Associate in Nursing Degree (DTA/MRP) Application Process
The Nursing Program application period is now open!
Application Deadline: June 30 at 4:30 p.m.
Admission Process and Prioritization for Admission
Admission will be based on the “Prioritization for Admission” criteria. Using these criteria, students with the highest number of points will be offered admission first, regardless of their place of residence.
All applicants to the nursing program must first have applied for admission and been accepted to YVC.
Application and Acceptance Periods
YVC offers three opportunities for application and acceptance to the program.
- June 30 for fall quarter admission
- December 20 for spring quarter admission
- September 15 for winter quarter admission
All applications are due by 4:30 pm.
How to apply to the nursing program
What must be complete by the application deadline?
- Complete all the required prerequisite courses (or be enrolled in the prerequisites with anticipated completion by the application deadline)
- The TEAS Test must be completed one week prior to the application deadline day. TEAS results are due by the close of business day, 1 week prior to the application deadline date. You may take the test at YVC or at a regional testing center. If you test at a location other than YVC, ATI will need to forward the TEAS transcript to the YVC Nursing Department. If you take the TEAS at YVC, the nursing program will be able to access your score. We cannot accept TEAS scores directly from students.
- Immunizations must meet the requirements and be complete. (Please refer to the required immunizations information under Additional Application Requirements.)
- If transferring from another college, apply to YVC for general admission. You must have applied to Yakima Valley College for general admission, paid the $30.00 application fee, and been accepted to the college a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the application deadline. This applies to any student who has not attended YVC in the four quarters previous to an application deadline. Special conditions apply if you have attended summer quarter at YVC. You may need to still submit an application to the college and pay the application fee, as summer quarter enrollment does not always require an application.
- To apply for admission to YVC, visit Admissions. Please pay attention to the important dates and deadlines as those may impact your transcript evaluation timeline.
- Transcripts from other colleges must have been evaluated prior to the application deadline. Official transcripts submitted to the college are evaluated in the order in which they are received, therefore to be assured of official transcript evaluations for admission to the nursing program we ask that you allow 6 weeks for transcript evaluation. In some cases, an evaluation of transcripts may take longer than 6 weeks, such as when a course needs a review by a department for equivalency.
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- Official transcripts from all schools attended are required for the Admission Department.
- Unofficial transcripts are uploaded to the Nursing Application, this includes transcripts from YVC. When students are accepted to the program, they will need to provide official transcripts.
- Failure to disclose and provide transcripts from all schools attended may result in the invalidation of the nursing program application.
What do I need to have ready to upload with my online application?
- Your complete immunization records. (Please refer to the required immunizations under Additional Application Requirements) If proof of the required immunizations is not included with the application, the application will be ineligible for review.
- Unofficial transcripts from all schools attended. Failure to provide transcripts from all schools attended, with the exception of YVC, will result in the invalidation of your application. In addition, failure to disclose all schools attended will invalidate your application. If accepted, students will need to provide a sealed copy of official transcripts from all other schools attended.
- Copy of your active healthcare license (if you wish to be awarded points for licensure). If your license is contingent upon job status, you will also need to provide proof of employment. Expired licenses, and/or passing test results (but without a copy of the license) will not be accepted. Please go the Washington State Department of Health to print a copy of your credential.
- Copy of your American Heart Association BLS/CPR for Healthcare Professionals card if you have it. If you do not have a CPR card, it will not prevent your application from being reviewed. If you are accepted, we will provide you an opportunity for the BLS/CPR certification that will occur before the start of the program.
Application and Acceptance Periods
YVC offers three opportunities for application and acceptance to the program. Acceptance periods: June 30 for fall quarter admission, December 20 for spring quarter admission, and September 15 for winter quarter admission. Applications are due by 4:30 pm. on the deadline date.
Applicants are notified of acceptance or denial no later than the end of the month directly following an application deadline date (for example, June 30 applicants receive notification no later than the end of July).
Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance is emailed to the email address provided on the online nursing application. Please be sure that the email address is correct.
Review of the applications requires several weeks. Please do not call to inquire about your application status until after the end of the month following the deadline.
The following prerequisite courses must be completed before acceptance to the Nursing Program. Courses taken at other institutions and/or online must meet equivalency requirements at YVC. The Nursing Program does not allow for substitution of requisite courses.
Washington State community and technical colleges participate in common course numbering for equivalent courses. These courses are identified with an ampersand (&) and will transfer to YVC for identically numbered courses.
Science courses taken online generally must have a lab component with an instructor on-site and supervising the lab in order to be equivalent to comparable YVC science courses. The YVC science department faculty make the final decision when there is a question about whether a class is equivalent to science prerequisites.
Students who have taken advanced placement courses in high school must verify credit with the appropriate department at YVC.
Required Prerequisite Courses
CHEM& 121: Introduction to Chemistry
MATH& 146 (5 Cr) – Introduction to Statistics
BIOL& 160 (5 Cr) – General Biology (not used in GPA calculations)
BIOL& 241 (5 Cr) – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL& 242 (5 Cr) – Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL& 260 (5 Cr) – Microbiology
ENGL& 101 (5 Cr) – English Composition I
or
ENGL 102 (5 Cr) – English Composition II
NUTR& 101 (5 Cr) – Human Nutrition
PSYC& 100 (5 Cr) – General Psychology
PSYC& 200 (5 Cr) – Lifespan Psychology
Supporting courses are generally completed prior to entering the Nursing Program since it is difficult to take additional courses when students are in the Nursing Program. However, the supporting courses do not need to be completed prior to applying. All supportive coursework must be successfully completed prior to entry into the fifth quarter of the Nursing program.
Supporting Classes
10 credits of Humanities electives taken from the approved Humanities Distribution.
5 credits of Communication distribution taken from the approved Communications Distribution.
(See the course catalog).
Credit Deficiencies
Students whose required prerequisites were taken at a college that uses a semester system may have fewer credits than are required for graduation and will need to take additional coursework to complete the missing credits.
Priority for admission to the Nursing Program will require that additional coursework (in the relevant subject) be completed prior to the relevant application deadline. For example, students who transfer with 3-semester credits (4.5 quarter credits) in General Psychology, and 3-semester credits (4.5 quarter credits) in Lifespan Psychology, will have 9 quarter credits instead of the 10 quarter credits required for graduation. They will need to take an additional 1-credit Psychology course in order to have the required number of Psychology/Social Science credits for the Associate Degree in Nursing DTA/MRP. All courses must be approved by the Nursing Department.
For YVC policies regarding the transfer of credit for general education requirements and nursing program prerequisites, please see the YVC Transfer of Credit Policies.
Additional Course Requirements
All supportive courses must be completed prior to entry to the fifth quarter of the Nursing program (NRSE 220/221).
Grades
A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be achieved in all required prerequisite and supporting courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 (C) grade point in each nursing course throughout the program. Any Nursing prerequisite course taken at another institution must have a letter grade. Pass/Fail grades may not be accepted.
Application Process
Students must be accepted for general admission to YVC before the application to the Nursing Program will be considered. Admission to YVC does not indicate admission to the Nursing Program. Students accepted to the Nursing Program will receive a tentative acceptance letter from the nursing department.
Transcripts
Official transcripts for all courses taken at other colleges must be submitted to the YVC Admissions Office. The applicant is solely responsible for obtaining transcripts for YVC files. No application will be reviewed until all transcripts have been supplied and evaluated. Please allow 4 weeks for official transcript evaluation by the admissions office.
Transcripts are evaluated in the order received. It is possible that complete transcript evaluation will take longer than 4 weeks. Courses that need equivalency evaluation may require additional time.
If accepted to the Nursing Program, the nursing department requires that transferring students submit official sealed transcripts from all other colleges directly to the nursing department (in addition to the transcripts submitted to the admissions office).
Credit Deficiencies for Transferring Students
Students whose required prerequisites were taken at a college that uses a semester system may have fewer credits than are required for graduation and will need to take additional coursework to make up credits. This will not affect the ability to be admitted to the Nursing Program but will require that additional coursework (in the relevant subject) be completed prior to graduation. For example, students who transfer with 3-semester credits (4 quarter credits) in General Psychology and 3-semester credits (4 quarter credits) in Lifespan Psychology will have 8 quarter credits instead of the 10 quarter credits required for graduation and will need to take an additional 2-credit psychology course in order to have the required number of Psychology/Social Science credits for graduation from YVC. Please have the additional classes approved by the Nursing Department.
For YVC policies regarding the transfer of credit for general education requirements and nursing program prerequisites, please see the YVC Transfer of Credit Policies.
Application Deadlines
It is the student’s responsibility to verify that all records including name, address, telephone, and e-mail contact information have been received in the Nursing Department prior to the deadline date for application evaluation.
Admissions Criteria
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (C+) in all required or supportive coursework. In addition, any grade below C (2.0) will not be accepted in any course taken. The Nursing Program prioritizes students for admission when there are more students than spaces available.
Students Applying to Transfer from another Nursing Program
Acceptance of nursing coursework taken in another nursing program is done case-by-case. Please contact the Nursing Program directly at 509.574.4902 for more information.
Students applying to the Nursing Program who have taken any coursework in another Nursing program must supply official transcripts and any other program performance indicators as requested before the application can be considered.
Based on the information obtained, a student may be admitted, admitted with conditions, or denied admission. In addition, a letter from the director of the previous nursing program stating that the student left the program in good standing must be provided by that program’s nursing director. This documentation must be mailed directly to the YVC Nursing Program from the previous program. Students who fail to disclose attendance and/or unsatisfactory work in another nursing program may be subject to immediate dismissal from the YVC Nursing Program if the information becomes available while they are enrolled.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all required nursing program course work. No grade below a “C” will be accepted in any required or elective course.
A minimum grade of C (2.0) must be achieved in all required prerequisite and supporting courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Students must maintain a minimum of a 2.0 (C) grade point in each nursing course throughout the program. All supportive coursework must be successfully completed prior to entry into the fifth quarter of the Nursing program. Please note that any Nursing prerequisite course taken at another institution must have a letter grade. Pass/Fail grades may not be accepted.
All applicants to the nursing program must be accepted students to YVC. Generally, applicants need to have completed all the required nursing program prerequisites to be considered for admission. Rarely, there are an inadequate number of applicants for the available openings in the Nursing Program. In that case, students who have completed all the required prerequisite courses except for Nutrition (NUTR& 101) may be considered for admission.
Admission is based on the “Prioritization for Admission” criteria. Using these criteria, students with the highest number of points have the highest priority for admission. Students are prioritized in comparison with the group of students who are applying with the same deadline. Students who are not accepted and then re-apply will be re-prioritized with the new applying cohort each time they apply
Prioritization for Admission
Admission Priority- Effective June 30, 2024
Admission Priority:
Priority Level 1:
Those applicants who have completed all of the requisites, supporting courses, the required immunizations, and have no credit discrepancies.
Priority Level 2:
Those applicants who have completed all the requisites, 10 out of 15 credits required for the supporting courses, the required immunizations and have no credit discrepancies.
Priority Level 3:
Those applicants who have completed all the requisites, 5 of the 15 credits required for the supporting courses, all the required immunizations and have minor credit discrepancies.
Priority Level 4:
Those applicants, who have completed all the requisites, need to complete 15 credits required for the supporting courses, all the required immunizations and have minor credit discrepancies.
The YVC Nursing program uses a point system when processing and prioritizing applications for admission.
