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Nursing students in lab instruction.

Application Process

  1. Credit students must apply for admission to AACC, identify Health and Human Services as their Field of Interest and select Registered Nursing (A.S.) as the degree. The general college application process is detailed on the credit application page.
  2. To apply to the Registered Nursing program, you must submit a completed online Registered Nursing program application once it is available but before the application deadline.
  3. The RN application for the fall 2024 class will be available online January 2024 with an April 30, 2024, deadline. The RN application for the spring 2025 class will be available online May 2024, and is due August 30, 2024. The program begins every spring (January) and fall (August) term.
  4. You can apply to the program only after meeting all academic and admission criteria. Know your program's requirements and follow directions carefully (see Admission and Academic Requirements below).
  5. Incomplete applications are not considered and will not be processed. You will be notified through your AACC email if required application information was not submitted.
  6. The applications will be reviewed and you will receive an email in your AACC student email account indicating that your application is complete.
  7. As the program application becomes available there will be a link on the Health Sciences Applicants page for the online application.

Online Application Instructions

Step 1: Log in to the online application system.

Health Sciences uses the same online portal as AACC’s general credit application to receive your Registered Nursing application. This portal is also where you will go to submit required documents and check on the status of your Registered Nursing application.

  • If you have already applied to AACC: You can log in with the personal email address and password you provided when you first applied to the college. If you have forgotten your login information, call the technical service desk at 410-777-4357 (HELP) for assistance.
  • If you have not applied to AACC: You must complete our general credit application before you can begin your Registered Nursing application. You will be directed to complete the general credit application immediately after creating your account.

Step 2: Begin a Registered Nursing application.

Once logged in, select Create a New Application and choose Registered Nursing Program application.

You must provide your MyAACC username and AACC ID number in order to complete the application. Directions on how to access your AACC ID number and username are available on our Password Management page

The RN application is four pages long and includes demographic information, RN course transfer, academic/admission requirements, and the certification and signature page. You can save your progress if you are not able to complete the application in one sitting. Do not create a new application for the same academic term. The next time you log in, on your My Account page, you must click on the Health Sciences-Registered Nursing Application hyperlink to resume your application.

We encourage you to preview your application before submitting to make any necessary edits to it.

After you submit your RN application, log back into the portal and go to My Account to view the Action Required alert. Click View and you will see which supplemental item(s) you will need to upload.

If applicable, you will upload documentation of your current professional health care license, certification or military health specialization.

You will also be reminded on the supplemental items page to submit your official high school transcript, GED transcript and/or college transcripts to the records office, depending on how you answer the RN application questions. If you answered that you completed a prerequisite with AP or CLEP scores, your official College Board score report will need to be submitted to the records office. If you answered that you completed one or more prerequisite courses at another college, you will be reminded to submit official transcripts for evaluation.

Recommendation letters are not accepted for the RN program.

Transcript evaluations are conducted by the records office. Your academic record and the RN application portal are not the same online system. Your supplemental items will be reviewed and updated as received, but it is not automatic. If you confirm that your transcript evaluation is complete and your transcripts are on file, you do not need to contact our office to update your RN application.

Step 3: Check your student MyAACC email account.

Once your application has been submitted, check your AACC email for confirmation. It can take up to one business day for confirmation to be sent. During the review process, additional notifications about your application will be sent to your AACC email account.

Advising 

Before you meet with a health sciences advisor, apply to AACC and submit your official transcripts from prior academic institutions.

If you plan to transfer general education requirements, have your official transcripts sent directly to the college's records and registration office. The official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education must be submitted.


Admission and Academic Requirements

Information Session

Attendance at an information session is highly recommended prior to submitting the Registered Nursing online program application. Call 410-777-7310 for dates, times and locations or view the schedule on AACC's online calendar.

  • There is no cost to attend.
  • We offer in-person and virtual information sessions.
  • Detailed information regarding program, profession, admission and academic requirements, and selection criteria will be discussed.

English

You must demonstrate eligibility for ENG-101/ENG-101A. There are many ways to do this. 

