Health Science – Pre-Nursing Pathway
Students who do not yet meet Nursing prerequisites should begin in the Health Science Associate Degree (Pre-Nursing Pathway). During advising, students have an opportunity to sign an agreement to meet minimum program requirements. Students who successfully complete the pathway earn additional points on their Nursing application.
Note: Most high school students pursuing a Nursing career choose to start here.
There is no application deadline for the pre-nursing pathway
Nursing Associate Degree
The Nursing Associate Degree program is a selective full-time, two-year, daytime program offered during the weekdays starting in the Fall semester. The program is ACEN‐accredited & approved by NHBON. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEXRN licensure exam through NHBON and Pearson VUE. Students must complete ALL application requirements by the application deadline to be eligible for consideration.
February 1, 2027
- Attendance of a Nursing Information Session
- English and Math Placement
- College-Level Prerequisites:
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 – Grade of C+ or higher, credits may not be older
than 10 years - Introduction to Psychology – Grade of C+ or higher, no time requirement
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 – Grade of C+ or higher, credits may not be older
- TEAS Exam with an average score of 66% or higher. Your testing date may not
be older than 2 years from the start of your first Nursing course.
The TEAS was developed to measure basic skills in Reading, Mathematics, Science, English, and Language Usage. It is a 170-item multiple choice assessment. To sign up for the TEAS, please go to www.atitesting.com.
NCC Benchmark scores:
ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)* with a Total Score of 66% or higher.
Study for TEAS
https://www.ed2go.com/nhctcnashua/online-courses/teas-prep-one/
Testing Accommodations
https://nashuacc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NCC-Testing-Accommodations-for-TEAS.pdf
Selection is determined by a cumulative point based system that looks at applicable courses and grades; TEAS scores and references. The Vice President of Student and Community Affairs and the Chair of the Department of Nursing will review applications and make the admission decisions. Preference will be given to applicants who:
- Students who have completed the Pre-Nursing Pathway
- TEAS mean score of 66% or greater
- Total courses completed
- A&P I grade and academic history
- Qualified students who are not accepted in the initial selection process may be assigned to a prioritized waiting list based on the above criteria. They may subsequently be admitted if an opening becomes available. The waiting list will end once classes begin. Applicants still desiring admission must then reapply.
You will be invited to a mandatory nursing orientation to obtain information about required documents that must be submitted prior to beginning the first nursing course. It is understood that acceptance is conditional upon submission of the required documents.
You will be required to complete a criminal background check (specific information to be given at orientation). Individuals with a court record or a criminal conviction may wish to contact the Board(s) of Registration in Nursing in any state in which they plan to work for guidelines. The NH Board of Nursing can be reached at 603-271-2323. This will allow the individual to make an informed decision about choosing to pursue nursing education at this time.
Fees may include but are not limited to:
Clinical Fees;
Assessment Technologies Institute® (ATI) testing package;
V-Sim virtual patient software;
DocuCare Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software
Uniform, stethoscope, penlight, watch with a second hand, textbooks, skills lab kit and supplies for lab practice, nursing pins;
NCLEX preparation and licensure
Advanced Placement Nursing
Advanced Placement Nursing is for students who hold an LPN license, or are looking to transfer at least ONE Nursing credit from another accredited Nursing program. As a Spring-only program, Advanced Placement students will bypass the first Nursing course and begin our program by taking Concepts & Skills for Nursing Practice. Acceptance for Advanced Placement is on a space available basis. Students must complete ALL application requirements by the application deadline to be eligible for consideration.
November 1, 2026
Current LPNs
- Attendance of a Nursing Information Session
- English and Math Placement
- College-Level Prerequisites:
- Introduction to Psychology – C+ or higher
- Human Growth & Development – C+ or higher
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 – C+ or higher, credits must not be older than 10 years
- Anatomy & Physiology 2 – C+ or higher, credits must not be older than 10 years
- LPN License – Must be active, but does not need to be from the state of NH
- NACE Exam – Complete the National League for Nursing (NLN) Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE I – Foundations of Nursing) and attain an overall percent score of 74% or higher. Applicants who successfully complete the NLN NACE exam and are accepted into the program will be awarded 8 credits in place of NURS125N: Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing Practice.
Transfer Students
- Attendance of a Nursing Information Session
- English and Math Placement
- College-Level Prerequisites:
- Introduction to Psychology – C+ or higher
- Human Growth & Development – C+ or higher
- Anatomy & Physiology 1 – C+ or higher, credits must not be older than 10 years
- Anatomy & Physiology 2 – C+ or higher, credits must not be older than 10 years
- Medical Microbiology – C+ or higher, credits must not be older than 10 years
- Letter of Recommendation – must come from the Director of Nursing from the students previous program.
- Meeting with NCC Nursing department chair, Lisa Gray, to confirm a seamless transfer of Nursing credits
- ATI Fundamentals Exam – After receiving confirmation of program alignment, register to take the ATI Fundamentals Exam and attain a level 2 score or better.
The Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exams (NACE) facilitate educational mobility by providing educators with an instrument for diagnostic evaluation of the nursing knowledge of individuals seeking advanced placement in a nursing program. NACE exams are designed to evaluate previous learning and experience to assist faculty in establishing credit and to make placement decisions about students already selected for admission to the program.
Take the NACE Exam
https://www.nln.org/education/assessment-services/student-resources.
NCC Benchmark scores:
NACE 1 – Foundations of Nursing with an overall score of 74% or higher.
Study for NACE
https://www.nln.org/prep-and-practice-materials-new
Testing Accommodations
Students with disabilities requesting special accommodations for testing must contact Jodi Quinn, Accessibility Services Coordinator, at 603.578.8900 ext.1451 or [email protected] to learn about the process for requesting accommodations and providing the required documentation to support the request. Students should NOT purchase their exam until the accommodation request has been evaluated. Allow at least two weeks to complete the approval process and plan accordingly.
Licensed Practical Nursing
Nashua Community College has partnered with River Valley Community College to offer the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Certificate Program on the NCC campus. Students enroll through RVCC and are instructed by RVCC nursing faculty, while attending classes and simulation labs at NCC. Clinical experiences take place at healthcare organizations throughout the Greater Nashua region.
The LPN Certificate is a one-year program designed to prepare students for entry into a fast-paced healthcare environment. Each course integrates classroom instruction with hands-on simulation and clinical practice to ensure graduates are fully prepared to enter the nursing workforce.
Student MUST apply and complete all admissions requirements through RVCC. Admissions requirements can be found here: https://www.rivervalley.edu/program/nursing-licensed-practical-nurse-lpn/
For ALL information regarding the application and admission requirements, please contact RVCC.
Eileen Glover, Allied Health Department Chair and LPN Program Director
Dixie Vestal, Allied Health Advisor
Leah Rothenberg, Admissions Specialist
After Graduation
Completion of the ASN degree does not guarantee RN licensure. Students must also pass the NCLEX-RN Exam. For more information please see https://www.oplc.nh.gov/applications-rn
Graduates of the program are encouraged to earn a Bachelor’s and/or Master of Science in Nursing. Articulation agreements are maintained with several institutions. For more information, click here.
We have partnered with UNH to offer a Pathways program that allows you to smoothly transition to UNH-CPSO after earning your associate degree. For more information, click here
Contacts
