Accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and is approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. Confirm the current decision letter on ACEN’s public disclosure for Portland Community College.
What is OCNE and how does it affect PCC nursing students?
The Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE) is a statewide collaboration PCC belongs to; member schools share comparable prerequisites and curriculum design. PCC notes OCNE alignment with partner community colleges and OHSU, including optional bachelor’s transitions after the associate degree.
References
- Portland Community College — Nursingpcc.edu/programs/nursing
- Portland Community College — Apply to Nursing (NCAS)pcc.edu/programs/nursing/aas-nursing/apply
- Portland Community College — Tuition and feespcc.edu/enroll/paying-for-college/tuition
- Portland Community College — Nursing program costspcc.edu/programs/nursing/costs
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — NCLEX pass rates (PDF)oregon.gov/osbn/Documents/Resource_NCLEXPassrates.pdf
- Oregon State Board of Nursing — homeoregon.gov/OSBN
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) — PCCacenursing.org — Portland Community College
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, focusing on Oregon State Board of Nursing NCLEX tables, PCC nursing and tuition pages, NursingCAS deadline language, and program scope (ADN vs partnered BSN pathways).
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Portland Community College and the Oregon State Board of Nursing.
Published: March 31, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy