Q. When do you accept applications?

A. There are two application periods in the year.

• Application due on August 31 for Spring Admissions or February 28 for Fall Admissions.
• ATI TEAS results are due to the School of Nursing by 5pm PST on August 31 for Spring Admissions or February 28 for Fall Admissions.
• Applications are accepted by appointment only (see Steps to Apply/Nursing Application Process).

Q. What is the minimum required overall GPA to apply into the program?

A. The minimum required overall GPA is 2.5. The minimum required science GPA (anatomy, physiology and microbiology) is 2.5 

Q. What are the required prerequisites? 

A. List of Qualifying Requirements:

Science Requirements:

• Effective Fall 2005 and thereafter, the combined anatomy & physiology course no longer meets entrance requirements for the nursing program.  If the combined course was completed prior to Fall 2005, it will be accepted for admission.  All entering students will be required to have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.50 and an overall biological science GPA of 2.50 (anatomy, physiology, microbiology) with no more than one withdrawal, D or F in ANY of these three (3) courses.

Teas Exam:

Students must attain the required “success score” (currently 62%) on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS version 7). Students may apply to the nursing program before TEAS testing is completed but must submit verification of having met the success score on the State designated assessment examination (currently the TEAS version 7) to the School of Nursing by the deadline below.  

• Applicants to the Ventura College nursing program are required to submit ATI TEAS scores to Ventura College by 5pm PST on August 31 or February 28. ATI TEAS test results taken at Ventura College are available to the School of Nursing immediately after the testing.
• ATI TEAS test results taken at all other locations must be sent via the ATI website to Ventura College by 5pm PST on August 31 or February 28

Students who do not meet the mandated success score must schedule an appointment with a nursing counselor to discuss remediation and retesting requirements. The success score for the TEAS exam is subject to change based on the State Chancellor’s requirements.  Applicants must meet the success score on the first attempt or must remediate.  Results of testing at other sites are accepted when forwarded directly to Ventura College Nursing by the testing company.  Tests completed at other sites are counted as testing attempts.  Accommodations for testing may be available to students with disabilities.  Applicants must notify the nursing program director and obtain EAC authorization prior to scheduling a TEAS exam if accommodations are required. (Please see additional information below for TEAS requirements.)

CNA Requirement:

• Applicants must have current certification as a nursing assistant (CNA) at the time the application is submitted.  Certification is provided by the California Department of Public Health.

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Additional Requirements: 

One of the following must be completed before applying to the program:

• A minimum of 12 semester units of completed college coursework with a 2.5 GPA or
• Equivalent consistent with Board of Registered Nursing requirement (see nursing counselor for details).

All of the following must be completed:

• All official high school and college transcripts must be on file at Ventura College by August 31 or February 28.
• Application to the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program must be on file with the counseling office at Ventura College by August 31 or February 28 to be considered.
• An application to the college must be filed for the appropriate semester.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to check with the transcript clerk in the Office of Admissions and Records to see that his / her official transcripts are on file at Ventura College.
• SOCIAL SECURITY CARD/ITIN: Applicants should be aware that a valid Social Security or ITIN number will be required to be presented to complete the mandatory background checks.

All of the following must be completed before applying to the program:*

• These Ventura College courses, listed with the comparable courses from Moorpark (MC) and Oxnard (OC) Colleges are:
• Math:  completion of a college intermediate algebra course with a minimum grade of C: MATH V03 or V03A-V03E or MATH V35.  (MATH M03 or M03B or M04B - MC; R014 - OC).  As of Fall 2009 Math requirements for the associate degree have changed.  Please see a nursing counselor for details on these changes.
• Chemistry:  one year of high school OR one semester of college chemistry with laboratory, with a minimum grade of C: CHEM V20 and V20L, or CHEM V30 and V30L.  (CHEM M11 or M12 - MC; CHEM R104,or CHEM R110 - OC).
• Anatomy:  college anatomy, 4 semester unit course with laboratory, with a minimum grade of C: (ANAT V01)  (ANAT M01 -  MC; ANAT R101 - OC) 
• Physiology:  college physiology, 4 semester unit course with lab with a minimum grade of C (PHSO V01) (PHSO M01 - MC; PHSO R101 - OC).
• Microbiology:  college bacteriology/microbiology 4 semester unit course with laboratory, with a minimum grade of C: (MICR V01).  (MICR M01 - MC; MICR R100 and R100L - OC).
• CNA: current certification as a nursing assistant (CNA) in the State of California or equivalent.

*The math / science faculty strongly recommend that these courses, especially anatomy, physiology and microbiology, be completed during separate terms.  A large number of students who have attempted two or more of these classes in a single term, particularly if they have been working while enrolled in college, have experienced serious academic difficulty.

Note: Students must be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) to be eligible for application to the nursing program at Ventura College.  All applicants must contact the nursing counselor for specific admission information regarding the nursing program.

Additional courses required for those enrolled in the ADN program are listed below.  With the exception of human development, students may complete these additional courses before or after acceptance into the nursing program. The School of Nursing recommends that students complete as many courses as possible before acceptance as scheduling may be a major problem once admitted to the program. Completion of these courses after completion of the nursing program delays the licensure examination. Students who delay taking the licensure examination have a significantly higher risk of not passing it. These Ventura College courses, listed with the comparable courses from Moorpark (MC) and Oxnard (OC) Colleges, are:

• Growth & Development Across the Lifespan:  (CDV 03 or PSY V05) (PSY M07 - MC; Psy R108 [Developmental Psychology] - OC)
• ENGL V01A  ‑ (ENGL V02 or V03 not acceptable); (ENGL M01A or M01AH ‑ MC; ENGL R101 ‑ OC)
• PSY V01 (PSY M01 - MC; PSY R101 ‑ OC)
• ANTH V02 or SOC V01 or V02 or V03 OR AES V11 (ANTH M02 or SOC M01, M02, M08 ‑ MC; ANTH R102 or SOC R101, R102, R103 ‑ OC)
• COMM  V01(Introduction to Speech) or V10 (COMM M01 or M02 or M07 ‑ MC; COMM  R101 ‑ OC).

Additional courses required by Ventura College for the AS degree are:

• Humanities ‑ 6 units
• 1 course in Fine or Performing Arts (see AA/AS Check Sheet)
• 1 Humanities elective (see AA/AS Check Sheet)
• Physical Education / Health Education ‑ 2 courses (NS V40 fulfills one Health Education requirement for nursing majors only.)
• American History and Institutions ‑ 1 course (see AA/AS Check Sheet)

Competency Requirements:

• Reading ‑ satisfactory completion of degree requirements
• Written expression ‑ satisfactory completion of ENGL V01A
• Mathematics ‑ satisfactory completion of MATH V35, MATH V03 or MATH V03A – V03E, Math V12, Math V13B

Q. Can I take Anatomy and Physiology together, as a combined course?

A. No. Please contact the nursing counselors for further information.

Q. Do you have a wait list?        

A. Yes, we have a wait list.

Q. How is the nursing class selected?

A. Each qualified applicant will be assigned a number by the use of random drawings.  The class will be selected on the basis of available openings in the order determined by the student's ranking on the multi-screening criteria (75% of class) and the random numbers assigned to each applicant in each applicant pool (25% of the class).  Each qualified applicant, when selected, must decide to enter the class, remove his or her name from the eligibility list, or request a deferment.  Applicants may defer entry one time only.  Those qualified applicants who are not selected due to limited openings may retain their names (in the order assigned by a random drawing) on a waiting list. The average wait-time for a student on the waiting list is approximately 3-4 years. Students who choose not to enter (second deferment) when selected after a deferment must reapply and receive a new random number assignment.

Multi-Criteria Screening:

• The School of Nursing will admit a minimum of 75% of students based on enhanced admission criteria.
• All students will be added to an existing wait list.
• The School of Nursing will screen and rank order all students on the wait list based on a multi-criteria screening.
• 75% of the entering class will be based on the students with the highest scores from the multi-criteria ranking. These students will be admitted FIRST to the nursing  program.
• 25% of the entering class will be admitted based on their position on the wait list.

Enhanced criteria will include: GPA in science courses, repeats on science courses (anatomy, physiology and microbiology), academic degrees, diplomas, or relevant certificates held by an applicant; relevant work or volunteer experience, life experiences or special circumstances of the applicant, including but not necessarily limited to the following -  disabilities, low family income, first generation of family to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, difficult personal and family situations or circumstances, refugee or veterans status, proficiency or advanced level course work in languages other than English and assessment / readiness test results (TEAS scores). In each of the science courses, the FIRST passing grade is the one used to calculate the science GPA, even if the course was repeated and a higher grade earned.

Please refer to the Application Process and Forms on this website and see one of the nursing counselors for further information.

Q. Is there a lottery?

A. No. Please refer to the Application Process and Forms on this website.

Q. When do the first semester nursing students start?

A. There is a first semester class of nursing students every Spring and Fall semester.

Q. How many students are accepted each semester?

A. The first semester class size can vary anywhere between 30 and 50 students.

Q. Is your program full time?

A. Yes. Lecture and clinical times vary. Lecture is two days a week for NS V10. Clinical also consists of 2 days per week at an off site location.

Q. What is the cost of your program?

A. Approximate Projected Costs for Two year Program. 

Q. Do you have an LVN to RN bridge program?

A. No. We have an advanced placement option for LVNs whereby they may enter the nursing program in the second semester. Please contact a nursing counselor for further information.

Q. Can I work while I am in the nursing program?

A. Faculty recommend that you work 20 hours per week or less while in the nursing program.

Q. Should I keep my CNA certification current?

A. It is highly recommended that a student keep their CNA certification current while in the nursing program. CNA certification must be current at the time of application.