Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program

Established in 1972, the Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program (VATNP) is a three-college consortium serving Mountain Empire Community College (MECC), Southwest Virginia Community College (SwVCC), and Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC).

This encompasses several counties in the extreme portion of picturesque and mountainous Southwest Virginia including Tazewell, Buchanan, Russell, Dickenson, Wise, Lee, Scott, Smyth and Washington counties.

VATNP is part of a statewide Virginia Community College System and is one of the largest nursing programs in the state of Virginia.
Students who successfully complete all coursework will graduate with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Nursing.

The two-year A.A.S. Degree curriculum in Nursing is designed to prepare selected students to qualify as contributing members of the health team, rendering direct patient care as beginning practitioners of nursing in a variety of health care facilities.

Upon successful completion of the curriculum, students will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) leading to licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).