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No more than one grade of D or F is allowed in any of the 200/2000 level BIO courses that are required for the Nursing Program in the past seven years.
Yes, students can take the CLEP exam for ENG 121/1021 and PSY 235/2440. However, there will be no grade awarded, and those credits will not be included in the calculation for points for the Nursing application. The CLEP Biology exam cannot be taken for 5 full BIO 111/1111 credits.
BIO 1111 of BIO 1010 is a prerequisite for both BIO 201/2101 and BIO 204/2104 at PPSC. There is an option to take the Accuplacer BIO 111/1111 Placement Test in order to get into BIO 201/2101 and BIO 204/2104. Consult with Advising and Testing for more information.
Note for AAS/Nursing: BIO 201/2101 and BIO 204/2104 must have been successfully completed within 7 years of the application process. If a student does not test out of BIO 111/1111, it or BIO 1010 must have been completed within 15 years.
Note for AAS LPN-RN: BIO 201/2101, 202/2102 and BIO 204/2104 must have been successfully completed within 7 years of the application process. If a student does not test out of BIO 111/1111, it or BIO 1010 must have been completed within 15 years.
Yes.
Yes. AP and IB credit can count toward ENG 121/1021, BIO 111/1111, and PSY 101/1001. Please see an Advisor in Advising and Testing to clarify minimum score needed and exactly what exams will count toward courses. Students may also visit the Prior Learning for Credit webpage to view the testing matrix. Official score reports will need to be submitted to the Records Office to have credit transferred in to PPSC.
No, all prerequisite coursework must have grades posted before the application deadline in order to apply.
RN Program Prerequisites - ENG 121/1021, PSY 235/2440, BIO 201/2101, and BIO 204/2104. (BIO 204/2104 is required as of January 11, 2021.)
LPN to RN Program Prerequisites: ENG 121/1021, PSY 235/2440, BIO 201/2101, BIO 202/2102, and BIO 204/2104.
No, completion of BIO 201/2101 and BIO 202/2102 do not meet the prerequisite for BIO 204/2104 (Microbiology) at PPSC. The prerequisite is BIO 111/1111 (General College Biology I) or BIO 1010 Biology Foundations. Passing the Accuplacer Biology 1111 Placement Test places students into BIO 2101 and BIO 2104. This test does not grant credit. See your Advisor in Health Sciences Academic Advising
Yes, you can repeat courses you have passed to receive higher grades. However, if you are using Financial Aid, you will need to check to see if it will pay for a repeated course. Additionally, you can retake courses such as BIO 201/2101, BIO 202/2102 and BIO 204/2104. However, you cannot receive more than one D or F, or you will be disqualified from applying to the Nursing program for 7 years.
Note for AAS/Nursing: Within 7 years of application, the first two attempts each in BIO 201/2101 and BIO 204/2104 will be used to calculate the prerequisite course GPA.
Note for AAS/LPN-RN: Within 7 years of application, the first two attempts each in BIO 201/2101, BIO 202/2102 and BIO 204/2104 will be used to calculate the prerequisite course GPA.
Yes, students completing prerequisites in the Spring semester can apply by the deadline in May/June for Fall admission. Final grades for prerequisites MUST be posted and be reflected on the unofficial PPSC transcript submitted with the Nursing application. However, this is not the case if students complete prerequisite classes in the Fall semester. If students are completing prerequisites in the Fall semester, they cannot apply by the October deadline, as their grades will not be posted until December. Thus, those students will have to apply in the Spring for the following Fall start.
AAS/LPN-RN: Stay tuned to the department website for application rounds and requirements.
Please see the Nursing webpage for an overview of admission requirements and the Nursing Information Sessions.
Check these resources frequently for updates, changes and when applications are posted.
Students must be 18 by the time that they apply.
Points are calculated based on GPA for the required prerequisite courses and other and the number of credit hours. Go to the Nursing Application website of your program of choice.
