Nursing

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

On average, 100 students apply for admission each application period. The program's capacity is 30 students.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission.

Learn more about the program by attending an information session.

Register to attend an in-person information session

Prerequisite Courses

Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of 'C" before the start of the program.

All prerequisite courses must be completed before the start of the program. 

The transcript for non-HCC students must be emailed to admissions@hccs.edu immediately upon grades being posted.

Note: All biology courses must be completed within seven (7) years of the start of the program. Biology courses completed past seven years will need to be retaken.

Prerequisite Courses GPA: Minimum Prerequisite and overall GPA: 2.7 or higher

Recommended Courses - Optional

Academic courses are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to be taken in advance, but are not required for the application. These courses will go towards the completion of the program/degree plan and will give you additional points on your application score.

• PSYC 2314 – Lifespan Growth and Development
• PHIL 2306 – Introduction to Ethics or another approved language, philosophy, and culture elective.
• SPCH 1311 – Introduction to Speech Communication

HESI-A2 Pre-Entrance Exam

HESI-A2 Pre-Entrance Exam must be taken between this period:

• Spring 2027 - Scores are valid from July 31, 2024, to July 31, 2026

The applicant may retake the unsatisfactory section(s). 

The applicant is allowed TWO ATTEMPTS to test per application period and must PAY for BOTH ATTEMPTS. If the applicant fails to get the required scores on BOTH ATTEMPTS, they must wait until the next application period opens and the New Admissions Guide is posted TO RETEST. During the application period, it is recommended to wait at least 60 days before retesting.

Please note that HESI official scores must be downloaded directly from the Elsevier/Evolve website in a .pdf format - No exceptions.

HESI Remediation through Elsevier is FREE.

Additional HESI Resources:

• How to access your HESI exam scores, including critical thinking scores
• Resources for HESI study materials

Immunizations and Other Health Requirements

Students must complete and upload the following documentation to houstoncccompliance.com  by the specified deadline. A required fee of $32.00 must be made directly to Complio for access to the site. If you need assistance with Complio/American DataBank, call 1-800-200-0853.

Proof of the following (Please note that titers are blood work that is drawn to determine your immunity status; a titer is NOT the vaccine):

• Hepatitis B Positive Titer (within five years)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), and a Positive Titer for each (within five years)
• Varicella Positive Titer (within five years)
  • Please note: If your hepatitis B, varicella, or MMR titers are negative, you will need to contact your physician/practitioner for vaccine recommendations. A repeat titer will be required after additional vaccines to determine immunity.
• Tuberculosis (TB) skin test or blood test (TB test should be completed NO EARLIER than February 1 of the current year for Fall admission; no earlier than August 1 for Spring admission). If the results are positive, a chest x-ray (repeated every two years) is required. TB tests are only good for one year and will need to be repeated before the one-year expiration date and uploaded into Complio.
• Tetanus (Tdap) – valid for 10 years (per the Center for Disease Control – CDC)
• Influenza (seasonal flu shot) must be for the CURRENT season; therefore, it must be taken no earlier than August 1 but before the first day of Fall semester classes; for Spring admission, no later than the vaccine due date listed on the top bar of this document.
• Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine (Meningitis) is required for students aged 22 or younger. View more information regarding the bacterial meningitis vaccination.
• Proof of health insurance: The student’s name must be on the card. – Proof of personal health insurance: If you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the student health insurance page for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance needs. Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings. Please note that the Harris County Gold Card and Legacy Health Clinic are not acceptable for this purpose.
• Current 2-year American Heart Association (AHA), Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Card (course must follow AHA guidelines): Cards will not be accepted from any other source besides AHA: Cards will not be accepted from any other source besides AHA.
• Physical Examination Form (found on Complio) completed and signed by the physician. A physical examination is required and must be within one year before the start of the term. Once the form is complete, please upload the form back to Complio. The form is found under the Physical Exam category, click ENTER REQUIREMENT, and then it will give instructions with the document.
• Payment of $32.00 must be made directly to Complio. Payment methods include MasterCard, Visa, debit card, electronic check, money order, and installment payment. If you need assistance with Complio/American DataBank, call 1-800-200-0853. 

