North Central Texas College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Along the I-35 corridor north of Dallas–Fort Worth, North Central Texas College (NCTC) offers a Gainesville-based ADN, a multi-site Vocational Nursing (LVN) certificate (including an online hybrid option at Gainesville), and a condensed LVN-to-ADN transition. This guide pulls first-time NCLEX-RN percentages published on the college’s ADN page, Spring 2026 residency tuition rates, and ATI TEAS rules—confirm every deadline and fee with NCTC and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
NCTC’s differentiator is geography and flexibility: the ADN and LVN-to-ADN transition lean on the Leo & Mabel Scott Health Science Center simulation footprint in Gainesville, while LVN runs at Gainesville, Corinth, Bowie, Graham, and an online hybrid option. Cooke County (in-district) students access the lowest per-credit band on the published chart—pair that with the ADN page’s multi-year NCLEX trend when you compare programs.
Overview & Why Students Choose North Central Texas College
North Central Texas College is a public community college whose main campus sits in Gainesville (Cooke County), with additional locations including Corinth, Bowie, and Graham—important because Vocational Nursing is offered across those sites while the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program is anchored at Gainesville with clinical travel throughout North Texas.
The college emphasizes Board-aligned pre-licensure preparation: ADN graduates take NCLEX-RN; LVN graduates take NCLEX-PN. NCTC also publicizes CABNET-linked RN-to-BSN partnerships for graduates who want a bachelor’s after licensure, but it does not award a BSN on campus.
The official NCTC ADN page lists first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of 90.36% (2022), 93.36% (2023), and 96.88% (2024). The same page lists program completion rates for those years. Confirm newer cohorts on nctc.edu and cross-check the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
Reasons students choose NCTC
Multi-year NCLEX disclosure on the ADN site
Applicants can read three consecutive calendar years of first-time NCLEX-RN percentages directly on the ADN program page—useful when comparing trends before applying.
Simulation-intensive transition track
The LVN-to-ADN transition materials describe concentrated simulation at the Scott Health Science Center and blocked coursework—designed for licensed LVNs who want a 12-month path to RN eligibility.
LVN where you live
Vocational Nursing runs at multiple campuses plus an online hybrid format at Gainesville, letting students align commute distance with the catalog’s strict in-person TEAS rule for LVN.
ACEN-accredited ADN
The catalog and ADN page repeat that the Gainesville ADN track holds ACEN Continuing Accreditation—verify letters and dates with ACEN whenever you apply.
Transparent residency tuition bands
NCTC’s Spring 2026 tuition page differentiates Cooke County in-district, Graham ISD branch-in-district, broader Texas in-state, and out-of-state rates per semester credit hour.
Nursing Programs Offered
NCTC does not award a BSN on campus; nursing work centers on the ADN (AAS), the LVN certificate, and the LVN-to-ADN transition. Content below follows the 2025–2026 catalog degree plans and the live ADN/LVN microsites.
Pre-licensure (RN)
Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), AAS — Gainesville
The catalog outlines 60 semester credit hours (24 prerequisites/support + 36 nursing) across four long semesters. Clinical assignments can require travel to communities listed in the catalog (see Healthcare ecosystem). Graduates qualify to apply for NCLEX-RN. Applications post in March and August via MyNCTC.
LVN to ADN transition (12 months)
For currently licensed LVNs, NCTC offers a revised transition completing the ADN in about 12 months (52 credit hours total per catalog). Classes are blocked in eight-week segments with a concentrated practicum near the end; cohorts begin each August. Gainesville applications are typically February 1–28; the catalog also lists a May 1–31 window for the Graham campus transition.
Pre-licensure (LVN)
Vocational Nursing (LVN)
Texas BON–approved 12-month certificate preparing students for NCLEX-PN. Offered at Gainesville, Corinth, Bowie, Graham, and as an online hybrid at Gainesville. After the first semester, students may be eligible to apply to the BON for CNA licensure per the LVN site. TEAS must be completed in person for this program.
Post-licensure / transfer
RN-to-BSN coursework is not completed at NCTC; the college publicizes partner universities (for example Midwestern State, Texas Tech, and Texas Woman’s) through CABNET-related pages—confirm current agreements before you plan course-by-course.
