DTA/MRP Application Process

 

New Admission Process Update (revised 4.24.24)

Tacoma Community College’s Nursing program is committed to reducing barriers for students to earn a nursing degree and is still developing a more equitable and holistic admission process. We thank you for your patience as we navigate this complex process. All future updates will be placed on this website once they have been finalized and implemented.

We have are very pleased to announce that beginning with the next application cycle, starting on June 1, 2024:

  • The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam will NO LONGER be required for admission to the traditional RN and the LPN to RN programs.
  • The CNA (NAC) certified nursing assistant credential will NO LONGER be required for admission to the traditional RN program. LPNs will still be required to have an unencumbered LPN license for the LPN to RN program application.
  • Please note that applicants with specific healthcare experience and/or credentials (such as CNA/NAC, MA, EMT, RT, etc.) may receive additional points in the new scoring system, however the CNA/NAC credential is no longer mandatory.
  • Retakes or repeats for ANY pre-requisite course will NO LONGER carry a penalty such as deduction of points in the new scoring system. There continues to be no time limit on the age of prerequisite courses.
  • The following prerequisites are required:

NOTE: The only changes to prerequisites are the added additional options for Communication courses.

Completion of the courses listed below with a 'B' or higher. There are no attempt or expiration date rules. 

  • ENGL& 101 (English Composition I)
  • CHEM& 121 (Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry or CHEM& 161 (General Chemistry w/lab I)
  • BIOL& 241 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I)
  • BIOL& 242 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II)
  • BIOL& 260 (General Microbiology)
  • PSYC& 200 (Lifespan Psychology)

Completion of the courses listed below with a 'C' or higher. There are no attempt or expiration date rules. 

  • ENGL& 102 (English Composition II: Argument and Persuasion) or ENGL& 103 (English Composition III: Writing about Literature) or ENGL& 235 (Technical Writing)
  • CMST& 210 (Interpersonal Communications) or CMST 320 (Professional and Organizational Communication) or CMST& 220 (Public Speaking) or CMST& 101 (Introduction to Communications) or CMST 110 (Multicultural Communications)
  • Nutrition 250 (Nutrition in Health Care) or NUTR& 101
  • PSYCH&100 (General Psychology)
  • BIOL&160 (General Cell Biology). BIOL& 211 (Majors Cellular) or BIOL& 222 (Introduction to Cellular & Molecular Biology) may also be used to meet this requirement.  
    NOTE: If you are a Tacoma Community College student and have taken a higher-level Biology class, you can contact Ken Cushman to arrange taking a challenge exam for BIOL&160 credit.
  • MATH&146 (Statistics)
  • Humanities - 5 credits (Choose from the Approved Humanities Distribution List.

Revision of the new scoring system and our final admission process are still in process, so we ask your continual patience as we develop a more equitable admission process.

APPLICATION CYCLE DATE CHANGE UPDATE: 
All prerequisite coursework must be complete, and all official transcripts must be to our college before the application deadline. We ask that you please don't apply to the nursing program until you have completed all prerequisite courses. There will be no exceptions to this.  
 
To accommodate students that are finishing prerequisites in the summer quarter, we will be separating the Fall/Winter application cycle in to two cycles moving forward. We will now have three 2-year program application cycles and one LPN to RN application cycle per year as follows: 

2-Year Students 

  • Fall (Starts in September)  
    • The application is open from June 1-July 1. 
  • Winter (Starts in January):  
    • The application is open from August 1-September 1. 
  • Spring (Starts in April):  
    • The application is open from Dec 1-Jan 1 

LPN to RN Students: 

  • Winter (Starts in January):  
    • The application is open from July 1-Oct. 1 

Jillian T. Edwards, DNP, MN, BSN, ARNP, FNP-BC, RN 
Associate Dean of Nursing
Tacoma Community College

 

Nursing Program Application Process

Application Deadlines 

Student Category  Quarter Program Starts Accepting Applications Application Deadline  
Full-time Nursing Spring Dec. 1 - Jan. 7 Jan. 7  
Full-time Nursing Fall/Winter June 1 - July 1 July 1  
LPN - RN Bridge Program Winter July 1 - Oct. 1 Oct. 1  

 

Things to Do Before Applying to the Nursing Program 

  1. Apply to be a student at Tacoma Community College.(Readmitting Students: Call Outreach Services at 253-566-6042)
  2. Once accepted, please meet with a Healthcare Advisor to make an academic plan.
  3. Complete all factored and non-factored prerequisites assessing that you have met the minimum GPA for each. 
  4. Submit official transcripts to the Enrollment Services department, for prerequisite work completed at other colleges. Official transcripts do not have to be evaluated by the deadline, just submitted by the deadline.

How to Apply to TCC's Nursing Program

The application process will be changing, starting with the next application cycle. Please be patient while we update this section.

The Selection Process 

In the first few weeks following a deadline, applications are reviewed and evaluated. You will want to check your Tacoma Community College student email at least three times a week, in case the nursing program is trying to communicate with you.

If Not Selected

If you are not selected, you must reapply in the next application cycle. You do not need to resubmit transcripts. Before re-applying, please review the program admission requirements, as these are subject to change.

You may also wish to explore a Pre-Nursing transfer degree or other allied health program offerings at TCC. To find out more about other health science programs offered at TCC, attend an information session  Feel free to contact an advisor at 253-566-6091 or by email.