Trident Technical College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Anchored at the Thornley Campus in North Charleston, Trident Technical College (TTC) is the Lowcountry’s largest provider of nursing education, with a dedicated Nursing and Science Building and high-fidelity simulation. This guide summarizes Practical Nursing, ADN, and LPN-to-ADN advanced placement, rolling first-qualified admission, tri-county tuition tiers, and calendar-year 2025 first-time NCLEX statistics from TTC’s Nursing Program Outcomes page—confirm active cohorts with TTC’s portal Nursing academic site and the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
TTC pairs tri-county tuition (Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester) with a new Nursing and Science Building, programmable simulation mannequins across the lifespan, and clinical experiences throughout the Lowcountry. Published Nursing Program Outcomes show first-time NCLEX pass percentages beside SC and national comparison columns as TTC reports them—always confirm the latest cohort with the college and the Board.
Overview & Why Students Choose Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College, part of the South Carolina Technical College System, operates from the Thornley Campus in North Charleston and additional sites across Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties. TTC markets itself as the largest provider of nursing education in the Lowcountry, pairing coastal hospital density with a 90,000-square-foot Nursing and Science Building that houses simulation suites mirroring inpatient equipment.
Rather than a single BSN track, TTC stacks pre-licensure credentials: a Practical Nursing diploma (NCLEX-PN), a generic Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) sequence (NCLEX-RN), and an LPN-to-ADN advanced placement option for qualified licensees—plus a Pre-Nursing Certificate that can satisfy one admission route when earned at the published GPA threshold. Admission is first-qualified, first-admitted with no fixed deadline posted on the apply page, so pacing your prerequisites and entrance testing matters as much as meeting minimums.
For the measurement period 1/1/2025–12/31/2025, Trident Technical College reports 96.22% first-time NCLEX-RN pass for the ADN program, with 91.63% (South Carolina average) and 86.71% (national average) shown in the same TTC outcomes table. TTC’s February 2026 news release echoes that rate (229 of 238 first-time testers). Confirm current statistics with tridenttech.edu/outcomes and the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing.
Reasons students choose Trident Technical College
Lowcountry clinical depth
Charleston’s referral hospitals, community networks, and long-term care employers create diverse rotation opportunities—but assignments vary by semester contract; use information sessions to ask how cohorts are placed.
Documented NCLEX performance
TTC publishes calendar-year first-time NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN percentages with SC and national comparators in the same row, making it easier to read the school’s benchmarking story at a glance.
Stacked PN → ADN pathways
Students can enter PN, licensure, and later pursue ADN; generic ADN and LPN-to-ADN advanced placement share catalog links with downloadable 2025 sequence PDFs.
Transparent residency tuition
Tri-county residents receive the lowest published per-credit tuition tier; other South Carolina counties and out-of-state students have separate rates on the official Tuition and Payment schedule.
Multiple admission options
Depending on your background, you may qualify via prior degree GPA, NLN NEX scores (60th percentile composite), or completion of the Pre-Nursing Certificate—details are spelled out in the Division of Nursing Admission Requirements.
Nursing Programs Offered
The list reflects Trident Technical College’s Nursing Degrees hub, the catalog ADN program, Practical Nursing diploma, and downloadable 2025 sequence PDFs. TTC does not confer a BSN, MSN, or DNP—plan transfer or RN-to-BSN programs after licensure if you need a bachelor’s.
Certificate pathway: Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Certificate
TTC describes a 20 semester-hour curriculum certificate that can satisfy admission option (c) when completed with a minimum 2.75 certificate GPA, no more than three repeats among the six required courses, and minimum grades of C—per the Division of Nursing Admission Requirements. Finish the certificate before submitting the nursing application if you select this route.
Pre-licensure: Practical Nursing (LPN)
Practical Nursing — Diploma in Applied Science
Prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN eligibility. Instruction combines theory, campus skills and simulation work, and clinical practice. Students initially admitted to PN who wish to continue into TTC’s ADN must later show proof of an unencumbered South Carolina PN license before progressing, per admission requirements. Follow the Practical Nursing Sequence 2025 PDF for the published course flow.
Pre-licensure: Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
Nursing-ADN — Associate in Applied Science
The ADN page links a sample Nursing-ADN sequence for 2025 covering general education and nursing courses with simulation and clinical experiences. Graduates apply for NCLEX-RN. TTC states accreditation through ACEN and oversight from the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing on its nursing index—confirm current letters and approval statuses directly with those agencies.