  • Qualifying SAT/ACT scores
  • Appropriate score on the English placement test
  • Unweighted high school GPA (if you graduated in the last five years)
  • Successful completion of developmental courses, if applicable
  • Transfer of credits for ENG-101
  • Appropriate score on an AP exam
  • Appropriate score on a CLEP test
  • Appropriate score on GED® test

NOTE: ENG-101/ENG-101A completed with a grade of C or better is a prerequisite to applying to the Registered Nursing program.

See an academic advisor for information or visit our Determine Placement page.

Mathematics

You must demonstrate eligibility for MAT-137 (College Algebra) or MAT-135 (Statistics). There are a number of ways this can be done. 

  • Qualifying SAT/ACT scores
  • Appropriate score on the mathematics placement test
  • Unweighted high school GPA plus coursework (if you graduated in the last five years)
  • Successful completion of developmental courses, if applicable
  • Transfer of credits for a MAT-137 or MAT-135 course
  • Appropriate score on an AP exam
  • Appropriate score on a CLEP test

NOTE: MAT-135 or MAT-137, completed with a C or better, is a prerequisite to applying to the Registered Nursing program. MAT-145, MAT-151, MAT-191 or MAT-230 satisfy the MAT-137 requirement. Former MAT courses MAT-121, MAT-131, MAT-141 or MAT-142 will also satisfy the mathematics prerequisite requirement.

For information see an academic advisor or visit our Determine Placement page.

Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS)

  • Total score of proficient (58.7%) or higher will be accepted. Students must demonstrate proficiency in reading, mathematics, science, English and language usage by scoring a total score of proficient (58.7%) or higher on this test. Scores are not rounded.
  • Approved remote TEAS testing will be accepted.
  • Students must take the test and achieve a proficient score by the date the application is submitted.
  • ATI TEAS must be taken within two years before the date of application submission.
  • There is no limit on the number of attempts to score proficient or better.

You will be asked on the application to provide the location, number of attempts and overall score on the TEAS.

To register for the TEAS test, visit the ATI website. You are required to send the official TEAS transcript to Anne Arundel Community College via your student ATI account. Review instructions on the ATI website.

Chemistry

You must present evidence of successful completion with a grade of C or better of a chemistry course by the application deadline as demonstrated by one of the following:

  • U.S. high school general chemistry (1 credit)*

OR

  • Noncredit (CHE-011) or credit chemistry (CHE-111 or CHE-103)

Note: CHE-011, CHE-111 or CHE-103 courses are eligible for the Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Waiver.

OR

  • Transfer of credits for a credit chemistry course from a regionally accredited institution.*

*If your chemistry course was taken in high school or another college, an official transcript will be required.

If home schooled, the high school curriculum must be under a recognized umbrella organization with the supervision of a state-approved curriculum. AACC may require a course syllabus so our chemistry department chair can review and approve the curriculum.

High School Graduate or Equivalency or College Degree

OR

  • Provide a transcript verifying an associate degree or higher from a nationally recognized institution or official college transcript verifying completion of 27 credits or more with a grade of C or better from a nationally recognized institution.

An official transcript is required if course evaluation and transfer is required and/or if your chemistry requirement was completed in high school. All official transcripts are to be sent to AACC's records and registration office. Visit the Transfer Credit to AACCC page for instructions.

Note: A transcript/equivalency certificate is considered official when enclosed in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically by the sending institution. It must also include a graduation/completion date, if applicable, and a school official’s signature. Your application will not be considered complete if the required documentation is not received prior to or at the time your application is submitted.

Prerequisites

  • A grade of C or better is required in each prerequisite.
  • BIO-231 or BIO-233, ENG-101/101A and MAT-135 or MAT-137 or higher MUST be satisfactorily completed by the spring term for fall admission and the summer term for spring admission. All other general education courses may be taken prior to acceptance into the RN program or consecutively with the RN course sequence.
  • Due to the selection process, the program cannot accept pass-fail as a replacement for letter grades in the required courses.

