Admissions Requirements

Two major course cohorts will begin each year depending on enrollment. All PN students must meet the requirements for general admission to South College in order to pursue core/general education courses. General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Prospective students applying for admission to the PN program must meet the following requirements:

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Completed South College application for admission.
• General admission to South College.
• Completed admission application for the Certificate in Practical Nursing (PN) program.
• Submission of $50 application fee.
• Submit two letters of recommendation and a written statement indicating reasons the applicant desires to become a practical nurse.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Submission of proof of citizenship documentation according to state requirements.
• In addition to coursework, each student must provide proof of ability to perform the skills needed to practice nursing effectively. Healthcare facilities must meet federal guidelines, and students must also meet these requirements in order to be allowed to gain clinical experience. All nursing students must comply with communicable diseases/blood-borne pathogen requirements that the clinical agencies require. Therefore, proof of the following are requirements for the applicant:
  1. Health history and physical exam certifying ability to function in the required capacity prior to admission to upper-level courses.
  2. Common communicable disease immunization or immunity, including MMR (2 in series if born after 1957), tetanus (booster required every 10 years) and varicella vaccine (2 in series). A vaccine titer test showing immunity is also acceptable.
  3. Hepatitis B immunization (3 in series) or completed Declination Form for Hepatitis B Vaccination depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. The Declination Form must only be used for medical reasons and must be documented by student’s primary care provider. A vaccine titer test showing immunity is also acceptable.
  4. Annual Flu immunization or completed Declination Form for Influenza Vaccination depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. The Declination Form must only be used for medical reasons and must be documented by student’s primary care provider.
  5. Annual screening for tuberculosis or x-ray follow-up.
  6. Annual acceptable drug screen. Students may be required to obtain more than one acceptance drug screen per year depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. In any case, where a drug screen is positive, and no authorized prescription is produced to validate the presence of the drug in the individual’s system, continuation in the program will be denied. Upon notification of the drug screen results, the student will have 5 working days to provide prescription validation. Students are responsible for costs associated with any required testing.
  7. Annual acceptable criminal background check for a minimum of past 15 years. Students may be required to obtain more than one acceptance criminal background check per year depending on the requirements of the clinical affiliate. If the background check reveals previous criminal convictions, admittance into the program will be made on a case by case basis. Students who are denied clinical experiences due to past convictions may be unable to progress in the program which will result in failure to complete the required courses for the program.
  8. Students also sign a form acknowledging that although they may successfully complete the program and be awarded a certificate that a background check will be completed by the State Board of Nursing and may affect their ability to sit for the NCLEX-PN.
  9. Proof of health insurance coverage throughout the entire nursing program.
  10. Annual training on blood-borne pathogens.
  11. Valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Course Completion Card or Certificate.
•  Students admitted to the nursing program must demonstrate the following functional capacities. Students who believe they will not be able to meet one or more of these requirements without accommodation or modification must notify the PN Program Director, and a determination will be made on a case by case basis whether reasonable accommodation may be made. In no instance will an accommodation be made which will compromise nursing care, or that will put patients or other students at risk. Accommodation granted when a student is generally admitted to South College does not guarantee that this modification will apply to admission to the nursing program.

• Students in the following categories may be considered for admission on a space-available basis. Space available basis means that admission will be considered only if the class size as determined by the faculty is not met. This applies to students who have:
  1. Been unsuccessful in one or two courses in the PN program at South College;
  2. Been unsuccessful or dismissed from another health professions program at South College for any reason.
  3. Been unsuccessful or dismissed from another nursing program for any reason.

Admission is dependent upon class size. Applicants will be ranked based on admission requirements as stated above. The Admissions, Progression and Retention (APR) Committee will make admission recommendations to the PN Program Director for approval; the Program Director may accept or reject the recommendation of the Committee. The Program Director’s recommendation will be submitted to the Dean of the School of Nursing and/or the Associate Dean for Nursing at the learning site for final approval.