Here's why it will be easier for CareerTech nursing students to earn college credit

Murray Evans, The Oklahoman
·4 min read

Leaders of Oklahoma’s higher education and CareerTech systems say a memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday morning at the state Capitol will create a more efficient path for nurses to earn college degrees.

The agreement establishes guidelines for public two-year colleges to award students credit toward an associate degree for prior learning in practical nursing programs at CareerTech centers across the state. The system-wide agreement essentially replaces individual agreements two-year colleges had with nearby CareerTech campuses.

State higher education Chancellor Allison Garrett and CareerTech State Director Brent Haken signed the agreement as state lawmakers and leaders from both agencies watched.

The idea for such an agreement came from the Oklahoma Statewide Nursing Pathways Advisory Group, which consists of representatives from both public higher education and the CareerTech system and was charged with developing solutions to increase the number of nurses in Oklahoma.

“Our public colleges and universities are focused on supporting student success and increasing degree completion in high-demand fields,” Garrett said. “The new nursing articulation agreement reflects the shared commitment of our state higher education and CareerTech systems to create streamlined pathways between practical nursing and associate degree nursing programs, which benefits both individual Oklahomans and the state labor force.”

Under the agreement, 14 Oklahoma two-year colleges will award up to 18 college credit hours to CareerTech students who pass the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Twenty-eight technology centers in the state will participate in the agreement.

The agreement takes effect on July 1. Applicants must have a valid, unencumbered practical nursing license to practice in Oklahoma and meet all college or program admission requirements.

House Speaker Pro Tem Kyle Hilbert looks over papers during a special session on Jan. 29.
House Speaker Pro Tem Kyle Hilbert looks over papers during a special session on Jan. 29.

Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tem Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the state’s shortage of licensed nurses and he doesn’t want that to happen again. He said lawmakers, as they were deciding how to spend federal COVID-19 relief money, learned from health care groups that the top issue facing Oklahoma’s health system was the nursing shortage.

“Yes, we have other areas of shortage in the health care workforce … but we’ve got to have nurses,” Hilbert said. “That is the very front line.

“A lot of time in government, people like to be territorial, just frankly. But this is something — it’s not about CareerTech, it’s not about higher ed. It’s about the students. This is so exciting, because this is a game-changer for students to get their LPN at a CareerTech and then to (climb) that career ladder. As a result of this agreement, you no longer have to start back at ground zero in the education process.”

Haken said he often speaks with Garrett, trying to work on ways to integrate their two agencies and to find efficiencies.

“This new agreement does a better job of coordinating strategies to alleviate the pressures on Oklahoma’s nursing workforce and making the state’s health care system more equitable and stable,” Haken said.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has an “Undergraduate Transfer and Articulation of Courses” policy that facilitates the transfer of students between institutions of higher education and CareerTech centers, along with a “Credit for Prior Learning” policy that allows state institutions to award credit for demonstration of knowledge upon professional licensure.

What Oklahoma two-year colleges will participate in the program allowing nurses to earn college degrees?

  • Carl Albert State College, Poteau

  • Connors State College, Warner

  • Eastern Oklahoma State College, Wilburton

  • Murray State College, Tishomingo

  • Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami

  • Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa and Enid

  • Oklahoma City Community College

  • Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City

  • Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Okmulgee

  • Redlands Community College, El Reno

  • Rose State College, Midwest City

  • Seminole State College

  • Tulsa Community College

  • Western Oklahoma State College, Altus

What Oklahoma CareerTech centers that will participate in the program allowing nurses to earn college degrees?

  • Autry Technology Center, Enid

  • Caddo Kiowa Technology Center, Fort Cobb

  • Canadian Valley Technology Center, El Reno

  • Central Technology Center, Drumright

  • Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Omega

  • Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City

  • Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Shawnee

  • Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton

  • Green Country Technology Center, Okmulgee

  • High Plains Technology Center, Woodward

  • Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee

  • Kiamichi Technology Center, Durant

  • Meridian Technology Center, Stillwater

  • Metro Technology Center, Oklahoma City

  • Mid-America Technology Center, Wayne

  • Mid-Del Lewis Eubanks Technology Center, Midwest City

  • Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman

  • Northeast Technology Center, Claremore

  • Northwest Technology Center, Fairview

  • Pioneer Technology Center, Ponca City

  • Pontotoc Technology Center, Ada

  • Red River Technology Center, Duncan

  • Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, Ardmore

  • Southwest Technology Center, Altus

  • Tri County Technology Center, Bartlesville

  • Tulsa Technology Center

  • Western Technology Center, Burns Flat

  • Wes Watkins Technology Center, Wetumka

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: CareerTech nursing students have an easier path to earn college credit