Pathway: LPN to ADN (Advanced Placement)
Advanced placement for licensed practical nurses
Licensed practical nurses from other programs—or those away from TTC’s PN program two or more years—may qualify for the LPN-ADN option after meeting transcript, licensure, predictor score, biology grade, and ≥960 hour employment verification requirements spelled out on the admission page. See the LPN-to-ADN Sequence 2025 PDF. Accepted students return seat paperwork and, per the apply page, may owe a $100 seat reservation fee processed through the Business Office.
Completing TTC coursework does not guarantee licensure. Criminal history may require Board review before NCLEX authorization. Prior to the first clinical nursing course you need a 2.0 cumulative GPA, clear student conduct status, and a college-approved background check/drug screen within six months of entry—plus immunizations and clinical policies outlined in TTC nursing materials.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to Trident Technical College’s Nursing Program Outcomes page, first-time NCLEX-RN performance for the ADN program during 1/1/2025–12/31/2025 was 96.22% for TTC students, compared with 91.63% for the South Carolina average column and 86.71% for the national average column—as printed in the same TTC outcome block. Trident’s February 2026 news story adds that 229 of 238 first-time RN candidates passed in 2025.
Always reconcile school-disclosed percentages with South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing publications and NCSBN references, because different reports may use alternate time windows or definitions.
NCLEX-PN (Practical Nursing)
For the same 2025 calendar-year window, TTC reports a reported 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for its Practical Nursing program, with 91.51% (SC) and 86.6% (national) comparison columns on the outcomes page. The news release notes 34 PN graduates all passed on first attempt. Strong cohorts still vary year to year—confirm methodology, tester counts, and newer tables directly with TTC.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (TTC ADN, CY 2025) | 96.22% (TTC table); 229/238 first-time testers (TTC news article) |
| NCLEX-PN first-time pass (TTC PN, CY 2025) | Reported 100% (TTC outcomes table; 34 graduates per TTC news) |
| Source | TTC Nursing Program Outcomes · TTC news — Nursing licensure results · SC LLR Board of Nursing. Confirm current cohorts with TTC and the Board. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort. Use TTC’s published outcomes and news as a starting point, then verify the latest board-reported data before you make budgeting or relocation decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with Trident Technical College and the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- South Carolina Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
Policies change frequently. Start with TTC’s admissions office for F-1 documentation, English proficiency, and clinical eligibility; confirm licensure steps separately through the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Trident Technical College accepts nursing applicants on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. The Apply to the Nursing Program page explicitly states no application deadline, but you still must finish general college admission, transcript evaluation, entrance-option requirements, and portal steps before you occupy the next open seat. Because requirements post inside the Nursing academic site on my.tridenttech.edu, treat every semester as a fresh compliance check.
Cohorts admitting now (check before you apply)
| Posted intake | Programs (per admission page snapshot) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2026 | LPN-ADN advanced placement | Dates change—read the live “Admitting Now for” list on the Division of Nursing Admission Requirements page. |
| Spring 2027 | ADN (generic) | Plan prerequisites and NEX or alternate options early because seats fill without a fixed deadline. |
| Fall 2027 | Practical Nursing diploma | PN students planning to ladder into ADN must secure licensure before progression. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA at clinical entry | 2.0 cumulative GPA and not on academic or disciplinary suspension at program entry (per apply page). |
| Entrance options (generic PN & ADN) | (a) Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited school with minimum 2.75 GPA plus 2.0 cumulative; (b) NLN NEX composite ≥ 60th percentile (scores valid two years); or (c) Pre-Nursing Certificate with minimum 2.75 certificate GPA, grades ≥ C, and ≤ three repeats across six courses. |
| Science recency | If you recently earned <2.0 at any college within five years, TTC may require 10 semester hours of C-or-better work including at least one required lab science within five years of program entry—per admission requirements. |
| LPN-ADN extras | Eight-point scoring grid, PN Comprehensive Predictor, BIO grades, SC PN license, transcripts, and possible 960-hour employment verification for certain applicants. |
| TEAS exam | Not listed as the preadmission test on the public admission page reviewed here; TTC specifies NLN NEX for option (b). |