Expect immunizations, CPR, drug screening, background checks, major medical insurance, and Board jurisprudence steps before NCLEX. The ADN catalog requires a minimum of C (77+) in every course and enforces dosage-calculation exams. Applicants with potential licensure barriers should review Texas BON FAQs and consider declaratory orders.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Associate Degree Nursing program page, the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for NCTC ADN graduates was 90.36% in 2022, 93.36% in 2023, and 96.88% in 2024. The page also lists program completion percentages for the same years. For examiner-level detail and PN (LVN) statistics, use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
NCLEX-PN (LVN)
NCTC’s public LVN pages reviewed for this guide do not reproduce a current multi-year NCLEX-PN table comparable to the ADN section. For LVN cohort pass rates, start with the BON dashboard and any consumer/outcome PDFs the LVN department publishes.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (ADN, 2022) | 90.36% — North Central Texas College ADN page |
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (ADN, 2023) | 93.36% — same source |
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (ADN, 2024) | 96.88% — same source |
| Source (school) | nctc.edu/adn (NCLEX & completion section) |
| Source (regulatory) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard |
NCLEX percentages move with each graduating class. Confirm the latest first-time RN and PN outcomes with the Texas Board of Nursing and NCTC before making enrollment or relocation decisions.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Clinical nursing programs involve federal visa rules, English proficiency, foreign transcript review, Texas Board of Nursing clearance, and affiliate hospital contracts. This section is general guidance—not legal advice.
- Program-specific visa eligibility: Ask NCTC admissions whether your pathway (ADN vs. LVN vs. transition) accepts F-1 students and whether clinical affiliates permit international placements.
- English proficiency: Confirm required exams and minimum scores with the international office and the nursing department.
- Foreign transcripts & evaluations: Follow NCTC’s transcript evaluation process through the Admissions Office before nursing application review.
- Texas Board of Nursing: Internationally educated nurses should review declaratory orders, criminal history FAQs, and NCLEX eligibility under Board rules.
- Clinical compliance: Background checks, immunizations, and liability insurance must meet both college and agency standards.
Requirements change. Verify each step with NCTC’s international office, the nursing division, and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
College admission through ApplyTexas is separate from admission to limited-seat nursing cohorts. You must complete transcripts, the TEAS through ATI/NCTC testing procedures, the MyNCTC nursing application, and any points-based documentation described in the PDF checklists (for example the Generic ADN Points and LVN-to-ADN Points documents).
Application timeline (published windows)
| Program | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ADN — fall start | March 1–31 | Per ADN site and 2025–2026 catalog |
| ADN — spring start | August 1–31 | Same sources |
| LVN-to-ADN — Gainesville | February 1–28 (catalog also aligns with transition page) | August cohort start; verify Graham window separately |
| LVN — spring clinical start | August 1–31 | Gainesville on-campus & online hybrid per LVN page |
| LVN — fall clinical start | March 1–31 | Bowie, Corinth, Gainesville & Graham on-campus per LVN page |
TEAS specifics (official program pages)
Select the correct ATI sending code: North Central TX College ADN TEAS, PN TEAS for LVN, or Allied Health TEAS for radiology. ADN applicants need ≥50% in every TEAS section; they may test up to three times per calendar year per the ADN page, with scores valid two years from the application deadline. The 2025–2026 catalog still mentions an academic-year attempt cap—ask the department which rule governs your cycle. LVN applicants need ≥58.7% total, ≥50% in each subsection, up to three attempts per calendar year, scores within two years, and must test in person.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed |
| Ranking | Catalog: applicants ranked by application points (prerequisite performance, repeats, etc.) and TEAS scoring; only the highest totals advance when seats are limited. |
| Entrance exam | ATI TEAS (not HESI on pages reviewed) |
| Progression GPA | Minimum C (77+) in each required course after admission; dosage exams each semester. |
Tips for applicants
Schedule TEAS early enough for scores to reach NCTC before the window closes, budget time for transcript evaluation, and download the current points PDF so you know how repeats or course withdrawals affect your standing. If you have criminal history questions, contact the Texas BON about declaratory orders before you invest in prerequisite coursework.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
NCTC’s Tuition page lists Spring 2026 rates combining tuition, general use fees, and (when applicable) out-of-district fees per semester credit hour. A separate book fee applies per credit hour. Nursing students must also budget uniforms, clinical supplies, ATI fees, immunizations, insurance, travel to clinical sites, and testing fees referenced in the ADN catalog’s cost narrative.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| In-district (Cooke County) | $112 total per semester credit hour (tuition + general use fee) |
| In-district branch (Graham ISD) | $132 per SCH (adds out-of-district fee) |
| In-state (other Texas residents / qualifying Oklahoma counties) | $212 per SCH |
| Out-of-state / international | $317 per SCH |
| Book fee | $24 per SCH (listed separately on tuition page) |
| Illustration (60 SCH plan) | 60 × $112 ≈ $6,720 tuition+general fees for Cooke County residents before book fee, uniforms, ATI, insurance, etc. |
| LVN program expenses | See LVN program costs PDF linked from nctc.edu/lvn (verify updated uploads). |
| Additional references | nctc.edu/tuition · Programs cost of attendance PDF |
Residency rules determine which column applies; changing status after enrollment may require documentation noted on the tuition page.