If You Are Offered Admission

Once the student has met the minimum requirements and received acceptance from the college, the following requirements must also be met for acceptance into the nursing program:

• Please note that your name is automatically submitted to the TBON - Texas State Board of Nursing by the nursing program at the same time that we receive your Letter of Intent. TBON does a criminal background check. Students will receive either a Blue Card or an Outcome/Approval Letter. If you receive a blue card, take a picture of the FRONT and BACK and upload it to Complio under Nursing Board Clearance. If you receive an outcome/approval letter, upload all pages to Complio under Nursing Board Clearance.
• Also note that the card (or letter) is only good for ONE year (the date is the postmark date on the front of the card). If a student has an older clearance card or letter, they will need to contact the TBON at bon.texas.gov.
• For the Background Check question on Complio, answer NO, as TBON is the one conducting the check.
• Drug screen - Order your 10 Panel Drug Screening through Complio by the specified deadline. The cost is $35.00. You will select your collection site during the ordering process. DO NOT ORDER YOUR DRUG SCREEN BEFORE SUBMITTING THE LETTER OF INTENT.  THE DRUG SCREEN CODE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE LETTER OF INTENT EMAIL.
• Influenza (seasonal). Flu shots must be taken after August 1 but before the first day of class for Fall and between August 1 – September 7 for Spring.
• If you miss the drug screen deadline, you will no longer be considered for the current application period and will need to reapply during the next application period.
• Attend the mandatory In-Person Orientation on the dates provided in your admission email. You will be notified of the orientation date. Fall orientation will be held in July, and Spring orientation will be held in December.

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

The Associate Degree Nursing Program is conditionally approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON).

The Texas Board of Nursing
333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460
Austin, TX 78701-3944
(512) 305-7401
www.bne.state.tx.us

Students will be able to upon graduation from the program (Consistent with rule 215.9):

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

 Applicants can not apply to CNA to LVN Transition AND Licensed Vocational Nursing (They must choose only one)

On average, approximately 300 students apply for admission each application period. The program's capacity is 150 students.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission.

Learn more about the program by completing attending information session

Register to attend an in-person information session

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite Courses GPA:  Minimum Prerequisite and overall GPA - 2.0 or higher

Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’ or higher upon application deadline (students may be enrolled in the prerequisite course the semester prior to program entry, but the student must apply to the program, pass the HESI Exam with a 70% or higher on or before the deadline). The transcript(s) for non-HCC students must be emailed immediately upon grades being posted. The courses below must be completed within five years of the application deadline.

Recommended Courses for the LVN Program

• MDCA 1313 Medical Terminology
• HPRS 1201 Introduction to Health Professions
• BIOL 2302 and BIOL 2102 Anatomy and Physiology II (LEC/LAB)

Highly Recommended Courses for LVN to ADN Transition Program

Graduates of the Vocational Nursing Program interested in applying to the LVN to ADN Transition Program must complete the following prerequisites:

• RNSG 1301 Pharmacology (VNSG 1227 can be substituted for this course.)
• ENGL 1301 Composition I
• MATH 1314 College Algebra
• SPCH 1311 Introduction to Speech Communication

HESI-A2 Pre-Entrance Exam

The HESI-A2 entrance exam is required to apply to Nursing programs at HCC Coleman. The HESI-A2 Exam is $75.00 per attempt. Students who complete the HESI test outside of HCC are required to order an official test transcript from Evolve to be sent to HCC Coleman electronically to admissions@hccs.edu. The HESI transcript request is $15.00, payable by the applicant. Select “Houston City College of Health Sciences Coleman”. It can take up to 14 business days for processing. Scores MUST arrive by the HESI test deadline date, so plan accordingly. 

Please contact HCC Coleman College Testing Center via email at coleman.testing@hccs.edu to schedule your HESI exam. Please note there are no exceptions or substitutions for the HESI-A2 Pre-Entrance Exam.

Applicant must score 70% or higher on each of the following subject areas:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Grammar
• Math
• Reading
• Critical Thinking Score - 700 or higher
• Learning Style - the Learning Style section is required but will not be used in determining admissions.

Payment of $75.00 must be made by either credit or debit card.

HESI-A2 Entrance Exam results must be taken between this period: 

• Spring 2027 - Scores are valid from July 31, 2024, to July 31, 2026

The applicant may retake the unsatisfactory section(s) not to exceed a total of two attempts for the application period. 

The applicant is allowed TWO ATTEMPTS to test per application period and must PAY for BOTH ATTEMPTS. If the applicant fails to get the required scores on BOTH ATTEMPTS, they must wait until the next application period opens and the New Admissions Guide is posted TO RETEST. During the application period, it is recommended to wait at least 60 days before retesting.

Please note that HESI official scoring sheets must be downloaded directly from the Elsevier/Evolve website in a .pdf format - No exceptions.

HESI Remediation through Elsevier is FREE.

Additional HESI Resources:

• How to access your HESI exam scores, including critical thinking scores
• Resources for HESI study materials

Immunizations and Other Health Requirements

Students must complete and upload the following documentation to houstoncccompliance.com  by the specified deadline. A required fee of $32.00 must be made directly to Complio for access to the site. If you need assistance with Complio/American DataBank, call 1-800-200-0853.

Proof of the following (Please note that titers are blood work that is drawn to determine your immunity status; a titer is NOT the vaccine):

• Hepatitis B Positive Titer (within five years)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), and a Positive Titer for each (within five years)
• Varicella Positive Titer (within five years)
  • Please note: If your hepatitis B, varicella, or MMR titers are negative, you will need to contact your physician/practitioner for vaccine recommendations. A repeat titer will be required after additional vaccines to determine immunity.
• Tuberculosis (TB) skin test or blood test (TB test should be completed NO EARLIER than February 1 of the current year for Fall admission; no earlier than August 1 for Spring admission). If the results are positive, a chest x-ray (repeated every two years) is required. TB tests are only good for one year and will need to be repeated before the one-year expiration date and uploaded into Complio.
• Tetanus (Tdap) – valid for 10 years (per the Center for Disease Control – CDC)
• Influenza (seasonal flu shot) must be for the CURRENT season; therefore, it must be taken no earlier than August 1 but before the first day of Fall semester classes; for Spring admission, no later than the vaccine due date listed on the top bar of this document.
• Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine (Meningitis) is required for students aged 22 or younger. View more information regarding the bacterial meningitis vaccination.
• Proof of health insurance: The student’s name must be on the card. – Proof of personal health insurance: If you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the student health insurance page for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance needs. Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings. Please note that the Harris County Gold Card and Legacy Health Clinic are not acceptable for this purpose.
• Current 2-year American Heart Association (AHA), Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Card (course must follow AHA guidelines): Cards will not be accepted from any other source besides AHA: Cards will not be accepted from any other source besides AHA.
• Physical Examination Form (found on Complio) completed and signed by the physician. A physical examination is required and must be within one year before the start of the term. Once the form is complete, please upload the form back to Complio. The form is found under the Physical Exam category, click ENTER REQUIREMENT, and then it will give instructions with the document.
• Payment of $32.00 must be made directly to Complio. Payment methods include MasterCard, Visa, debit card, electronic check, money order, and installment payment. If you need assistance with Complio/American DataBank, call 1-800-200-0853

If You Are Offered Admissions

Once the student has met the minimum requirements and received acceptance from the college, the following requirements must also be met for acceptance into the nursing program:

• Please note that your name is automatically submitted to the TBON - Texas State Board of Nursing by the nursing program at the same time that we receive your Letter of Intent. TBON does a criminal background check. Students will receive either a Blue Card or an Outcome/Approval Letter. If you receive a blue card, take a picture of the FRONT and BACK and upload it to Complio under Nursing Board Clearance. If you receive an outcome/approval letter, upload all pages to Complio under Nursing Board Clearance.
• Also note that the card (or letter) is only good for ONE year (the date is the postmark date on the front of the card). If a student has an older clearance card or letter, they will need to contact the TBON.
• For the Background Check question on Complio, answer NO, as TBON is the one conducting the check.
• Drug screen - Order your 10 Panel Drug Screening through Complio by the specified deadline. The cost is $35.00. You will select your collection site during the ordering process. DO NOT ORDER YOUR DRUG SCREEN BEFORE SUBMITTING THE LETTER OF INTENT.  THE DRUG SCREEN CODE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE LETTER OF INTENT EMAIL.
• Influenza (seasonal). Flu shots must be taken after August 1 but before the first day of class for Fall and between August 1 – September 7 for Spring.
• If you miss the drug screen deadline, you will no longer be considered for the current application period and will need to reapply during the next application period.
• Attend the mandatory In-Person Orientation on the dates provided in your admission email. You will be notified of the orientation date. Fall orientation will be held in July, and Spring orientation will be held in December.

The Vocational Nursing Program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON).

1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 10-200, Austin, TX 78701

(512) 305.7401

www.bne.state.tx.us

The HCC Licensed Vocational Nursing program graduates are licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing.

The Texas Board of Nursing offers resources to assist nurses with primary multistate licensure outside of Texas who choose to practice in Texas using compact privilege to understand the Texas Nursing Practice Act.

The new enhanced licensure compact, or eNLC, is the licensure model that allows registered nurses (RNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) to have one multistate license, with the privilege to practice in the home state and in other eNLC states physically, electronically, and/or telephonically. It replaces the original nurse licensure compact (NLC) and adds extra safeguards that maintain public protection at the state level. 
Visit the new enhanced Licensure Compact (NLC) .

Please note, every attempt is made to ensure the above information is accurate and up to date; however, some information is subject to change.

If you have any questions or encounter problems contacting the appropriate licensing board, please contact your Program Director at 713-718-8070.

2023-2024 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results 

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) (January 1st 1–December 31st). Results for the 2022 and 2023 calendar years are provided for comparison.   

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