Applicant tip: Register for a nursing information session and review the Nursing academic tile in your portal at the start of each semester so you catch policy tweaks before paying for another science class.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Trident Technical College publishes semester tuition tables for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 on its Tuition and Payment page. Amounts below reflect academic tuition per credit hour before the listed $18.34 registration fee (and before any Lottery Tuition Assistance line items shown on multi-hour examples). Nursing students should also plan for clinical uniforms, testing fees (including NLN NEX registration through TTC Testing Services), books, a college-designated background check/drug screen, liability insurance, and NCLEX application costs.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tri-county residency (Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester) | $200.00 tuition per credit hour (1-credit row) |
| Other South Carolina residency | $221.89 tuition per credit hour (1-credit row) |
| Out-of-state residency | $378.64 tuition per credit hour (1-credit row) |
| Registration fee (2025–26 table) | $18.34 per semester on the published grid (example: 1 credit tri-county total $218.34) |
| Other charges | Some courses add supplemental fees; review the catalog Fees section and your registration statement. |
| Source | TTC Tuition and Payment · Financial Aid hub · Cost of Attendance |
TTC also highlights SCWINS and other state programs for eligible workforce pathways—ask financial aid how they interact with nursing cohort charges.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
TTC’s Nursing Program Outcomes page combines first-time NCLEX statistics with on-time completion metrics. On-time completion for ADN is defined as 24 months after enrolling in the first nursing course; PN uses 12 months. Employment percentages were not reproduced here because they were not fully visible in the outcomes excerpt reviewed for this page—ask the Division of Nursing for the latest graduate follow-up survey or consumer disclosures.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass | 96.22% (CY 2025, TTC outcomes) |
| NCLEX-PN first-time pass | Reported 100% (CY 2025, TTC outcomes; 34 graduates cited in TTC news) |
| ADN on-time completion (actuals listed) | Spring 2023 cohort start 32.4%; Fall 2023 31.8%; Spring 2024 34.6% (TTC outcomes page) |
| PN on-time completion | Fall 2024 cohort start 25% (TTC outcomes page) |
| Job placement / salary | Not available in the provided outcomes excerpt—confirm with TTC nursing administration or published consumer information. |
| Source | TTC Nursing Program Outcomes · TTC news release · SC LLR Board of Nursing |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes strong demand for RNs nationally, but starting wages in Charleston depend on employer, shift differentials, and specialty—use official HR portals rather than rumors when you compare offers.
Is Trident Technical College the Right Fit for You?
TTC suits students who can travel throughout the tri-county area for labs and hospital rotations, tolerate rolling admission uncertainty (“next seat” timing), and complete NLN NEX (or alternate) entrance requirements. If you require a fully online clinical program or a guaranteed start date the moment prerequisites finish, map multiple schools.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Reside in Charleston, Berkeley, or Dorchester counties and benefit from the lowest posted tuition tier.
- Want PN and ADN options on one campus with published NCLEX dashboards.
- Value a large simulation footprint before entering Lowcountry hospitals.
- Already hold a PN license and can satisfy the eight-point LPN-ADN rubric plus employment verification when applicable.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need fixed national application deadlines—TTC intentionally uses rolling qualification.
- Cannot commute to North Charleston and regional clinical sites on short notice.
- Expect a four-year BSN entirely at a community college.
- Are uncomfortable with ongoing compliance testing, background checks, and professionalism audits each semester.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Trident Technical College sits amid the Charleston metropolitan area—home to academic medical centers, large community hospitals, military treatment facilities, and coastal public-health programs. TTC’s public materials emphasize Lowcountry clinical affiliates generically; the school controls placement through current contracts, so request the semester-specific clinical partner list from the Division of Nursing rather than assuming a particular employer.
| Facility / system | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) | Academic medical center and regional referral hub; typical source of high-acuity learning opportunities for Charleston-area programs (individual rotations vary). |
| Roper St. Francis Healthcare | Multi-hospital community system serving the metro area; strong demand for bedside RNs and LPNs in med-surg and progressive care units. |
| Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center | Federal facility offering unique veteran-centric competencies; availability depends on federal affiliation agreements each term. |
Population growth, tourism, and retirement migration keep nurse recruiting active, but clinical placement is not a job offer—budget for multiple employers when you compare signing incentives and schedules.
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing theory, skills laboratories, and simulation occur primarily on the Thornley (Main) Campus — Building 410 area in North Charleston, inside the Nursing and Science Building TTC highlights publicly. That facility houses programmable adult, pediatric, newborn, and maternal simulators plus equipment matched to inpatient rooms so you can rehearse assessments before clinical rotation.
