ADN Selective Admissions Information
Heartland Community College's Nursing Program leads to an Associate Degree in Nursing and prepares individuals to take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure to become a Registered Nurse. This degree is a 68-credit hour, two year accredited degree program, including general education courses, nursing courses and practical clinical experience.
As a selective admission program, Nursing Program enrollment is limited to 40 students per year. Admission to the Nursing Program is based on achievement of minimum academic criteria, residency and the quality of the applicant's credentials in relation to those of other applicants.
- Meet with an Academic Advisor
Call or visit an academic advisor for assistance with course selection and the application process.
Attend an Information Meeting
Visit the Nursing department page for details about information meetings.
Information Meetings provide an overview of the Nursing Program admission process. Though attendance is not mandatory, these meetings provide an opportunity to ask questions of Admissions and Nursing Program staff and are intended to help make the application process as smooth as possible for prospective students. You can view our frequently asked questions for some additional information on the Nursing program.
Review Other Program Requirements
To discuss any questions or concerns, please email the Director of Nursing Education.
- Criminal Background Check Policy (PDF) & Drug Screening Policy (PDF)
- Immunizations & clinical health requirements
Review Licensure Considerations
Passing the NCLEX-RN is required for licensure and employment. The decision to allow an individual to take the examination for licensure or be granted a license after passing the examination rests with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Committee on Nursing.
Applicants seeking licensure in the State of Illinois will need to review several licensure questions about their personal history, child support and/or student loans. If you answer "yes" to any of the questions, you will need to email the Director of Nursing Education.
Review Program Cost
The cost sheet (PDF) is a reference to provide information related to potential expenses incurred by the prospective student in the HCC Nursing Program. The totals may vary depending on previous completion of general education courses and costs associated with immunizations and tests. The fees associated with a criminal background check and drug screening are estimates and are paid directly to the company performing the checks/screens. The state license fee and NCLEX application and exam fees are for reference only and are not paid to Heartland Community College. If you elect to take the test and become licensed in a different state, you will be responsible for determining those fees. Travel fees are related to clinical education and vary depending on location (generally held to within 90 miles of HCC) and current fuel costs.
Contact Financial Aid for information about assistance with program costs.
Review Nursing Curriculum
General Education Courses
General education courses can be completed prior to admission. If general education courses are not completed prior to admission, they must be completed with a "C" or better during the semester indicated in the Course Sequence.
Nursing Courses
The ADN nursing courses begin each fall for those applicants accepted into the program and can be completed in four semesters (two academic years). These courses are offered only at the Normal Campus during the day and must be taken in order as outlined in the Course Sequence.
Students accepted into the ADN Program have the option to take NURS 136 (Practical Nursing) during the summer between the first and second years of the program. Upon successful completion of all first year Nursing Program courses AND NURS 136, students will be granted a Practical Nursing certificate and be eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensure examination.
Clinical Education Experiences
Clinical experiences are completed off campus in various practice settings each semester. Hours vary each semester and can include evening and/ or weekend hours.
Due to the rigor of the nursing program, students are encouraged to keep work hours at a minimum to allow for adequate study time.
The College provides equal educational opportunities to all students and equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Management and supervisory personnel at all levels are responsible for taking reasonable and necessary actions to prevent discrimination. Discrimination is prohibited under Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and all other relatable laws, rules and regulations that apply to College operations.
The Nursing Program at Heartland Community College is a selective admission program. Program enrollment is limited to 40 students per year. Admission is based on achievement of minimum academic criteria and the quality of the applicant's credentials in relation to those of other applicants.
Placement Testing
- Applicants who have not previously completed BIOL 181 with a "C" or better must meet the prerequisites for BIOL 181 or show completion of equivalent courses.
Nursing Assistant or Medical Assistant
- Applicants must be listed as an active CNA on the Illinois Public Health Registry (Health Care Worker Registry)
OR
- Applicants must be a graduate of Heartland Community College’s Medical Assistant (MA) Program within the past 2 years.
Grade Point Average
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (4 pt. scale) in Priority #2 (required General Education) courses is required for consideration.
- Applicants with less than seven hours of college credit must have a high school GPA of at least 2.5 (4 pt. scale). Applicants who do not meet the minimum high school GPA must complete at least seven semester hours of college-level work and achieve a 2.5 GPA (4 pt. scale).
GED Scores
- Applicants who have less than seven hours of college credit and hold a GED certificate must have a minimum score of 170 on each section of the 2014 Series test.
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GED requirements must complete at least seven hours of college level work and achieve a 2.5 GPA (4 pt. scale).
Residency
- Applicants will be required to show proof of residency as part of the application process. For an approved list of documents, please see this link.
- Out-of-district applicants will be considered for admission after all qualified and eligible in-district applicants have been offered admission.
- Applicants with temporary visas will not be considered until all qualified and eligible in-district and out-of-district applicants have been offered admission.
- Learn more about residency and District #540 boundaries.
Please see our admission requirements sheets for easily printable versions of this information:
Step 1. Apply to Heartland Community College. (Current HCC students do not need to reapply.)