The minimum GPA is 2.5. This is posted on the Nursing web page and on the Applications. However, this is a competitive-entry program and students whose GPA is higher are always considered first.
You would have two options:
Option 1: Nursing: LPN Advanced Placement Option, AAS. Student's must provide a Current and Active Colorado or Compact License. Students who are accepted into the Bridge Program will complete NUR 1001 - Transition from LPN to Professional Nursing and will then complete the remaining 2 semesters of coursework under the ADN program. The application requirements for the LPN to RN Bridge Program can be found on the Nursing Department website.
Option 2: LPN's can choose to apply as other unlicensed Pre-Nursing students, but must repeat the first two semesters of the degree and then complete the final two semesters. Your current and active Colorado or Compact LPN License replaces the requirement of the NUA Courses or the C.N.A. license. You still must attend a Nursing Information Session. And you still must take the TEAS test.
This option may provide a quicker path to completing the Associates Degree in Nursing, but careful consideration should be given to the amount of Financial Aid or VA benefits you have remaining.
AAS/Nursing: There are two cohorts every year. One cohort starts in the Fall semester and one starts in the Spring semester. Typically there are approximately 60 students accepted for each cohort, thus approximately 140 students are accepted every year.
AAS/LPN-RN: 10
AAS/Nursing: Yes. MAT 103/1120, BIO 202/2102 and BIO 216/2116 can be completed before applying to the Nursing program. No NUR courses can be taken prior to admission to the Nursing program.
AAS/LPN-RN: Yes. BIO 216/2116 and MAT 103/1120 can be completed before applying to the Nursing program. No NUR courses can be taken prior to admission to the Nursing program.
BSN: Yes. Any of the general education courses not yet completed may be done prior to any NUR courses. MAT 135/1260 Statistics must be taken prior to NUR 3003 of the BSN program or prior to admissions to the BSN program.
AAS/Nursing: Yes.
Students can find information on this by going to the Nursing Department website. Attend a session or view the Nursing Information Session video on the Nursing Department website to learn more about the requirements for applying. You must have the Information Session verification completed and attached with the required application packet forms.
AAS/LPN-RN: TBD.
Information on the Nursing applications, along with the application deadlines, will be on the Nursing Application Process websites.
No, there is no waiting list. If students do not get accepted, they can re-apply by the next application deadline. There is no limit to how many times a student can apply.
Points for the Nursing applications will only be calculated based on the Nursing Department posted prerequisite courses. Failing grades or withdrawing from other courses outside of the prerequisites and program requirements will not affect your chances of getting into the Nursing program. Withdrawing from any of the prerequisite classes does not affect you in regards to the application. However, failing grades in the prerequisites will if you received more than one D or F in any 200/2000-level BIO class within the last 7 years. This will disqualify you from applying to the program for 7 years. See the Nursing Application websites for any rules regarding repeated 200/2000-level BIO courses.
Yes. Non-Nursing coursework can be taken while in the Nursing program. However, each student will need to check with Financial Aid and Military and Veterans Programs to verify that those courses will be covered.
For AAS/Nursing and AAS/LPN-RN: No. There are no part-time or online options to complete the Nursing program. It is a full-time program offered only in-person. The State of Colorado requires the same amount of classroom time as clinical hours. It would be very difficult for a student to work full-time around this demanding program.
For BSN - Yes. The BSN program is designed for nurses working full-time and the program can be part-time. Most upper-division (3000-4000) NUR courses are online with a few hours of clinicals arranged through the Nursing Department.
No, any dismissed offenses will not disqualify you from getting into the Nursing program. Please read the offenses and dismissed guidelines on the Nursing Department website.
There is no interview for admission into the Nursing program. AAS/Nursing and AAS/LPN-RN students need to compile all application materials as outlined on the Nursing department website, and submit those online to the Nursing department. Students will be notified of acceptance status.
A student can apply as many times as they wish.
All hospitals, long-term care facilities, etc. and PPSC Nursing Assistant courses and Nursing programs will not accept someone whose drug test indicates marijuana use.
Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Professional. Certification must be through the American Heart Association. Find options through PPSC's AHA non-credit courses, take HPR 102/1011 (.5) or seek out the training at other American Heart Association sites. Fully online CPR training is not accepted.
Go to the Nursing Assistant Program website for Required Documentation. These requirements must be completed as early as possible and no later than the first week of NUA 1001.
The Nursing Assistant Office is located on the Rampart Range Campus in E-213 and can be reached at 719-502-3450.
For RN, and LPN Exit Option: Possibly. Consult with the Nursing Department. An LPN license can be substituted for the CNA requirement. A CNA working as an ER Tech may submit their documentation to the Nursing Department to meet the AAS/Nursing application requirements. Also acceptable is the UC Health Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
No. If a student is already licensed in Colorado, they only need to be active when applying to the Nursing program. If students have taken NUA 101/1001, 170/1070 and 171/1071 at PPSC, they do not need to be licensed.
Yes. DORA (the Department of Regulatory Agencies) has a list of Nurse Aid approved education programs by county in Colorado.
Students with an expired CNA certification can contact DORA (the Department of Regulatory Agencies) for information on how to renew their CNA certification. 303-894-7800. Otherwise, the courses can be taken at PPSC.
Students can contact DORA (the Department of Regulatory Agencies) for information on taking the state CNA Certification Exam. If the courses were taken at another Colorado Community College, that credit may be considered. See your Advisor in Advising and Testing for more information.
See the Nursing Application websites (Choose ADN or LPN-RN application web pages) for score standards.
Students can access the current National Averages from their ATI Transcript. Go to the ATI website and then to the Results tab. Individual scores and the current national averages will be there.
The Testing Center offers the TEAS exam Monday through Friday at Centennial and Rampart Range Campuses only. The TEAS test can be scheduled online. Prior to testing, testers need to create an account on atitesting.com and provide their username and password to the Testing Center on the day of testing. Students may take the TEAS test directly from ATI at any time for an increased cost.
Check with the Testing Center for current costs for proctoring and testing. Testers will pay the PPSC cashier a proctor fee. Testers will purchase the TEAS test with a credit or debit card the day of the exam at the delivery computer via ATItesting.com. If you do not have a debit or credit card, please contact testing.center@pikespeak.edu for alternative payment methods. A score report is printed by the tester upon completion. Testers can find more information about the TEAS test on the ATI website.
The TEAS test covers Reading, Mathematics (MAT 103/1120 and general Math), Science (BIO 201/2101), and English and Language Usage. Study materials and practice tests can be obtained on the ATI website.
Any applicant to PPSC's Nursing Programs must take the TEAS.
PPSC’s AAS Nursing or BSN programs have not lost accreditation. Starting in 2011, the AAS Nursing program received National NLN accreditation, now Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing ACEN, and has maintained that since that time. Additionally, the Nursing programs has consistently maintained Colorado State Board of Nursing Accreditation. NCLEX pass rates for PPSC and other programs can be seen by going to the DORA website. PPSC’s AAS Nursing program has not lost accreditation.
The PPSC Nursing Department offers the Dual-Enrollment BSN option and the BSN Completion option. Otherwise, students can view the RN to BSN Transfer Guide for Colorado Nursing Programs for more information regarding transferring to other BSN programs. For further questions, students should contact their intended transfer institution for information on dual-enrollment. Local partnerships include UCCS and CSU Pueblo. Please contact the Nursing department for more information on when this is held.
Clinical components for the Nursing program are held at local hospitals and healthcare agencies that are under contract with our Nursing Department.
If your Colorado RN license is in good standing, you will need to apply for licensure by endorsement from your new State Board of Nursing.
