Selective Admission: Vocational Nursing

Grade Point Average (GPA)

You must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to apply to our program.

TCC Student ID Number

First, you must apply to TCC.

Apply online with ApplyTCC (use Firefox or Chrome for the best experience)

• Application instructions: How to Apply for Admission

Once you are accepted as a student at TCC, you will get a TCC Student ID number.

You need a TCC Student ID number for your application to Vocational Nursing.

Reminder

Admission to TCC does not automatically guarantee admission to the Vocational Nursing program.

After being accepted to TCC, you must:

1. Meet the selective admission requirements listed below
2. Submit a separate program application to Vocational Nursing
   • All applicants will be ranked based on their program applications.
   • See How to Apply to Vocational Nursing for details.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

TSI requirements must be met before applying for the Vocational Nursing Program.

Questions? See TSI Assessment.

Updated: Prerequisite General Education & Related Courses

New: Starting with the Application for Spring 2025

The science course listed below will not be accepted if it is over 5 years old.

Course Sequence

All students accepted to the Nursing Division programs will be required to complete all courses as indicated within the course sequence.

Corequisite Courses will not be transferred in to the Nursing Division programs because they affect the overall course sequence.

Complete Before Applying to Vocational Nursing

You must have completed this course with a grade of "C" or higher before applying to our program:

• BIOL-2401 Anatomy and Physiology I

Complete Before the 2nd Semester of Vocational Nursing

• PSYC-2301 General Psychology

Performance Requirements

During your time in our program and throughout your career, you must meet these performance requirements to ensure patient safety and welfare.

Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI A2) Admission Exam

HESI A2 is the required admissions exam for the program.

You must earn a minimum score of 75 in each section of the HESI A2:

• Reading Comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Math
• Anatomy & Physiology

You can take the HESI A2 exam online through ProctorU or in-person at the Trinity River Campus Testing Center. See HESI A2 Admission Assessment for details.

Visit the TCC Bookstore to find study materials.

Language Proficiency

If English was not the primary language of your high school, you must provide documentation of proof of English proficiency by submitting the results of either of the following tests.

Required time frame: You must have taken 1 of the tests and earned the passing score or higher within the 2 years prior to your application to our program.

• TOEFL iBT®
  (Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  You must earn a passing score of 83. This is the recommended score to apply for licensure from the Texas Board of Nursing (BON).
• IELTS
  (International English Language Testing System assessment of English language proficiency)
  You must earn an IELTS Band Score of overall 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in all areas. This is the recommended score to apply for licensure from BON.

Immunizations

Texas law and applicable health-care standards establish immunization requirements for students participating in health-related courses involving patient contact. Texas law also provides exemptions from certain immunization requirements for medical contraindications, reasons of conscience, including religious belief, and active-duty military service. Students seeking a statutory exemption must submit the documentation required by Texas law and Tarrant County College (TCC) student onboarding procedures.

Requesting a Statutory Exemption

Under Texas law and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) (opens in a new tab) regulations, you may request an exemption from required immunizations for:

• Reasons of conscience, including recognized religious beliefs
• Medical contraindications (supported by licensed physician documentation)
• Active-duty service in the U.S. military

Submitting an exemption request does not disqualify you from applying to or being considered for admission to a TCC Health Sciences program. Students seeking an exemption must submit required documentation following official TCC student onboarding procedures prior to established clinical placement deadlines.

Important Information Regarding Clinical Site Placement

While TCC honors statutory exemptions under Texas law, hands-on clinical education takes place at external hospitals, clinics, and partner health-care facilities:

• Clinical facility or other third-party clinical partner rules: External clinical affiliates establish and enforce their own independent health and safety requirements (including specific vaccination mandates such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (TDaP), flu, or COVID-19).
• No College Guarantee: TCC cannot require an external partner facility to accept a student who has received an immunization exemption. The clinical facility makes the final determination regarding site access.
• Impact on Program Completion: Successfully completing all mandatory clinical rotation hours and competencies is required to earn your degree or certificate. If a clinical partner declines an exemption and an alternate placement cannot be secured, you may face progression delays or be unable to complete the program

New Vocational Nursing Student Orientation

Attend mandatory nursing student orientation to get information and tips for successfully completing the program.

Health Requirements

Before starting our program:

• Physical Exam: Get a physical exam
• Influenza Immunization: Get a flu shot
• CPR Certification: Have current American Heart Healthcare Provider CPR Certification
• Health Insurance: Have health insurance throughout the program
  • TCC does not offer College-sponsored student health insurance.
• Immunization Tracking System: Submit your health-related documentation to our online system:
• Physical exam record
• Tuberculosis screen results
• Required immunization records
• CPR certification
• Proof of health insurance coverage

Drug Screening & 2 Criminal Background Checks

Screening and background checks are at your expense. No exceptions.

After being accepted to the program—but before classes begin—you must undergo and pass:

• Drug Screening
  (urine drug screening)
• Criminal Background Check
• FBI Background Check & Fingerprinting
  (Texas Board of Nursing requirement for entrance into program)