Nursing Admissions

The Fall 2025 Nursing Application will be available for submission beginning Wednesday January 15, 2025, with a deadline of April 18th, 2025. All required documentation and prerequisites will need to be completed and submitted by this date for consideration. This includes ALL official transcripts, TEAS test results, a CCAC General Application, and the CCAC Nursing Application. Applicants MUST use a computer to complete the application through the application portal. Other devices may not show the Nursing application option.

Visit Application Portal

 

General Nursing Admission Information Sessions

Join us for information about the prerequisites for the Nursing program, the TEAS test and the Nursing application process, and hear frequently asked questions and answers. Click one of the links below to attend a Zoom meeting that is convenient for you.

**All potential students are required to attend one of these sessions to understand the eligibility requirements for application to the Nursing program as well as the steps for navigating the process. **

 

Nursing Application Assistance Sessions

Join us for assistance with the application process. Bring your specific application questions, and we will assist to ensure that your application is submitted completely and correctly. Click one of the dates below to attend a Zoom meeting.

Applying to the Nursing Program

Failure to follow ALL of the instructions may result in your application being rejected.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ

On July 1, 2020, then Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law Act 53 of 2020, which impacts licensure processes and procedures. This legislation governs the Pennsylvania State Department's Bureau of Occupational and Professional Affairs and its 29 boards and commissions. For more information on Act 53, read the Act 53 Best Practices Guide here.

Technology Requirements for the Nursing Program: As part of the admission requirements, all applicants must now have a desktop or laptop readily available upon admission to the Nursing program.

Applying to the Nursing program is a two-step process. Interested individuals must first apply to CCAC via the general application.

Students will then be required to provide official transcripts to the college, take placement tests as required, meet with an academic advisor and then complete the appropriate coursework. Once all admission criteria have been met, students may submit a Nursing program application during one of the two designated application periods.

Get started today by contacting one of our Enrollment Services offices. 

1. Prerequisites - All prerequisites must be met successfully prior to the application deadline for the semester in which the student is applying. Coursework that has not been completed by the application deadline will not be considered during the evaluation process.

Biology - Applicants must have completed a COLLEGE LEVEL biology/lab course with a grade of "C" or better prior to applying to the Nursing program.
  • Completing BIO 110 or another acceptable biology course with a grade of "C" or better. Students should verify if a course is acceptable with the Advising and Registration offices.
  • AP Biology/lab course with a grade of "C" or better AND a score of 3 or higher on the College Board exam
  • CCAC Biology Waiver Exam - minimum score of 70

Chemistry - Applicants must have completed a chemistry/lab course with a grade of "C" or better prior to applying to the Nursing program.
  • High school chemistry courses may only be used in the absence of a college-level chemistry course.
  • If the student has completed a college-level chemistry course at any time after high school, the college-level chemistry grade will be used for review. IF this grade is below a "C", the student must repeat the course PRIOR to applying to the Nursing program.

English/Reading - Applicants must be eligible to register for English 101 by the application deadline in order to be considered for admission.

Eligibility may be established by any one of the following:

  • Having earned a "C" or better in a college-level English course at CCAC or another accredited college or university
  • SAT/ACT* reading scores of 510/21, respectively, AND having achieved the requisite score on CCAC's writing placement test
  • Having completed all prescribed developmental English and reading coursework with a grade of "C" or better. This includes ESL reading, writing and grammar.
  • Satisfactory CLEP* exam score

*Please note that SAT/ACT and CLEP exam scores must be submitted to the college prior to the application deadline in order to be used in the Nursing program evaluation process.

Mathematics - Applicants must be eligible to register for MAT 108–Intermediate Algebra or MAT 106–Mathematics for Health Science in order to be considered for admission.

Eligibility may be established by any one of the following:

  • Having completed an approved 3- or 4-credit college-level math course.
  • SAT/ACT mathematics scores of 550/21, respectively
  • Having completed all prescribed developmental mathematics coursework with a grade of "C" or better
  • Satisfactory CLEP exam score

LPN-RN Transition - In addition to the aforementioned prerequisites, LPN-RN Transition applicants must ALSO have successfully completed:
  • BIO 161–Anatomy & Physiology 1
  • Mathematics elective (3–4 credits)
  • PSY 101–Introduction to Psychology
2. GPA - All applicants will fall under one of the student categories listed below. The student must meet the appropriate GPA requirement that corresponds with their student classification.

A cumulative CCAC GPA of 2.8 or higher

OR

Applies to any student who has earned 12 or more CCAC college-level credits at the time of application.

A cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher

OR

Applies to any student who has not earned 12 or more CCAC credits but has earned 12 or more college-level credits at other postsecondary institutions. In this case, a composite GPA will be calculated, representing all institutions attended.

A cumulative (nonweighted) high school GPA of 3.0 or higher

Applies to any student who meets all other criteria but has earned less than 12 college-level credits at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution(s).
3. Grades and attempts

Students must have earned a "C" grade or better in all prerequisite coursework.

If a prerequisite course is not successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better by the third attempt, the student will not be considered for admission. Attempts include withdrawals and incompletes at all institutions attended.

Students must have earned a "C" grade or better in all relevant science coursework.

If a science course is not successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better by the third attempt, the student will not be considered for admission. Attempts include withdrawals and incompletes at all institutions attended.

If taken prior to application, Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2 and Microbiology MUST also have been completed with a "C" grade or better.

Please note: LPN-RN Transition candidates MUST complete Anatomy & Physiology 1 prior to application.

If a science course is not successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better by the third attempt, the student will not be considered for admission. Attempts include withdrawals and incompletes at all institutions attended.
4. TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills)

All students applying for entry into NUR 110/120 must pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with an Adjusted Individual Total Score of 58.7%.

All LPN-RN candidates applying for entry into NUR 130/140 must pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with an Adjusted Individual Total Score of 58.7%.

Students register for the exam through www.atitesting.com.

Students interested in applying must be accepted to the general college and have a student ID number. The process requires two separate applications (General and Nursing).

All applicants must meet all admission criteria by the deadline of the application period for which they are applying. Transcripts, exams scores, etc. must be on file with the CCAC Registration office by that same deadline.

Students admitted into the program are admitted tentatively. Admission to the program is not fully granted until students pass a criminal background check, drug testing, a physical and other clinical requirements. The Nursing Department cannot prereview any charges. Please check our Criminal Offense Chart for guidance.

To Apply:

  1. Please visit this link:
    https://ccac.edu/academics/programs/nursing-and-allied-health/nursing/index.php.
    You will click on the blue banner that indicates that the CCAC Nursing Application is currently OPEN. If you have not completed the CCAC General Application, STOP HERE!
  2. Please be sure to enter correct contact information. (CCAC student email accounts all end in @ccac.edu; it is best to use your CCAC email on the Nursing application.) 
  3. Log in. Change the password if you are unable to recall what you used when you completed the General Application. If you are locked out of your account, contact one of our general Admissions offices for assistance.
  4. Choose "Create a New Application."
  5. Choose "Click Here to Begin a Nursing Application."
  6. Under Enrollment Information, select " > Spring 2025: Nursing/Allied Health Applications > Nursing Applicant." Be sure that the enrollment term that you selected earlier also matches the anticipated entry term box that you will select further on within the form. If you do not select the correct term for which you are applying, you may not be directed to the correct campus placements available for the specific semester for which you are applying.
  7. Select your Nursing track. There are two options: "RN" or "LPN-RN." Important! If you are an LPN looking to apply for the LPN-RN Transition program, you must choose the appropriate track. Otherwise, you will be evaluated as a general first-year student.
  8. Be sure to input your correct Student ID. Applicants with missing or incorrect IDs may not be located in the system, which may result in their removal from consideration.
  9. Complete the Nursing application and submit.

An email confirmation, specifically stating that you have applied to the Nursing program and that your application is under review, will be sent automatically. All applicants will receive this confirmation. If you believe that you have applied but have not received this email, please contact khacker@ccac.edu. You may also request assistance from another staff member, who may also reach out on your behalf.