Required Courses:

+ENG-101/ENG-101A (Academic Writing and Research 1): 3 credit hours

   MAT-135 (Statistics): 3 credit hours OR ^MAT-137 (College Algebra): 3 credit hours

#BIO-231 (Human Biology 1): 4 credit hours OR #*BIO-233 (Anatomy and Physiology 1): 4 credit hours

+Students who have previously completed ENG-111, ENG-115 or ENG-121 with a grade of C or better have fulfilled the ENG-101/101A requirement.

^MAT-145, MAT-151, MAT-191 or MAT-230 satisfies the MAT-137 requirement. (Former MAT courses 121, 131, 141 and 142 will also satisfy the mathematics prerequisite requirement.

#Must be taken within seven years of the date the application is submitted.

*Fundamentals of Biology (BIO-101) is a college prerequisite for BIO-233. Therefore, it will take three terms to complete this science sequence. BIO-101 must be successfully completed prior to submitting program application, if choosing to take BIO-233 and 234.

You will find course descriptions in the AACC College Catalog for the listed program prerequisites.

Satisfactory Academic Standing

You must have a minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 at this college to be considered for selection to the Registered Nursing program. If you have not taken any AACC credit classes, answer "I have not taken credit courses at AACC” on the RN application.

College Credit Transfer

If you have taken program prerequisites or other general education courses at a nationally recognized institution other than AACC, you must submit official transcripts with your application for review.

Learn more about transfer credit.

Note: A transcript/equivalency certificate is considered official when enclosed in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically by the sending institution. It must also include a graduation/completion date, if applicable, and a school official’s signature. Your application will not be considered complete if the required documentation is not received prior to or at the time your application is submitted.

Foreign Education and International Students

Foreign educated students must have their college and high school transcripts evaluated by one of the following credential evaluators:

Foreign educated students must successfully pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 550 (213 is the equivalent computer score and 79 is the equivalent internet-based score) OR must have completed the ENG-101 or ENG-101A and ENG-102 course sequence with grades of C or better prior to applying to the program. If you need to fulfill this requirement, we recommend that you take the TOEFL test as soon as possible, as this requirement can take time to complete. You must have your official score report sent directly to Anne Arundel Community College.  Anne Arundel Community College’s code for TOEFL is 5019.

If you are an international student, there may be additional requirements for you. Visit our international student pages to learn more about visa status and other information.

Note: If you do not have a Social Security number, you may not be permitted at some clinical rotation sites and site availability could delay or inhibit your progression in the program. An international student admission specialist in AACC's Admissions and Enrollment Development office may be able to assist students with F-1 visa status to obtain a Social Security number through practical training. Call them at 410-777-2677.


Required Courses

The required courses for this program may be found in the Loading.... All students must receive a minimum grade of C or better in each registered nursing and general education course. BIO-231/233, ENG-101/101A and MAT-137 or higher or MAT-135 MUST be satisfactorily completed by the spring term for fall admission and the summer term for the spring admission. All other general education courses may be taken prior to acceptance into the RN program or consecutively with the RN course sequence. BIO-232 Human Biology 2 or BIO-234 Anatomy and Physiology 2 and BIO-223 Microbiology, must be taken within seven years of the application's submission date.

Due to the selection process, the program cannot accept pass-fail as a replacement for letter grades in the required courses.


Selection Process

The criteria used to select the conditional acceptance candidates will be applied in the following order:

  • Applications must be submitted by application deadline date.
  • You are eligible for selection if you have completed all the admissions and academic requirements by the date your application is submitted.
  • Selection for the fall class will be made in June and for the spring class in October.
  • Selections will be made according to the criteria listed in the Admission/Academic Requirements above.
  • The admissions department will choose the most competitive applicants and will review the following:
    • Prerequisite grades
    • Prerequisite courses taken at Anne Arundel Community College
    • Current license or certification in a health care profession or evidence of military health care specialization
    • Previously earned college degree, associate or higher
    • ATI TEAS Score and number of attempts
    • Selected applicants will have their selection packet for conditional acceptance emailed to their AACC email address.