Beyond nursing, TTC runs additional locations in Mount Pleasant, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties for select coursework or student services. Nursing-specific policies—uniforms, attendance, clinical professionalism—live in the portal’s Nursing academic site and any published handbook PDFs; review them before accepting a seat.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Main / Thornley Campus
- 7000 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406
- Nursing division (Testing Services reference)
- Building 410, Room 202 — per TTC nursing admission page
- Main telephone
- 843-574-6111
- Student portal
- my.tridenttech.edu
- Website
- tridenttech.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Create or log in to my.tridenttech.edu and open the Nursing academic site for the latest admission PDFs.
- Download the 2025 sequence PDFs for PN, ADN, or LPN-to-ADN from the nursing hub and compare them with your transcripts.
- If you need option (b), schedule the NLN NEX through TTC Testing Services and aim for ≥60th percentile composite.
- Model tuition using the Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 / Summer 2026 table for your residency tier, then add fees and nursing supplies.
- Complete general college admission and submit official transcripts before you file the nursing application in the portal.
- Register for a nursing information session (WebEx links rotate on tridenttech.edu).
- Bookmark the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing for future NCLEX and licensure questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Trident Technical College award a BSN on campus?
No. TTC’s nursing programs are the Practical Nursing diploma, the ADN (NCLEX-RN), the LPN-to-ADN advanced placement option to the same ADN, and the Pre-Nursing certificate pathway. Earn your BSN later through a university partner after RN licensure—confirm articulation agreements with TTC advisors.
What first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate does Trident Technical College report for 2025?
TTC’s Nursing Program Outcomes page lists 96.22% for the ADN program during calendar year 2025, with SC and national comparison columns in the same table. A February 2026 college news story repeats the rate and cites 229 of 238 first-time testers. Confirm newer data with tridenttech.edu/outcomes and the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing.
What does Trident Technical College publish for NCLEX-PN in 2025?
The outcomes page shows a reported 100% first-time NCLEX-PN pass rate for 2025 with SC and national comparators; the news article mentions 34 PN graduates. Outcomes vary by cohort—verify definitions with TTC before treating any percentage as predictive.
What are Trident Technical College’s 2025–26 tuition tiers?
TTC’s Tuition and Payment schedule lists $200 per credit for tri-county residents (Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester), $221.89 for other South Carolina residents, and $378.64 for out-of-state students for Fall 2025 through Summer 2026 academic tuition—plus the published registration fee and course-specific charges.
Does Trident Technical College require TEAS or another exam?
Public nursing admission requirements reference the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (NEX) at the 60th percentile composite for option (b), valid two years, unless you qualify via degree GPA or Pre-Nursing Certificate GPA instead. Always verify current testing rules in the Nursing academic portal—not unofficial blogs.
How do application deadlines work at Trident Technical College nursing?
TTC states there is no fixed deadline; qualified applicants are admitted first-come to the next seat. The admission page also lists which cohorts are actively admitting (for example Summer 2026 LPN-ADN). Requirements may change each semester—check the portal before you submit.
What distinguishes Trident Technical College’s LPN-to-ADN option?
Eligible LPNs pursue advanced placement after transcripts, licensure proof, predictor scores, biology grades, and—when applicable—employment verification totaling 960 hours. Accepted students follow the published LPN-to-ADN PDF sequence and may owe a $100 seat fee noted on the apply page.
Where should international students verify requirements for Trident Technical College?
Start with TTC admissions for visa documentation, English proficiency, and clinical eligibility; confirm RN/PN licensure steps separately with the South Carolina LLR Board of Nursing and CGFNS if applicable. This answer is general guidance—not legal advice.
References
- Trident Technical College — Nursing Degrees hubtridenttech.edu/programs/divisions/nur/index.html
- Trident Technical College — Division of Nursing Admission Requirements…/admission_requirements.html
- Trident Technical College — Apply to the Nursing Program…/apply.html
- Trident Technical College — Nursing Program Outcomes…/outcomes.html
- Trident Technical College — Nursing Students Surpass State and National Averages (news)…/nursing_results2025.html
- Trident Technical College — Tuition and Paymenttridenttech.edu/cost/tuition.html
- Trident Technical College — NLN NEX / Nursing Testing…/testing/nursing.html
- South Carolina LLR — Board of Nursingllr.sc.gov/nurse
- 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, for alignment with Trident Technical College’s published nursing division pages (admission, apply, outcomes, tuition) and for accurate distinction between tri-county tuition tiers and rolling admission language.
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 the institution and the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
Published: 2026-03-31 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy