Registered Nurse AAS-T
Here is a general overview of the program and a schedule of classes. This information may be subject to change. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses. To see which materials are needed for your courses, click this bookstore link Links to an external site. and enter the course information.
General Overview
When can I start? Fall 2025
How long is the program? 6 quarters with 76 total credits, plus 40 credits of prerequisites (116 total credits)
When do classes meet? 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays; weekends are possible with clinical classes
The Nursing Program at Renton Technical College prepares students for employment as registered nurses in a variety of health care environments. We focus on culturally-responsive, comfort-oriented, highly-skilled care to serve all ages in our region's diverse populations. Once you complete your classes and clinic hours, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam. Candidates will need to successfully achieve a score of 80% or higher on the exam to obtain work licensure.
What do registered nurses do?
What is the average salary?
$102,680 annually
Links to an external site. in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most registered nurses in King County earn at least $80,770.
Who can I contact with questions?
- New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
- For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Registered Nurse, Associate Degree.
Overall Materials Needed:
- Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers in the RTC Library or Learning Resource Center)
- Webcam
- Working internet connection
- CastleBranch account ($106)
- Personal health insurance for the duration of the program
- Immunizations
- General liability and malpractice insurance ($15.72 per year)
- 2 sets of scrubs and comfortable black or gray shoes ($150)
- Medical supplies ($153 for watch, penlight, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff)
- Textbooks and learning materials (approximately $825)
- NCLEX preparation software ($750)
Minimum grades: You must earn a grade of 2.5 or higher in all of your NURS classes in order to graduate.
Applying to the Program
You must apply to the Registered Nurse program. See the RTC website for details about deadlines and information sessions Links to an external site.! Here are the basic requirements:
- You must be 18 years old when you begin the fifth quarter of the program.
- You must complete 8 prerequisite classes in General Education with the GPAs specified below. Courses must have been completed within the previous 10 years:
- MATH&146 Intro to Statistics - 2.7 GPA minimum
- PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology - 2.7 minimum
- BIOL& 160 General Biology - 3.0 GPA minimum
- BIOL& 241 Human Anatomy and Physiology I - 3.0 minimum
- BIOL& 242 Human Anatomy and Physiology II - 3.0 minimum
- BIOL& 260 Microbiology - 3.0 minimum
- CHEM& 121 Chemistry - 3.0 minimum
- ENGL& 101 English Composition - 3.0 minimum
- Learn more about math and English placement options!
- You will submit an unofficial transcript showing these classes, as well as a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or high school completion equivalent and the prospective student document.
Admission is competitive! You can have the minimum grades, but that does not mean that you will be selected for the RTC nursing program.
RTC also requires scores from the TEAS exam: a score of 75 overall on Version 6 and a minimum score of 70 in each subcategory including Math, Science, English and Reading.
Once you are accepted to the Registered Nurse program, you will need to provide proof of immunizations.
Supply Checklist
Click here to go to the Nursing Supply List Page. You will use the same set of books throughout the program.
Materials Warning
Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!
Quarter 1 Classes
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 103 | Introduction to Nursing Theory | YES | 3 |
| NURS 108 | Foundation of Nursing Practice Theory | YES | 4 |
| NURS 109 | Foundations of Nursing Practice Laboratory | YES | 3 |
| NURS 114 | Health and Wellness Theory | YES | 2 |
| NURS 195 | Foundations of Nursing Practice Clinical | YES | 4 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,874 |
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Quarter 2 Classes
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 117 | Alterations in Health Care Needs Theory | YES | 5 |
| NURS 118 | Alterations in Health Care Needs Laboratory | YES | 3 |
| NURS 198 | Alterations in Health Care Needs Clinical | YES | 4 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,052 |
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Quarter 3 Classes
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 105 | Reproductive Health Theory | YES | 4 |
| NURS 107 | Reproductive Health/ Mental Health Nursing Clinical | YES | 3 |
| NURS 112 | Mental Health in Multicultural Community Theory | YES | 4 |
| NURS 119 | Reproductive Health Laboratory | YES | 1 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,067 |
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Quarter 4 Classes
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 208 | Major Acute Alterations in Health Care Needs Theory | YES | 5 |
| NURS 209 | Major Acute Alterations in Health Care Needs Laboratory | YES | 3 |
| NURS 295 | Major Acute Alterations in Health Care Needs Clinical | YES | 5 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,185 |
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Quarter 5 Classes
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 203 | Major Chronic Alterations in Health Care Needs Theory | YES | 5 |
| NURS 207 | Major Chronic Alterations in Health Care Needs Laboratory | YES | 2 |
| NURS 294 | Major Chronic Alterations in Health Care Needs Clinical | YES | 5 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,498 |
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Quarter 6 Classes
It's time to apply for your AAS-T degree!
| Course ID | Course Name | Materials | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 210 | Complex Multi-System Acute Alterations in Health Care Needs Theory | YES | 5 |
| NURS 281 | Leadership and Management Theory | YES | 2 |
| NURS 296 | Preceptorship | YES | 4 |
| Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,944 |
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Grand Total Estimated Cost for these 6 quarters: $15,635 plus health insurance and immunizations
Grand Total Estimated Cost including 40 credits of prerequisites: $20,830 plus health insurance and immunizations
Additional costs to work in Washington:
- The NCLEX exam for Certified Registered Nurse has a $200 registration cost. You may have to pay additional fees to the Pearson testing center.
- The Registered Nurse license fee for WA state is $120.
Not quite the path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!