Application Assistance: Students experiencing technical difficulty with the application should contact the CCAC ITS ServiceDesk at 412.237.8700 or help@servicedesk.ccac.edu.

All applicants must meet the following GPA requirements:

  1. A cumulative 2.8 GPA minimum for a student who has earned 12 or more CCAC college-level credits at the time of application
  2. A 2.8 GPA for a student who has not earned 12 or more CCAC credits but has earned 12 or more college-level credits at other postsecondary institutions (This GPA will be a composite score representing all institutions attended.)
  3. A 3.0 GPA minimum from the secondary school (high school) for a student who meets all other criteria but has earned less than 12 college level credits at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution(s).

To be considered for admission:

  • Students must have earned a "C" grade or better in all prerequisite coursework. Please see the "Prerequisites" section above. If a prerequisite course is not successfully completed by the third attempt, the student will not be considered for admission. Attempts include withdrawals and incompletes at all institutions attended.
  • If taken prior to application, Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2 and Microbiology MUST also have been completed with a "C" grade or better. If a science course is not successfully completed by the third attempt, the student will not be considered for admission. Attempts include withdrawals and incompletes at all institutions attended. 

Beginning with the Fall 2016 admission period, all students applying for entry into NUR 110/120 must pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) with an Adjusted Individual Total Score of 58.7%. The TEAS is a preadmission exam used throughout the U.S. and internationally that is designed to determine the readiness of students to enter the nursing and allied health fields.

As of June 2016, LPN-RN Transition applicants planning to enter NUR 130/140 are required to take the TEAS exam.

Students must register for the TEAS exam via www.atitesting.com. TEAS exam scores are good for two years from the date the exam was taken. 

ALL CCAC PROCTORED EXAMS ARE REMOTE, MEANING YOU TAKE THE TEST ON YOUR COMPUTER IN YOUR HOME OR A QUIET LOCATION. 

Important FAQs about the TEAS

Important TEAS Updates

  1. Exam dates can be found below. All CCAC exams are currently running in the remote format and are listed under the Allegheny Campus on the ATI site. Please enter Pittsburgh, PA in the city and state sections of the ATI search feature to find all remote exams at CCAC.
  2. Remote Exams: All students taking the remote proctored exam must read the TEAS Student Quick Start Guide. Pay particular attention to the technical requirements!! Also, please watch the video provided by ATI. Your proctor will email you the necessary Assessment IDs the day of the exam. Please watch your emails for information from your proctor. That is the only means of communication that you will have with them.
  3. Special Accommodations: Any student who needs special accommodations for the TEAS must apply to CCAC via the general application and then contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at one of the four campus locations. There, you will be instructed on how to provide documentation and receive approval. Once an accommodation is established, the Disability Resources and Services staff must email the Director of Nursing Admissions to explain and confirm the accommodation. Extended time cannot be provided for evening exams; thus, all students seeking special accommodations may test during any of the Saturday exams. Please begin this process well in advance of your intended testing date and plan accordingly. The process cannot be hastened or bypassed. 

 

Fall 2024 TEAS remote exam session dates:

DAY DATE TIME
THURSDAY Nov. 14, 2024 1:00PM – 5:00PM
MONDAY Nov. 25, 2024 10:00AM – 2:00PM
THURSDAY Dec. 5, 2024 12:00PM – 4:00PM

Preliminary admission decisions are made on the basis of academic merit as described by our admission policies. However, all of the admission decisions are contingent on the satisfactory and timely completion of criminal background checks, immunizations, physicals, drug testing and other requirements. After their seats have been confirmed, accepted students will receive a package with detailed instructions on how and when to complete registration processes, clearances, medical information, etc. approximately three weeks after the initial offer letter. Please do not begin this process prior to receiving an official packet from your campus.

An unsatisfactory background check, inability to complete the requirements by the designated deadline, or the failure to report to mandatory registration and orientation meetings will result in the revocation of the admission offer. Students will be notified of the decision and will be instructed on whether or not they are eligible to reapply at a later point in time.

Prospective applicants should utilize the Criminal Offense Chart.