How to get into the Generic RN Nursing Program at RVCC
PLEASE NOTE: Students interested in pursuing the nursing program will initially be enrolled into the AS in Health
Science degree as pre-nursing students. Students must complete the prerequisites in order to become eligible to
apply for selective admission for entrance into the nursing program. Pending review of the selective admission
criteria with ranking of scores and acceptance into the nursing program, the major will be changed to the AAS in
Nursing/RN degree upon official notification of acceptance into the clinical nursing program.
As of May 1, 2014, the application to the Associate Degree Nursing Program at RVCC is a two-step process.
First, you must apply to RVCC with Pre-nursing (AS in Health Science) as your intended major – you then are
considered a PRE- NURSING STUDENT. When you have completed all prerequisites, you may then apply to the
clinical nursing program. Admission to RVCC does NOT guarantee acceptance into the nursing program at
RVCC. Students must be in county (Somerset or Hunterdon) residents or employees to apply to the nursing
program - permanent residency in either Hunterdon or Somerset County, or permanent, sustained employment
with a company located in one of these two counties is required.
RVCC Admission Requirements (Pre-Clinical)
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Completed an RVCC application with the intended nursing major and submitted the $25 application fee to the
admissions office.
Submitted Final High School transcript showing official graduation date or proof of High School Equivalency
Diploma to the admissions office.
Submitted All official College Transcripts from all colleges you have attended to the registrar’s office and
confirmed before handing in a clinical application that the transcript/s were evaluated.
Submitted Immunization records showing two doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella according to the State
of New Jersey, Department of Health requirements (for full time students) to the admissions office.
Appropriate academic preparation is required to successfully complete the nursing program of study. All
candidates must meet the RVCC Nursing Program Admission Requirements (see below) in order be eligible
for admission into the nursing program.
RVCC Nursing Program Admission Requirements (Clinical)
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Completed all ESL courses and Reading and Writing Developmental courses, if required.
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Completed college-credited laboratory sciences in Anatomy and Physiology I and II with a grade of “C” or
better in each course. Each course must be four (4) college credits. Please note that two grades of D, F, W or
AU in any of these courses disqualifies a student from the clinical nursing program.
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Completed mathematics through Elementary Algebra (MATH 020 at RVCC). Intermediate Algebra (MATH
030 is also recommended, but not required.
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Demonstrated computer literacy by the successful completion of CISY102 or equivalent. Applicants may take
a proficiency exam for this requirement. The technological competency must have been demonstrated within
the last seven (7) years, as per the Computer Science Department Policy.
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To be considered for entry into the RVCC nursing program, candidates must have attained an overall GPA of
2.75 or higher at RVCC. Applicants with prior college experience only from a school other than RVCC must
have an overall GPA of at least 2.75 from the last college attended. Those with a lower GPA may qualify by
completing at least six credits at RVCC with an overall GPA of 2.75 or above.
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Completed ATI- Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Version V, with all four parts of the test. For Fall
2016 admission, TEAS must have been taken no earlier than September 2014. The TEAS is a nursing
entrance test developed by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). The TEAS evaluates four specific
content areas: Reading, Math, Science, English and Language Usage. The applicants overall TEAS score,
as well as the TEAS English and Reading section scores, will be used for evaluation. Information regarding
TEAS test dates at RVCC can be found on the department website at https://www.raritanval.edu/nursing.
Some students choose to take TEAS at a PSI testing center. Please visit the ATI website at
www.ATITESTING.COM for more information about the TEAS Testing.
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Attend the Nursing Information Session at RVCC to obtain the” Application to Clinical Nursing Courses” form.
Clinical Applications will only be made available to qualified students who attend the entire Nursing
Information session. This application may only be submitted by qualified students who have completed all the
nursing prerequisites, and must be accompanied by proof of permanent residency in either Hunterdon or
Somerset County, or permanent, sustained employment with a company located in one of these two counties.
If the ATI - TEAS was taken anywhere other than RVCC, please submit a copy of your scores with the clinical
application. * The clinical application must also be accompanied by criminal history background check
(CHBC*) results – see below If the application and needed documents are NOT submitted together, as
requested; the application will be considered incomplete and will be mailed back to the student to apply for
the following year. The dates for the Nursing Information Sessions can be found at the department website
at http://www.raritanval.edu/nursing
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Submit the completed “Application to Clinical Nursing Courses” form to the HSE Student Services Specialist,
in H-220 via postal mail with residency or employment proof, and the results of the CHBC*. Once the
completed application has been received, the academic records/transcripts and documents are reviewed to
verify that the candidate has met the requirements for the nursing program. PLEASE NOTE: Any transcripts
from prior institutions must be evaluated BEFORE a clinical application is handed in. Candidates will receive
notification as to the status of their application into the nursing program via the US Postal Mail system within
45 days after the posted application deadline date- please be sure your address is correct on file with RVCC
and make any necessary changes via the LIONS DEN.
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Admission into the nursing program is determined by a ranking score of each applicant which is based on
selective criteria. The above mentioned TEAS scores will be factored in with the applicants overall GPA and
grades earned in BIOL 124 and BIOL 125 to determine each score. Seats will be offered to the highest
ranking eligible applicants first.
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Early and Late Admission: The majority of the seats will be filled at the Early Admission deadline for both
RVCC students and transfer students, which is February 1, 2016. RVCC students only, who are completing a
prerequisite course in the Spring semester may apply by the Late Admission deadline of May 15, 2016 to be
considered for the remaining seats. (PLEASE NOTE: New transfer students are NOT eligible for Late
Admission). The Late Admission applicants will be ranked with the remaining Early Admission applicants and
seats will be offered to the highest ranking applicants.
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Waitlist/Rollover: Any applicant who is not admitted to the Nursing Program must reapply and repeat the
entire application process in order to be considered for the next year’s incoming class. There will be no
waitlist and no rolling over of applicants. Applicants are encouraged to improve their ranking score by taking
courses or retaking the TEAS.
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* ALL students are required to complete criminal history background checks (CHBC) no later than 45-60 days
before applying to the clinical nursing program. This is done in order to be authorized to attend clinical site
rotations to fulfill clinical course objectives. This is a requirement of the clinical agencies and the New Jersey
Board of Nursing for RN licensure and is intended to protect patients in all practice setting. It is important to
know that if you have an unfavorable criminal history, you will not be admitted to the nursing program
at RVCC. CHBC’s must be done through www.adamsafeguard.com The results must be attached to
the clinical application. In addition to the criminal background check, mandatory drug screening will also be
required ONLY after the student is admitted to the clinical nursing program. Students with positive drug
screen results will not be permitted to be admitted or continue in the nursing program. The cost of the
criminal history background check and mandatory drug screening is the responsibility of the individual
student.
● Clinical agencies mandate immunizations for all individuals engaged in patient care. A student may be
exempt from any required immunization if they have a medical contraindication or religious exemption. Failure to
receive immunizations may prevent fulfillment of the nursing course objectives. The nursing department shall
provide reasonable accommodations to those students whose medical conditions or religious beliefs prevent
them from being immunized. However, failure to be immunized may prevent the student from meeting the
nursing course objective, and therefore, jeopardizes the students’ successful completion of the course and
nursing program. Complete immunization requirements for admitted clinical nursing students can be found at
www.raritanval.edu/nursing
PLEASE NOTE: The Nursing Program at RVCC reserves the right to change the criteria for eligibility into the nursing program as necessary.
For more information about the Generic RN Nursing program, visit the department website – https://www.raritanval.edu/nursing
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