How It Works

LPN Eligibility Requirements   

To be eligible, LPN students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited West Virginia nursing program and maintain good academic standing.   

Award qualifications require a cumulative and nursing GPA, determined after the application cycle closes. If your program does not include pre or co-requisite coursework, your cumulative and nursing GPA will be identical. During the 2024-2025 award year, the minimum accepted GPA was 3.0.   

Prior to receiving an award, students must reach their nursing midpoint—the date marking 50% completion of their program. Given that most LPN programs last approximately one year, this typically occurs around six months into the program. If you anticipate reaching your nursing midpoint within the academic year of application, you should apply during the open award cycle to be considered.   

LPN Teaching Certificate Eligibility   

LPN teaching certificate applicants must be enrolled in courses at a West Virginia higher education institution at the time of application and maintain good academic standing.   

RN (ASN and BSN) Eligibility Requirements   

RN students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited West Virginia nursing program and remain in good academic standing.   

To qualify for an award, students must meet a cumulative and nursing GPA established after the application cycle closes. The nursing GPA only accounts for core nursing coursework, excluding pre or co-requisite courses. The minimum accepted GPA for the 2024-2025 award year was 3.0.   

Eligibility also requires students to reach their nursing midpoint—defined as completing at least 50% of their core nursing coursework (excluding pre or co-requisite courses). If you anticipate meeting this requirement during the academic year, apply during the open award cycle for consideration.   

RN-BSN Eligibility Requirements   

RN-BSN students are registered nurses returning to school to obtain their BSN degree.   

These students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited West Virginia nursing program and maintain good academic standing.   

Award qualification includes meeting a cumulative and nursing GPA determined after the application cycle closes. The nursing GPA only considers core nursing coursework, excluding pre or co-requisite courses. During the 2024-2025 award year, the minimum accepted GPA was 3.0.   

Master’s and Doctoral Eligibility Requirements   

Graduate-level nursing students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited West Virginia nursing program and remain in good academic standing.   

To qualify, students must meet a cumulative and nursing GPA set after the application cycle closes, considering only core nursing coursework and excluding pre or co-requisite courses. The minimum accepted GPA for the 2024-2025 award year was 3.0.   

Additionally, master’s and doctoral students must be employed as nursing educators while completing their graduate programs and fulfill the required service obligation in teaching upon completion.   

Award amounts vary each year based on the availability of funds and may be less than the maximum amount. The award amounts listed below are the maximum total annual award amounts. 

• LPN students: up to $3,000 per year (one payment when eligible)
• RN students: up to $7,500 per year (split between three semesters in the Fall, Spring, and Summer)
• Master’s or doctoral nursing education students: up to $15,000 per year (split between three semesters in the Fall, Spring, and Summer)
• LPN teaching certificate students: up to $1,000 per year (one payment when eligible)