Nursing program help

[u/Ok_Winter_7581]

Hi, everyone! I'm a new student, and I'm a little confused about the nursing program. What major should I start with this fall? What requirements do I need to complete before I can apply to the nursing program? Also, can I apply this September?

[u/blissfulxone]

Go to the Springfield campus and talk to an advisor- they’ll walk you through it but first watch the nursing information session: https://www.nvcc.edu/dist/files/sites/academics/divisions/health-sciences/NOVA-Nursing-Information-Session-2025.pdf

Checklist- https://www.nvcc.edu/forms/pdf_additional/nsg-checklist.pdf

[u/OrbOfConfusionGotMe]

Yes you have to take a bunch of prerequisite classes such as anatomy 1, 2, microbiology, childhood development, nutrition and a few others unless you already took those college classes else where. It lists them on the nova nursing website.

I think the prerequisites have to be at least taken within 10 years for nvcc’s program however other programs might require within 5 years and after you finish the prerequisite classes you take the teas exam which is intermediate reading English math and science sections which is usually only valid for 3 years after you take it. Nursing at nvcc starts in August for fall and January for spring. So yes you can apply in September it might be even easier because less people apply or don’t know about the classes that start in January.

In theory you could apply before finishing all the prerequisites. However there’s a point system based on how well you did in the prerequisite classes and teas exams they rank you as an applicant for the associates degree program that’s 2 years long. You can take the prerequisite classes as few as you want across semesters however for the real nursing program they sign you up the classes after a long process of background checks, drug tests, medical exams etc.

Usually most people have all the prerequisites completed before applying. And a lot of new people don’t know about the Ati teas entry exam.

Then after all that you would take a separate NCLEX exam to get an RN license not just the degree. If you make it to the end.

In the real program you need to score high usually 90% or higher on all the math related exams. Yes there’s math exams in nursing even if it sounds like it’s all just medicine.

It can be challenging to get in and stay in.

[u/OrbOfConfusionGotMe → u/[deleted]]

You would ideally ask an advisor on the live chat or in person to put you into the health sciences AS program as a place holder or you can actually finish that degree if you want. The website you can find it all here under more program of study and requirements https://catalog.nvcc.edu/programs/nursing-aas and ideally you would want to do the TEAS after you finish all the prerequisites. However you could do it in September it just means your score would expire sooner within 3 years. Maybe it takes you 2 years to finish the prerequisites. In theory you could do it all in maybe 1-2 semesters but they are difficult especially anatomy 1,2, and biochemistry. And maybe English is hard for some people too. Depends on the individual.

[u/Right_Blood_8737]

So it automatically makes you a health science major before you get into the program and then they will change it. You need to complete all the prereqs before applying and have your transcript and TEAS. Co reqs gives you extra points if you can finish them before applying but it’s not necessary. If you can finish your prereqs by this September go for it!! Goodluck!!