Department of Nursing Application Steps
Applications Open September 15th for all Nursing Programs
Priority Deadline for ASN & PN fall applicants: February 15
PN applications will be accepted up to May 1 based on space in the PN Program
Deadline for all readmission for fall: February 15
Deadline for all readmission for spring: October 15
STEP 1: Explore the HCC Nursing Programs and Pathways
Explore HCC's two (2) nursing programs and additional pathways that are available.
You might consider applying for both programs and pathways during the same application period.
STEP 2: Review the HCC Application Process
You can apply to HCC at any time; however, nursing programs applications will be available on September 15 (see STEP 5 below).
All new, one time readmit, and transfer students must comply with the HCC application process.
Students should declare Foundations of Health as their major to take pre requisite/ general education classes for nursing.
Check your HCC email account to receive further communication about your application. All college communicate will go through this email account.
If you have questions, please contact Admissions at admissions@hcc.edu or 413.552.2321.
If you are a current student, you can skip this step.
STEP 3: Attend an Online Health Career Information Session or Health Education Open House
Complete the online information session:
This is mandatory for all applicants (PN, ASN, Educational Mobility 1+1 and Advanced Placement LPN2RN ASN).
Health education open house are twice a year (Fall and Spring).
The online information session is good for 1 application cycle and must be completed before the application deadline for the year that you are applying.
At the end of the online information session, you will complete a GoogleForm. This counts as your attendance. The admissions office will update your application to reflect your attendance.
STEP 4: Contact an HCC Advisor
If you haven't already, meet with an HCC Advisor,
The college advisor will review program options, requirements, and applications.
Your college advisor will also provide some guidance throughout the application process.
STEP 5: The Nursing Programs and Pathways Application
Nursing program applications will be available on September 15.
Students who are interested in applying for one or more of the nursing programs at HCC need to apply for all programs through admissions. This includes the PN, ASN, Educational Mobility 1+1, Advanced Placement LPN2RN ASN Pathways and the Concurrent Enrollment HCC ASN and WSU BSN Pathway.
You will also want to gather or request transcripts from all of your other institutions. Be sure to refer to the materials in STEP 6 regarding admissions requirements and policies.
STEP 6: Read the Nursing Program Admissions Policy & Requirements
Everyone should review the "Department of Nursing Admission Policy & Requirements."
Please review the following documents to learn more about the Nursing Programs admissions policy and requirements.
"Nursing Programs Application Checklist" is from admissions and shows application requirements.
"Essential Functional Abilities Requirements" outlines the fit-for-duty abilities that all nursing students must verify by a healthcare provider and maintained while in the programs.
Review and meet the "MABORN Good Moral Character policy" that briefly talks about CORI/SORI background checks and the Department of Child and Family Services required before applying.
"Drug Screening Policy" talks about the drug testing requirement once accepted.
All nursing students must complete all of their program requirement courses and general education courses with a minimum grade of C+ (77%).
Educational Mobility 1+1 Policy talks more about the 1+1 ASN pathway. All 1+1 applicants should review it.
Advanced Placement LPN2RN ASN Policy talks more about the LPN2RN ASN pathway. All LPN2RN applicants should review it.
Concurrent Enrollment HCC ASN and WSU BSN: HCC and Westfield State University (WSU) are offering a concurrent ASN and BSN enrollment option. Students accepted into HCC and WSU nursing programs will work concurrently to obtain their ASN and BSN degrees. For program consideration applicants must select this option in the application process and meet all of the admissions and progression policies for both HCC and WSU.
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Department of Nursing
Admission Policy & Requirements
Admission Policy & Requirements
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Educational Mobility 1+1 ASN Policy
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Advanced Placement LPN2RN ASN Policy
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Nursing Programs Application Checklist
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Department of Nursing Requirements Essential Functional Abilities Policy
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MABORN Good Moral Character Clause
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Drug Screening Policy
STEP 7: Complete the Program Requirement Courses & General Education Courses
Review the program requirement courses (nursing and pharmacology) and general education courses for your desired programs and pathways below.
Nursing Program(s) applicants must demonstrate completion of all required general education courses with a minimum grade of C+ (77%) prior to enrollment into nursing programs.
STEP 8: Complete the 2 Supplemental Forms
ALL applicants must review and complete the following supplemental forms.
Upload the completed forms to the HCC Nursing Application.
"The Nursing Programs Requirements Acknowledgement Form" asks all applicants to acknowledge that they are aware of all of the nursing programs requirements.
"Employment Verification Form" asks applicants to share any healthcare experience that they have. Healthcare experience is not required for traditional PN and ASN applicants, but is required for the 1+1 and LPN2RN ASN pathways; however, this is good information to disclose for the application process.