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Beyond NCLEX, the ADN page discloses program completion figures of 84.72% (2022), 77.75% (2023), and 81.06% (2024). Older institutional pages (for example archived student achievement narratives) may still quote earlier licensure percentages—always prioritize the current nursing microsites and Texas Workforce/THECB releases for employment context.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (ADN) | 96.88% (2024); 93.36% (2023); 90.36% (2022) — nctc.edu/adn |
| Program completion (ADN) | 81.06% (2024); 77.75% (2023); 84.72% (2022) — same source |
| Regional demand | Northeast Texas and the I-35 corridor continue to recruit hospital, clinic, home-health, and school nurses; confirm salary and vacancy data via BLS and state workforce tools. |
| Source | NCTC ADN page; confirm supplemental employment metrics on Student Achievement archives if needed |
Is North Central Texas College the Right Fit for You?
NCTC fits learners who want a public-college price point, can meet TEAS + points-based admission, and are willing to commute across North Texas clinical affiliates. It is a weaker fit if you require a single-campus online clinical nursing program or an immediate BSN without partnering universities.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Qualify for Cooke County in-district tuition or can manage the in-state per-credit totals.
- Value the college’s published multi-year NCLEX-RN snapshot on the ADN page.
- Need either a 12-month LVN pathway at a nearby campus or an accelerated LVN-to-ADN transition after licensure.
- Can maintain the catalog’s 77+ (C) standard and travel to dispersed clinical communities.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Cannot attend in-person TEAS and clinicals required for LVN.
- Expect guaranteed admission after general acceptance—nursing remains selective.
- Are unwilling to relocate near Gainesville for the traditional ADN sequence.
- Want a synchronous, fully remote RN program without any campus intensive weeks.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Because Cooke County sits between DFW and the Red River, NCTC nursing students routinely rotate through a mixed urban–suburban–rural footprint. The ADN catalog explicitly warns that clinicals may occur in cities such as Gainesville, Sherman, Denton, Decatur, Corinth, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and additional named communities—availability shifts as contracts renew.
| Community / care setting | Details |
|---|---|
| Gainesville & Cooke County | Home to NCTC’s main campus hospitals, clinics, and extended-care partners supporting foundational med-surg experiences. |
| Sherman / Denison (Texoma) | Regional acute-care hub north of the metro; common destination for broader clinical variety. |
| Denton & Lewisville corridor | Denser suburban systems along I-35 offer high-acuity and specialty exposure—expect longer commutes. |
| Rural affiliates | Smaller hospitals and clinics reinforce public-health and chronic-care management competencies required of Texas graduates. |
Exact site lists are term-specific; confirm assignments with the clinical coordinator.
Student Experience & Campus Life
ADN students spend significant time in the Leo & Mabel Scott Health Science Center on the Gainesville campus, where transition-track materials emphasize simulation-forward learning. LVN students at Corinth, Bowie, or Graham follow the same intensive health-science scheduling pattern with campus-specific orientations.