- 80% (or 80 points) is allocated for a cumulative GPA in the nine required prerequisite courses. (BIOL& 160 /General Biology is not included in this calculation.) Grades for any prerequisite course that is repeated are averaged. I.e., PSYC&100 with a “C” the first time and an “A” the second will have the value of a “B” or 3.0 when used to calculate GPA points.
- 10% (or 10 points) is allocated for TEAS test score (calculation) (i.e., a score of 78% on the Adjusted Individual Total Score, is equivalent to 7.8 points.)
- 6% (or 6 points) is allocated for licensure in a human health-related field. Licensure must be unencumbered and validated through the Washington State Department of Health list of licensure. Accepted licensure must be a result of the completion of a state-approved program and/or from an accredited college or university.
- 2% (or 2 points) is allocated for second language proficiency in a language other than English. Applicants are required to contact the Nursing Program Coordinator at nursing@yvcc.edu to arrange for testing. Please initiate contact one month prior to the end of the fall, winter, and/or spring quarter. Allow for results from Alta Language Services to be available to upload to your application.
- 2% (or 2 points) is allocated for re-application. The applicant must have successfully met all program eligibility requirements, but not been admitted to the program. Once awarded, these points remain with the applicant for any potential future application (if applicable) and are not cumulative.
Additional Application Requirements
Immunizations
The Nursing Program’s affiliation agreements with clinical and practicum training sites require students to be complete with all required immunizations and tuberculosis (TB) screening as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthcare personnel. The requirements reduce the risk of exposure to communicable diseases for students and their patients/clients.
Students must upload official, signed documentation of their immunization status, to the online application. If immunization status is not complete and available with the application, the application will be ineligible for review. Immunizations, and any needed laboratory testing, are done at the student’s expense. All records must be signed by the healthcare provider or stamped by the facility and may not come directly from the individual’s patient portal.
Immunizations are to remain current while students are enrolled in the Nursing Program. Failure to maintain immunization status will affect enrollment status; students will not be able to participate in required clinical courses if immunizations and CPR are not current. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all immunizations and/or proof of immunity documentation be submitted on time (prior to the start of the program and as required thereafter).
Current Immunization requirements are as follows:
- Tetanus Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) injection: Within the last eight years. If the student has had a Tdap prior to the eight-year mark, a regular tetanus immunization may be used. A titer does not satisfy this requirement.
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Documentation of two injections. If this documentation cannot be provided, then serum titer must be done to demonstrate immunity. If any portion of the titer is negative, a booster is required, followed by a re-titer 30 days post booster, for the portion of the applicant that is negative.
- Hepatitis B: The series of three injections must be given over a period of months. The second injection is administered one month after the first, with the third administered six months after the first. Documentation must be in the student’s file proving the immunization has been completed prior to participation in the program. A positive Hepatitis B titer may be used to replace evidence of the immunization series.
- Hepatitis B titer: Serologic titer with the lab results for Hepatitis B demonstrating immunity. If the titer is negative for immunity, a restart of the series is required, followed by a retiter 30 days post third shot in the series restart. Documentation demonstrating the restart of the series per the CDC guidelines must be included with titer results.
- Tuberculin skin test (PPD): Required once a year after the two-step baseline has been established. Evidence of three recent, current consecutive years of testing history is accepted in place of the two-step baseline, provided the PPDs have been done annually at the time when due. Students with a positive PPD must have a chest x-ray to demonstrate that they are negative for active disease and provide documentation to the Nursing Program office. Once a chest x-ray is performed, the student will complete an annual questionnaire in place of the PPD test. Students who have exposure to a patient with active TB should have a repeat PPD. A tuberculin titer, known as a Quantiferron, may also be used.
- Format for PPd 2 step: Date Administered/Date Read and read results. This is repeated within 10 days to provide a 2-step baseline. In order to be valid, PPD records must demonstrate the date administered, the date read, and the results.
- Quantiferron: If using a Quantiferron titer to satisfy this requirement it must be repeated annually. If a student returns to using the PPD method, a 2-step baseline must be re-established.