How to Calculate Your Score

Enter your expected points in cells where there is an “X” in the “Your Score” column. If you did not meet the criterion, input a “0” for that criterion’s cell in the “Your Score” column. Then add all the points and record your total score in the last cell of the “Your Score” column.*

Admission CriteriaPoints ValueYour Score

ATI TEAS – Total Score

 

Proficient – 58.7% to 73.2%

1

 

Proficient – 73.3% to 79.3%

2

 

Advanced – 80.0% to 91.3%

3

 

Exemplary – 92.0% to 100%

4

 

ATI TEAS – Total Number of Attempts

 

Two times or less

1

 

Biology Prerequisite Grade

 

X

OR C (Lecture)/B (Lab) OR C (Lecture)/A (Lab)

1  

B OR B (Lecture)/A (Lab) OR B (Lecture)/C (Lab)

2  

A (Lecture)/C (Lab) OR A (Lecture)/B (Lab)

3  

A

4  

English Prerequisite Grade

  X

OR AP 3

1  

OR AP 4

2  

OR AP 5 OR CLEP

3  

Math Prerequisite Grade

  X

OR AP 3

1  

OR AP 4

2  

OR AP 5 OR CLEP

3  

Math Course Prerequisite

  X

MAT-137 (College Algebra) or Higher Accepted Prerequisite listed above

1  

Count of Prerequisites Taken at AACC (Biology, English, Math)

  X

1

1  

2

2  

3

3  

Earned Associate Degree or Higher

1 X

Current license or certification in a health care profession or evidence of military health care specialization

1 X

Second Biology (BIO-232 or BIO-234) completed with a C or better within seven years of the date of the RN application submission OR

Currently enrolled at the time of the RN application submission AND pass with a C or better at the end the spring or summer term* prior to the start of RN classes.

TOTAL POINTS

22 X/22

*For spring admission, we will accept prerequisite courses and the second biology course that will end by the application deadline. For fall admission, we will accept prerequisite courses and the second biology course that will end by the spring term

Conditional Acceptance

Applicants who have met the academic and admission requirements and have been selected into the program are given conditional acceptance. If you are granted conditional acceptance, you must attend a mandatory meeting. You must submit a completed health examination record, urine drug screen, and criminal background check. You must also submit verification of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification by designated deadline. Students who do not meet these deadlines will not be considered further for admission and the next person on the list will be contacted. Instructions on how to complete these items will be sent in the Conditional Acceptance notice and are not to be done until instructed to do so.

Waitlist: Qualified applicants not initially selected for conditional acceptance will be placed on a waitlist in order received and notified of selection when a seat becomes available. Waitlist applicants not given a seat for the term in which they applied must reapply for future consideration.

Conditionally accepted and waitlist candidates must attend a mandatory meeting on a designated date. Candidates not attending this meeting will lose their seat in the class.

  • Applicants who are offered a seat and wish to decline will have to reapply if interested in a future seat as seats will not be held.
  • Final acceptance into the program shall be contingent upon satisfactory completion and submission of a health examination record, urine drug screen, criminal background check, current CPR certification card and attendance at the mandatory meeting.

Health Examination Record

Students conditionally accepted to this program must submit a health examination record completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant validating that the student meets the technical standard of good physical and mental health as established by the School of Health Sciences, and verifying that the student is free of communicable diseases as evidenced by required immunizations/titers.

Learn more about the health examination record to include vaccinations and technical standards.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

All Health Sciences students who are offered conditional acceptance and/or clinical placement into the Registered Nursing program are required to satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and a urine drug screening. For complete details visit the Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening page.

CPR

Students must successfully complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR certification course by the designated deadline.

Anne Arundel Community College and/or the School of Health Sciences reserves the right to revise requirements for admission into the Health Sciences programs, the selection criteria and procedures, and the required courses for programs of study as deemed necessary without prior notification.