There are typically no summer course in the Nursing program for the first two year courses. If a student has the BSN in mind for the future and wants to take summer courses, they can take general education courses for the BSN. Or, if they are accepted and have completed their first semester in the AAS/Nursing program, they may apply to get into the PPSC BSN program and may take the 3000-4000 level NUR courses online. If they have been accepted into any Dual Enrollment program, such as at UCCS or CSU-Pueblo, they could take upper division BSN courses online in the summer as well. Please contact CSU-Pueblo, UCCS or your target BSN institution to find out more about these courses.
Our program is locally and nationally accredited so our graduates do transfer state to state.
Nurses who carry the RN title and license and the BSN title are both RNs. Both have completed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) — a national test that is required for licensing and practice as a nurse in the United States. The largest difference between the two is the level and length of education they have received. To become an RN, students can earn an AAS/Nursing from a college or university program or a Diploma of Nursing through a hospital-based nursing program. BSN-prepared nurses have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have received additional training in leadership, management, and administrative roles. Both AAS/Nursing-prepared and BSN-prepared nurses can care for patients and perform traditional duties such as assessments, completion of procedures within the scope of practice, and medical charting. But an RN without a bachelor’s degree may not qualify for some nursing jobs that require additional education. These jobs may include nurse educator roles, some unit or departmental coordinator roles, flight nurses, and management positions. Many hospitals require all new hires to have at least a BSN.
If a student is accepted into the PPSC AAS Nursing program, yes.
PPSC’s BSN Completion program is designed for actively licensed nurses. The PPSC BSN program also has the Dual-Enrollment option for students currently in an AAS Nursing degree.
There are other Dual-Enrollment options where it is possible to start the upper-division Nursing courses, but students must be admitted into those 4-year institutions. Students should research on their own and communicate directly with the institutions of their choice to verify admissions processes, general education requirements, Financial Aid and military funding streams.
General education courses for Dual Enrollment programs can be taken at PPSC and then students can apply to other institutions. Students will need to submit an official transcript to those institutions. Consult with the PPSC Financial Aid Office and/or the PPSC Military and Veterans programs to be certain of what could be covered here for other programs.
Yes. As long as you have a current RN License in good standing from Colorado or a compact state, you can apply. For questions about non-compact state licensure, please contact the Nursing Department at 719-502-3450.
Consult the BSN Department website for opening and closing dates of each round.
No. Admissions GPA for the BSN will only be calculated on the Nursing courses you have completed. No general education courses will be calculated.
Most of them. There are on-ground clinicals included in the last upper-division NUR courses. These are coordinated through the Nursing Department.
The BSN program is designed for students in the PPSC AAS/Nursing program and working RN’s to take two classes each semester. These courses are only 8 weeks in length and are back to back (first bi-semester and second bi-semester.) A student may advance as classes are available. Check with the Nursing Department if you wish to explore other options.
An History course is required to earn a BSN liberal arts degree. A liberal arts degree is defined as the academic course of instruction at a college intended to provide general knowledge and comprising the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, as opposed to professional or technical subjects. Consult with the Nursing Department for questions based on your previous coursework.
Other general education course requirements may have some options, but students should work with the BSN Program Coordinator or Advisors in Advising and Testing on the remainder of those requirements.
Financial Aid - No. Once a student has completed enough credits for Associates degrees at a community college, the only way they can qualify for more Financial Aid is by acceptance into a BSN program.
VA Benefits - Possibly. Students using VA benefits should check with our Military and Veterans Programs to understand what courses are eligible.
Check with the PPSC Scholarships department as to what might be available.
Some Healthcare organizations have tuition assistance. Check with your Human Resources Department.
Depending on your eligibility—Yes. However, you will need to be accepted into the BSN program before you might qualify. Check with Military and Veterans advisors and Financial Aid and your Academic Advisor, to see if any general education courses you need might qualify before acceptance into our BSN Completion program.
Some Healthcare organizations have tuition assistance. Check with your Human Resources Department.
Not for the BSN Completion option. Since an RN is simply seeking to complete the BSN when accepted into the program, there will be no other licensure testing to complete the BSN.