Admission Procedures

All applicants are required to take the American College Test (ACT) and meet all College general admission requirements and Practical Nursing (PN) program admission requirements. Nursing courses taken at another institution are not transferable.

The PN Program admits one class annually in the fall. Applications for the PN Program may be obtained online at www.eccc.edu/practical-nursing-pn on October 1 of the fall semester previous to the upcoming fall admission cycle. The application deadline for admission is January 31.

All entrance materials must be on file in the Office of Admissions and Records and the Office of Healthcare Education by January 31.

Admission Requirements

  1. The applicant must apply for regular admission and be accepted by ECCC.
  2. The applicant must complete the Practical Nursing Program application and submit to the Office of Healthcare Education.
  3. The applicant must submit proof of a minimum 16 composite score on the ACT.
  4. The applicant must have a high school diploma, high school equivalency certificate, or equivalent.
  5. All applicants are required to complete Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (or upper level equivalents with lab) and Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (or upper level equivalents with lab) with a letter grade of “C” or higher in each course prior to taking the first nursing course.

*An applicant may be accepted into the PN program prior to completing these courses, but courses must be successfully completed prior to beginning nursing classes in the fall.

  1. All applicants are required to pay the College’s business office for pre-admission fees, which may include, but not limited to, pre-entrance examination and criminal history background fees. The receipt for payment of the pre-entrance examination is due to the Office of Healthcare Education by January 31 for fall admission of each year. Students that receive notification of candidacy acceptance must submit a receipt for payment of the criminal history background fee is due the Office of Healthcare Education by March 31.
  2. All applicants are required to take a pre-entrance examination test specified by the Office of Healthcare Education with a minimum cumulative score of 51%. Tests will be scheduled by the Office of Healthcare Education after the January 31st deadline. Each applicant will be notified of scheduled test dates via email from the Office of Healthcare Education.
  3. Applicants selected for admission into the PN program must submit documentation of the following by July 31st.
  • Satisfactory physical examination, including ability to perform the essential functions related to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) core standards, completed by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner (in June or July).
  • Proof of immunizations against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), or rubella titer.
  • Hepatitis B vaccine, titer, or signed declination statement.
  • American Heart Association Basic Life Support Provider Course only (completed in June or July of admission year).
  • Valid proof of age to be eighteen (18) years or older (Accepted forms of validation include current driver’s license, birth certificate, state-issued identification, or tribal identification).
  1. All applicants must submit to and satisfactorily complete a criminal history background check as scheduled by the Office of Healthcare Education.
  2. Students with a diagnosed disability who are unable to meet the essential functions related to ADA core standards are advised to contact the ADA coordinator prior to program admission.

The number of students admitted into the program will be a maximum of 30 in the fall. Qualified applicants for the PN Program will be given priority based on admission criteria and the expertise of the Policy, Admission, and Progression Committee members. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Any student accepted into the PN program must agree to be randomly tested for drugs at any point and time while enrolled in the PN program. The student is responsible for all expenses associated with testing. (Drug testing fees are included in the student’s lab fees accessed by the College).

Prior Credit

Prior learning credit is granted only for East Central Community College Practical Nursing courses for a student who re-enters the program within 24-month period of exiting the program. All nursing courses must be taken within two years of the initial admission date to the Practical Nursing Program.  The student re-entering the program during the 24-month period must repeat all courses for the semester of re-entry.  The student will receive credit for coursework successfully completed prior to the semester of re-entry. The Practical Nursing Program at East Central Community College does grant prior credit for academic Anatomy and Physiology I and II.

Progression/Graduation Requirements

Semester average of 80 or above in PN courses, grade of “C” or above in all required courses, mastery of selected nursing skills, and completion of required assessment examinations.

Upon successful completion of the Practical Nursing (PN) program, graduates should meet State Board of Nursing application requirements to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN®). Program completion does not guarantee a graduate will be allowed to take the examination by the State Board of Nursing. The State Board of Nursing may refuse any individual the right to take the NCLEX-PN® based on criminal history records.

Withdrawal

Registration for a course makes the student responsible for attending the class until the course is completed or until, with permission of the Dean, the Office of Admissions authorizes withdrawal from that course. All students who withdraw from a course must meet with their advisor prior to withdrawal. A student who withdraws from a course or courses must complete the withdrawal form online in MyEC. Failure to comply will result in the recording of failing grades in all nursing courses in which the student is registered. Withdrawals, if completed by the last drop day as specified by the college, will be recorded as W.

Upon withdrawal from the East Central Community College Nursing Program, an exit interview will be conducted. The Dean or faculty will meet with the student in order to identify factors that contributed to withdrawal from the nursing program.

Dismissal

A student will be allowed to withdraw from the nursing courses, if withdrawal is within the College deadline time, or be dismissed with a grade of “F” at any time from the nursing program for any behavior determined to be unprofessional, unethical, unsafe or illegal or for performance that is unsuitable for the practice of nursing. If a student is placed on a Plan of Improvement and violates the terms of the Plan of Improvement, the student will meet with the Dean of Healthcare and may be dismissed from the program with a grade of “F” or allowed to withdraw if withdrawal is within the College deadline time.

Acceptance Criteria

The applicant’s files must be complete and submitted to the Office of Admissions & Records and the Office of Healthcare Education to be considered for acceptance into the program. The student is responsible for assuring all information and data is correct and received by both offices before the application deadline.

Students admitted into any nursing course must adhere to the policies in the current East Central Community College Catalog and the Nursing Student Handbook. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • All students will be required to have annual influenza vaccinations.
  • Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for all admissions.

Admission Points Criterion

  1. Lives within ECCC’s district or previously enrolled at ECCC.                 POINTS: 1
  2. College GPA on PN curriculum courses or High School GPA with no college courses taken.
GPA POINTS
4.0 3
3.0-3.9 2
2.0-2.9 1
1.9 and Below 0
  1. ACT Composite Score
ACT SCORE POINTS
25 and Higner 4
22-24 3
19-21 2
16-18 1
  1. Each required science course: A=3 points B=2 points C=1 point

Sciences completed with labs.                                                                 POINTS

Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab or upper-level equivalents                      _____

Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab or upper-level equivalents                     _____                                                                                               

Total:                                                                                                         ______

*NOTE: Cumulative Points are not rounded.

  1. Preadmission examination.
PREADMISSION EXAMINATION CUMULATIVE SCORE POINTS
81% and Above 4
71%-80% 3
61%-70% 2
51%-60% 1
50% and Below 0
Points Awarded  

Total Points: _____