NCTC publishes mock schedules and health-science info sessions so applicants understand weekly time demands before they commit. Student life is primarily commuter-oriented—balance part-time work carefully once clinical courses begin.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Main campus
- 1525 W. California Street, Gainesville, TX 76240, US
- Switchboard
- (940) 668-7731 · per nctc.edu/campus/gainesville
- ADN program chair (catalog)
- Emily Lewis, Gainesville Campus Room 2428 · elewis@nctc.edu · program office uses main switchboard above
- Website
- nctc.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Create or update your ApplyTexas profile and submit transcripts for evaluation early.
- Download the latest ADN Points, LVN-to-ADN Points, and TEAS IPP PDFs from nctc.edu.
- Schedule the TEAS through ATI and the NCTC Testing Center, selecting the correct institution code.
- Log into MyNCTC and complete the nursing application during the published open window.
- Attend a health-science information session if your schedule allows—times post on NCTC’s events calendar.
- Estimate net price using the tuition chart plus the LVN cost PDF or ADN supply list.
- Bookmark the Texas BON Education Dashboard for future NCLEX reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does North Central Texas College offer?
NCTC offers an ADN (AAS) at Gainesville, a Vocational Nursing certificate at multiple campuses (plus an online hybrid at Gainesville), and a 12-month LVN-to-ADN transition. It does not grant a BSN on site—graduates use transfer/CABNET partnerships for RN-to-BSN.
What is North Central Texas College’s latest ADN NCLEX-RN pass rate?
The ADN program page lists 96.88% first-time for 2024, 93.36% for 2023, and 90.36% for 2022. Confirm newer data on nctc.edu/adn and the Texas Board of Nursing dashboard.
Does North Central Texas College require TEAS for nursing?
Yes—both ADN and LVN materials describe ATI TEAS with different minimum scores. LVN requires in-person delivery; ADN allows remote scheduling guidance via the Testing Center but follows ATI score routing rules.
When are North Central Texas College nursing applications due?
Use the published windows: ADN March 1–31 (fall) and August 1–31 (spring); LVN March 1–31 and August 1–31 with campus-specific start rules; LVN-to-ADN February 1–28 (Gainesville) and May 1–31 (Graham) per catalog. Verify annually.
How much is North Central Texas College tuition for nursing students?
Spring 2026 combined rates are about $112 (Cooke County in-district), $212 (other Texas residents), or $317 (out-of-state) per semester credit hour, plus a $24 book fee per credit. Multiply by your plan (for example 60 SCH ADN) and add clinical supplies.
Is North Central Texas College’s ADN accredited?
The college states the Gainesville ADN track is accredited by ACEN with Continuing Accreditation as the most recent decision. LVN is Texas BON–approved. Confirm letters with ACEN and BON.
Can I take TEAS remotely for North Central Texas College LVN?
No—the LVN page states NCTC accepts only in-person TEAS attempts.
Does North Central Texas College offer an accelerated BSN?
No—expect ADN/LVN pathways locally and RN-to-BSN online via partner universities after licensure.
How far will I travel for North Central Texas College clinicals?
The ADN catalog names multiple cities across North Texas (and occasionally southern Oklahoma). Plan for regular regional driving.
What grade do I need to pass North Central Texas College nursing courses?
The ADN catalog defines C as 77–82; grades below that are unacceptable for progression.
References
- North Central Texas College — Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)nctc.edu/adn
- North Central Texas College — Vocational Nursing (LVN)nctc.edu/lvn
- North Central Texas College — LVN to ADN Transitionnctc.edu/programs/health-science/lvn-to-adn
- North Central Texas College — Tuition (Spring 2026 rates)nctc.edu/tuition
- North Central Texas College — Gainesville Campus / switchboardnctc.edu/campus/gainesville
- North Central Texas College Catalog — ADN AAS (2025–2026)catalog.nctc.edu (ADN)
- North Central Texas College — ATI / TEAS testingnctc.edu/testing/ati
- North Central Texas College — Programs Cost of Attendance PDF2024–2025 Programs COA PDF
- North Central Texas College — LVN Program Costs PDF24–25 LVN Program Costs PDF
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov Education Dashboard
- 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 NCLEX and completion figures aligned with the official NCTC ADN page, tuition figures aligned with the published Spring 2026 credit-hour chart, and program scope (ADN/LVN/transition) aligned with the 2025–2026 NCTC catalog and health-science microsites.
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 Texas Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy