RN Program Admission Requirements
RN Transition (AAS)
The Associate of Applied Science RN Transition Program at Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is a competency-based course of study designed to prepare graduates to take the state board examination (NCLEX-RN®) to become Registered Nurses. The student must maintain a "C" or better in ALL courses included on the degree plan and an overall 2.0 Grade Point Average to graduate and be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®).
RN TRANSITION PROGRAM ADMISSION
To be considered for admission to the RN Transition Program a student must submit a complete online application by the application deadline. A complete application will have all required documents listed below:
- Unofficial transcripts.
- Evolve Reach Admission Assessment (A²) Exam profile taken within one year of application deadline.
- Verification of VN license printed from the Board of Nursing site.
The application is located on the LSCO website and MUST be submitted online. Only complete applications submitted electronically will be reviewed for acceptance.
Admission Criteria
The RN Transition Program is a selective admissions program. The goal is to select the most qualified applicants. The admission process includes scoring professional behavior during the admission process, academic achievement, consecutive applications, and residency points. It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure the application, unofficial transcripts, verification of VN license, and Admission Assessment scores are submitted by the due date. Only applications that are complete by the due date will be considered. Conditional admission will be offered to the most qualified applicants in any given admission period. If two or more applicants have the same Admission Rating Scale, the HESI A2 Reading score will be used to break the tie.
Admission Rating Scale Criteria
Academic Achievement is based on points awarded for courses completed. If courses are taken more than one time, the most recent grade will be considered in the rating scale. Courses may only be counted one time. Courses in progress at the time of the application deadline will not be included in the academic achievement scale.
HESI Points (based on A2 scores). HESI A2 scores are considered in the point award ranking process. You must achieve a 75 Composite Score, an Anatomy and Physiology score of 75 or higher, a Math Score of 75 or higher, and a Reading Comprehension Score of 80 to be eligible for consideration in the RN Transition program. Additional points will be given on the admission rating scale for scores over the minimum requirements according to the chart below.
| ADMISSION | Math | A&P | English / Reading | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSESSMENT | (minimum 75) | (minimum 75) | (minimum 80) | (minimum 75) |
| HESI A2 Points |
80-84 = 2 85-89 = 3 90-94 = 4 95 or > = 5 |
80-84 = 2 85-89 = 3 90-94 = 4 95 or > = 5 |
85-89 = 3 90-94 = 4 95 or > = 5 |
80-84 = 2 85-89 = 3 90-94 = 4 95 or > = 5 |
Consecutive Applications. An additional three points will be added to your Admission Rating Scale for the second consecutive time you re-apply for admission. Students who do not re-apply the next year will not receive the additional points on subsequent applications. Students who have been accepted and were not successful or withdrew from program will not receive the additional points on subsequent applications.
Residency Points. Three points will be given if at least 15 semester credit hours have been successfully completed at LSCO (does not include CLEP hours).
Prior RN program admission. Students who have been unsuccessful in RN Transition program will have up to 15 points subtracted from the Admission Rating Scale.
APPLICATION DEADLINE for Summer admission is March 15th, and for Fall admission is May 31st.
All applicants who have submitted a complete application are notified of acceptance via email 10 weeks after the application portal closes. Applicants who are accepted will be asked to confirm their acceptance by a specific date. Applicants who do not respond by the deadline will be removed from the list and will have to re-apply during the next application period. If you do not receive notification twelve weeks after the application deadline, please contact the nursing administrative assistant at (409) 882-3344.
After acceptance into the RN Transition Program, Students must provide the following additional information:
- Proof of current CPR certification. Students must provide documentation of current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) formerly known as Healthcare Provider level cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as designated by the American Heart Association. Initial documentation of certification must not expire during the initial semester and must remain current while enrolled in the nursing program. Online certifications will not be accepted.
- History and Physical Examination, including proof of immunizations. In order to meet the program objectives, students are required to have a physical examination on the form provided with the letter of acceptance. This physical examination is at your own expense by the physician or nurse practitioner of your choice and must have been documented no earlier than 12 months prior to the application deadline. Immunizations are available at the Orange County Health Department and local pharmacies. Each immunization has a minimal fee. Students who are unable to provide proof of immunizations must provide positive lab titers.
- Criminal Background Check. A negative or clear Criminal Background Check is necessary prior to full admission into the RN Transition program. Students MUST submit to the nursing department a CBC (blue card), outcome letter of eligibility, and/or a Declaratory Order prior to the required date. Information to complete this process will be mailed to all applicants who have submitted complete applications. Students with known eligibility or criminal background issues should start the Declaratory Order process with the BON prior to submitting their application to the program. If a student has not received a CBC (blue card), outcome letter of eligibility, and/or Declaratory Order prior to the required date, they must forfeit their position in the program and reapply during the next application period.
- Criminal Background Information. Any nursing applicant who has been arrested, convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation, diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized in the past five years for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder, or addicted to or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug within the past five years, must petition to the Texas Board of Nursing for a declaratory order concerning their eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN ® . The Texas Board of Nursing can be reached at (512) 305-7400. The application for a declaratory order can be downloaded from the BON website. This declaratory order must be completed and the student must submit a CBC (blue card), outcome letter of eligibility, and/or a Declaratory Order to the nursing program director to be considered for acceptance into the nursing program. If the case must be sent to the enforcement division, the processing may take 6-24 months, so applicants must start the declaratory order process early.
Graduation Criteria
To be eligible for graduation, all nursing students must:
- Successfully complete lecture and clinical courses to progress to the next level of the program or to graduate.
- Complete an approved NCLEX-RN® Board Review in order to graduate fully prepared to take NCLEX-RN®.
- Complete all program requirements.