All accepted (PN & ASN) HCC nursing students will have to complete a nurse aid training course, (see Step 12 below for exceptions to this requirement.) Please use the Employment Verification Form to identify your CNA or PCT experience, employment will be verified.
Six-months of Healthcare experience is required for the Educational Mobility 1+1 ASN and Advanced Placement LPN2RN ASN applicants. Please use the Employment Verification Form to identify your LPN experience, employment will be verified.
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Nursing Programs Requirements Acknowledgement Form
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Department of Nursing Employment Verification Form
STEP 9: Review & Complete the Required Immunization and Health Information
Review the "Student Health Requirements" for the HCC Nursing Programs.
All accepted nursing students will need to provide documentation regarding the completion of their immunization, required trainings, and related compliance records. Schedule your appointments early with your provider to meet the 30 day after accepetnce deadline.
Please note that some of these health requirements (i.e. Hepatitis B, TB and COVID) require more than one step and therefore require more time.
Applicants should review what health requirements they already meet and will need to get.
Once accepted into the nursing program, students will create an account with Castle Branch to maintain program compliance. More information is provided once accepted.
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Department of Nursing
Student Health Requirements
Student Health Requirements
STEP 10: Complete the PAX/HESI Exam
PAX
All new students applying to the HCC nursing programs must take the PAX exam and earn a minimum of a 50 on the verbal section.
Students may take the exam twice within an application cycle.
No appointment needed to take the exam - once you purchase the PAX, you can take it at any time with a secured remote proctoring service.
It is highly recommended to earn the highest score in all areas of testing, (Verbal, Math & Science) for a higher composite score. Points are applied during the application review.
ALL PN, ASN, 1+1 and LPN2RN first time applicants are required to complete the NLN Pre-Admission Exam (PAX). It is required to take All three (3) sections English, Math and Science with a minimum score of 50% in English Verbal.
Scores are valid for two application cycles (2-years). Exemptions to this rule will be granted only to students applying for readmissions.
To purchase your PAX exam, please follow the guide below and follow the instructions.
PAX Prep materials are offered through NLN for a fee; please see this resource sheet that is below for more information, or you may elect to purchase or use the HCC Library PAX review resources.
HESI LPN2RN Exam
Contact Admissions: admissions@hcc.edu
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STEP 11: Finalize Application & Check-in with Admissions
Verify that your nursing application has been sent in and that it is complete.
Make sure that admissions has all of your transcripts, exam results and any other documents that they need.
If you are applying to more than one nursing program, make sure that both applications have been submitted successfully with admissions.
STEP 12: Verification of satisfactory completion of a Nurse Aide (NA) training course prior to enrollment.
All accepted (PN & ASN) HCC nursing students will have to complete a nurses aid training course prior to enrollment. Exceptions to this requirement will be given to applicants that are currently a Certified Nurses Aid (CNA), Patient Care Technician (PCT) with verified 50+/hours of work experience prior to the start of the fall semester or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
To learn more about Nurses Aid training courses at HCC and which option is best for you, please contact advisingcenter@hcc.edu.
If you are already a CNA, PCT or LPN, that is great! You will need to make sure that your certification is in good standing prior to your enrollment into the fundamentals of nursing course. This information will need to be submitted to your Castle Branch account prior to September 1 program enrollment . There are no waivers to this requirement.
If you have 50+ hours as a PCT, your documented work verification form will prove your experience. Therefore, you would not need to complete a nurses aid training or a CNA certificate.
LPN2RN and 1+1 students do not need to complete a nurses aid training. However, your LPN license will need to be active and be in good standing with the Board of Nursing for the state you are licensed to practice.
Certified Nursing Assistant Training
HCC offers Certified Nursing Assistant and Home health Aide courses through the Jump Start program.
Interested? Please complete the Jump Start inquiry form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvxYrTdYmMkLHb9ksjk5ilMSkf3RqNWT5roWH9wrXE4eDSZw/viewform
or call the Jump Start office at 413.552.2730.
FREE HCC Nurse Aid & ESOL Course
HCC offers a free Nurse Aide and Home Health Aide course for English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) students.
For more information, please visit: https://www.hcc.edu/courses-and-programs/workforce-development/free/subsidized-classes-for-unemployed-and-underemployed/nurse-aide/home-health-aide/esol
FREE HCC SNAP Path to Work CNA Course
Individuals receiving non-cash SNAP benefits are eligible to apply for this free Nursing Assistant Program.
For more information, please visit: https://www.hcc.edu/courses-and-programs/workforce-development/free/subsidized-classes-for-unemployed-and-underemployed/snap-path-to-work