Step 2. Apply to the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Application only available October 1-March 1*
- Application Dates
- Application open: October 1
- Application due: March 1
- Documentation due: March 15
- Applicants who wish to appeal one of the admission requirements must submit a letter explaining any extenuating circumstances to nursing.admissions@heartland.edu by March 31 to be considered for entry into the Nursing Program in the Fall. Only one appeal per applicant is allowed.
- Submit the following required documentation:
- Nursing Application
PLEASE NOTE: Firefox is the suggested browser for completing the application document. - Official copy of high school transcript or GED test scores.
- Official copy of all college transcript(s). (Do not submit Heartland transcript.)
- Proof of residency (upload using this secure link or email to nursing.admissions@heartland.edu)
- Listing as active on the Illinois Public Health Registry (Health Care Worker Registry [formerly known as the CNA Registry])
- Nursing Application
*Applications may be reopened at a later date if seats remain available.
Step 3. Take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
The ATI TEAS is only offered online.
- To schedule a date through Heartland, please click on "Health Sciences" at on the appointments page.. Leave the search parameters blank to schedule a test date between October 1 and March 15. You will receive a confirmation email to your myHeartland account. A $70 test fee must be paid online by credit card at the time of testing. Carefully review all information at the TEAS website.
- For wider test availability, you may schedule a test date through ATI. There is an additional test fee for this option.
Study materials are available at the Heartland Library or the study materials may be purchased at the TEAS prep page..
Students may retake the ATI TEAS one time through Heartland within the application period. The highest grade within the application period will be used for evaluation. TEAS scores are valid for two application cycles.
Transfer Credit
Heartland Community College's Nursing Program does not accept transfer credit from other nursing programs. All prospective students must follow the application guidelines listed above. Applications are accepted only during the Nursing Program’s open application period (October 1st through March 1st). Licensed Practical Nurses wishing to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing may apply for advanced placement in the LPN to ADN Program.
All non-nursing credits are subject to Heartland Community College's transfer policy.
Re-entry Students
Students seeking re-entry (PDF) to the program must meet the Re-entry Criteria as stated in the HCC Nursing Handbook. Students will only be readmitted within one academic year of exit, as space permits and by approval of the Nursing Admission Team. The following material must be submitted to the Director of Nursing Education:
- Letter requesting re-entry to the Nursing Program inclusive of:
- Identification of the causes for lack of progress
- A plan that establishes strategies for future academic success
- Official copies of transcripts for all college courses taken since previous enrollment
- Update of work hours as LPN since previous admission, if applicable
- Photocopy of driver's license or State of Illinois ID
- Application Dates
Qualified applicants will be placed in rank order based on the number of points received in the evaluation.
Application Selection Criteria Criteria Points Awarded Max Points GPA among priority 2 coursework. Minimum GPA of 2.5 required.
OR
High School GPA (if < 7 hours of college credit)GPA (on a 4 pt. scale) = points
Example: 3.5 GPA = 3.500 points4 Required General Education Courses:
-BIOL 181, 182, 191
-PSY 101
-ENGL 101, 102
-COMM 101
-SOC 101
"C" or better required.50 points per class with grade of "A" or "B"
.25 points per class with grade of "C"4 ATI TEAS Score
Minimum of Proficient (58.7%) required.≥90.0% = 4 points
≥80.0% = 3 points
≥70.0% = 2 points
≥58.7% = 1 point4 College selective* science courses
OR
High school selective* science courses (2023 or 2024 graduates only)
*Selective science courses include biology, chemistry, and physics
"C" or better required..50 points per selective* science course with grade of "A" or "B"
.25 points per selective* science course with grade of "C"2 Prior Academic Achievement Bachelor degree or higher = 1 point
Associate degree = .50 points
EMT - Paramedic = .50 points
EMT Basic/Intermediate = .25 points
One-year certificate = .25 points1 Post-General Education Courses:
-CHEM 120
-HLTH 110, 120
-MATH 141
-PSY 209
-SPAN 100
Points only awarded if ALL eight required general education courses are completed with a "C" or greater
Points only awarded for courses completed by March 15..50 points per class with grade of "A" or "B"
.25 points per class with grade of "C"3 Please see our admission recommendation sheet (PDF) for an easily printable version of this information.
- The top-ranked 40 applicants will be offered seats in the Nursing Program.
- Applicants will be notified of their status regarding admission via their myHeartland email by April 15th.
- If seats remain available after all applications are evaluated, HCC may reopen applications and applicants will continue to be evaluated until the program is full.
- Applicants who wish to appeal their status must submit a letter explaining any extenuating circumstances to nursing.admissions@heartland.edu by March 31 to be considered for entry into the Nursing Program in the Fall. Only one appeal per applicant is allowed.
- Applicants not accepted during an application cycle will need to submit a new application for the Nursing Program during a subsequent application cycle. Applications and waiting lists are not maintained from year to year.
- Applicants who are offered a seat in the program must meet the following requirements before beginning nursing coursework:
- Complete "in progress" required general education courses with a "C" or greater AND maintain a GPA of 2.5.
- Attend Orientation
- Submit to a criminal background check (PDF) and drug testing (PDF)
- Fulfill all clinical education requirements. Health insurance coverage, CPR certification, and vaccination requirements must be met prior to and maintained throughout enrollment in the program.
- Satisfy all financial obligations to the college