- Hepatitis A injection: Two injections from childhood or at least one immunization within the last 10 years.
- Varicella: Provide proof of two dose inoculation, or titer lab results.
- Flu: proof of seasonal flu immunization-If the application deadline precedes the vaccine availability, it will be due at the time of final acceptance to the program.
Recommended:
- COVID-19: Two shot series if it is the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one shot for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
If an applicant has not received the initial Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccinations, after September of 2023, one booster injection will satisfy the COVID vaccine as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for healthcare personnel.
Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is offered through Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) and is required for all students seeking admission to the YVC Nursing Program. Results are submitted electronically by ATI; if taken at a location other than YVC. This test is intended for students who have completed, or are near completion, of required prerequisite coursework as some content in the exam may relate to the content in the prerequisites.
The TEAS will assess reading, writing, math, and science. Students must score at the “Proficient” level or higher in each area.
TEAS Minimum Scores by Category
The TEAS overall score must be at the Proficient level of 58.7%. Additionally, students must earn the following minimum cut score in each category:
- Reading 69% or higher
- Mathematics 63.3% or higher
- Science 45.8% or higher
- English and Language Usage 60% or higher
Number of attempts allowed
There is no limitation to the number of attempts allowed. However, only the results for the last test taken are considered. Scores are valid for two years from the date of the test. Results must be within the two-year timeframe, by the application deadline date.
Applicants will receive no more than 10 points on their application based on the TEAS test results. TEAS application points are found by taking the Adjusted Individual Total Score and dividing it by 10.
Where may I take the TEAS?
The TEAS is offered through the YVC proctored computer lab in the Deccio Higher Education Center, Building 8, on the Yakima Campus or at other regional locations through PSI (ATI) and directly through ATI Testing.
Students wanting to take the TEAS test directly through ATI may do so by visiting ATI Testing. Students will have ATI forward the transcripts to the YVC Nursing Department.
Number of attempts allowed
There is no limitation to the number of attempts allowed. However, applicants should be advised that the nursing department would only the results for the last test taken are considered. Scores are valid for two years from the date of the test. Results must be within the two-year timeframe of the application deadline date.
Applicants will receive no more than 10 points on their application based on the TEAS test results. TEAS application points are found by taking the Adjusted Individual Total Score and dividing it by 10.
To take the test at YVC
Students may visit the Proctored Testing lab schedule for operation hours and lab testing times.
How do I test at YVC?
- Visit Create Account, prior to visiting the YVC lab.
- Do not select the option “Register for TEAS” if taking the exam at YVC.
- If testing at YVC, step 1 is all you can do until you go to the lab to take the TEAS.
- On testing day, In the YVC Lab, students log in to ATI Testing.
- Select “My eLearning” once the students’ page loads. This takes you to where the Assessment ID is entered.
- The proctor will enter the assessment ID for the student. If the student has not paid yet for their exam, they will be prompted to do so here before the exam will begin. It can be paid by credit or debit card.
Requirements after Acceptance
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/ Basic Life Support (CPR/BLS)
Prior to entering the first quarter all students are required to obtain CPR/BLS certification, and CPR/BLS certification must be maintained throughout the Nursing Program. Clinical facilities require certification through an American Heart Association CPR/BLS for Healthcare Professionals course. (CPR training through a course for non-healthcare community members will not be accepted for this requirement.)
Students who have been tentatively accepted to the Nursing Program must complete a criminal history background check and drug screening prior to formal admission. The background check and drug screen are at the student’s expense. Information obtained from the background check and drug screen will be considered in determining student eligibility to enter the program and/or complete clinical courses. Some clinical sites may require additional criminal history background checks and drug screens (at the student’s expense). Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Director of Nursing Programs who can be reached at 509.574.4909.
Official Transcripts from any other Schools/Colleges Attended
Students who are accepted to the Nursing Program and included unofficial transcripts from other schools/colleges on their application will need to provide sealed official transcripts from all other schools attended.