Nursing Admission Criteria

Candidates for admission to the nursing program must apply to the college, complete the online program application, and fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Be a graduate of an accredited high school or have a high school equivalency that is in conformity with the requirements of the Department of Education, State of Iowa. High school transcripts or high school equivalency transcripts must be on file before admission.
  2. Students are required to provide documentation of an Iowa Direct Care Worker registry card OR a transcript indicating you successfully completed and passed a state approved 75 hour Certified Nurse Aide curriculum.
  3. Students must be statistics ready. A math ACT score of 22 OR a proctored ALEKS score of 30. If neither of these are met, then the requirement is successful completion of one of the following: MAT 065: Math Literacy, OR MAT 066: Algebra I, OR MAT 067: Algebra II.
  4. To assess the English language proficiency of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in EICC courses the following options are offered:
    • The language proficiency for non-native speakers of English must be minimum score of 60 in each section. No sub score below 60. Students must complete the three-part test that consists of Speaking, Multiple Choice and Writing. Please contact ESL Faculty Coordinator, Melek Genc Mayerle at mgencmayerleFREEEICC to schedule.
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Language proficiency for non-native speakers of English must be at a score of 500 or higher.
    • Complete the IELTS: International English Language Testing System with a minimum score of 6.5 – no sub score below 6.0
    • ESL COMPASS Test with a score of 85 or greater in each section. Must complete a 2 factor holistic system composition with a score of 80 or greater. This test is no longer available to take, but previous results will be accepted.
  5. A minimum GPA of 2.5 for non-nursing coursework (*BIO-151, *BIO-168, *BIO-173, *BIO-186, ENG-105 or ENG-107, *PSY-111, *PSY-121, and *SOC-110) and any previous coursework (ADN or PNN) that has been approved for transfer. (* must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher).
    • BIO-186, ENG-105 or ENG-107, and SOC 110 only need to be taken in the ADN track.
  6. Achieve a minimum score of 60% on the Assessment Technology Institute (ATI) tests of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Students who score between 50-59.9% will be considered for the nursing program based on seat availability, remediation, and admission criteria. The TEAS test may only be taken twice within an admission period, maximum of five times total (the student is required to pay the fee again when retesting). The TEAS test should be completed prior to submitting the nursing application. The student needs to schedule the exam in the testing center, cost is $75.
  7. Due to the content of the courses, BIO-168, and BIO-173, must have been completed within 5 years prior of acceptance to the nursing program.
    • If BIO-168 and BIO-173 have been taken within the last 5-8 years prior to acceptance to the nursing program, BIO-163 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology must be completed with a grade of “C” or above as a prerequisite or a co-requisite course in the first semester of the nursing program.
    • Prerequisite to BIO: 168 Anatomy and Physiology: One (1) year of high school biology and chemistry with a passing grade or one (1) college semester of biology and chemistry with a passing grade within the last five (5) years.
  8. Priority admission will be given to students who have completed:
    • A minimum of 9 semester credit hours with EICC prior to enrolling in a nursing course.
    • The greatest number of required courses (excluding ADN and PNN): BIO-151, BIO-168, BIO-173, BIO-186, ENG-105 or 107, PSY-111, PSY-121.
      • BIO-186 and ENG-105 or 107 only need to be taken in the ADN track.
    • TEAS test with remediation complete.
  9. Students on the Iowa Direct Care Worker registry OR have taken and passed a state approved 75 hour Certified Nurse Aide curriculum.
  10. Accepted students are required to complete a national criminal background check and compliance tracker. Cost is $90.75.
  11. The student may repeat only one nursing course, one time per level, per academic year. Any student enrolled in a nursing course who withdraws (after 7 calendar days) or a grade of less than C (2.0), constitutes an attempt of the course.
  12. All nursing students must be in optimum health as evidenced by the completed physical examination form.
  13. Transferring coursework and expectations:

    All students intending to transfer in coursework to EICC must have their official college transcripts evaluated by the Registrar prior to admission. Official transcript need to be sent to EICC and a request a transcript evaluation from the following link: eicc.edu/transcriptevaluation Non-nursing coursework (ENG-105 or 107, BIO-151, BIO-168, BIO-173, BIO-186, PSY-111, PSY-121, and SOC-110) are solely evaluated by the Registrar and credit is awarded based on course equivalency. All Nursing courses will be reviewed by both the Registrar and the Associate Dean of Nursing.

    Any transfer student applying for admission, who has been enrolled in a nursing curriculum other than EICC, will be required to meet with the Associate Dean of Nursing to discuss placement in the curriculum. The transfer student must meet the requirements set forth in the EICC admission/progression policy. Course syllabi and clinical site information from the transferring institution will be required for review. The student may also be asked to provide written authorization allowing contact with instructors from the transfer institution regarding class and clinical performance. In some cases, a letter of reference regarding theory, clinical and overall student conduct may also be required from the chair of health programs at the transfer institution. Information acquired from these contacts will be considered in acceptance and proper placement into EICC nursing curriculum.

    Non-nursing coursework, excluding ENG-105, must be successfully completed with a C (2.0) or above. Due to the content of the courses, BIO-168 and BIO-173, must be completed within the past (5) years. If BIO-168 and BIO-173 have been taken within the last 5-8 years prior to acceptance to the nursing program, BIO-163 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology must be completed with a grade of “C” or above as a prerequisite or a co-requisite course in the first semester of the nursing program.

Nursing courses with a clinical component

Nursing courses with a clinical component may not be taken by a person who has been denied licensure by the Iowa Board of Nursing or whose license is currently suspended, surrendered or revoked in any US jurisdiction or in another country due to disciplinary action.

Nursing student expectations

To ensure the health and safety of patients, fellow students, faculty, and other health care providers while enrolled, the following expectations are required of the nursing student.  Actively participate in a very rigorous academic program; remain calm in very stressful situations on a one to one basis; work with groups of people in stressful situations; and to effectively use all sensory organs.  In addition, engage in activities which require above average manual dexterity; expect to bend, squat, reach, kneel, carry, and lift 50 pounds from the floor, to shoulder height and overhead; move and turn people who weigh at least as much as he/she does.  Last, one is required to be on his/her feet for six to twelve consecutive hours in the clinical area.

Progression and Readmission

1.0

Any student who exits the program at any time must submit a request in writing for readmission. Priority will be given to those students who have been academically successful pending space availability and date of request.

2.0

The student may repeat only one nursing course per year. Any student enrolled in a course which results in a withdrawal (after the 7th calendar day) or a grade of less than C (2.0), constitutes an attempt of the course.

3.0

All nursing students must be in optimum health as evidenced by the physical examination
form.

4.0

Any student who exits the program at any time will be required to submit to criminal background check upon being readmitted.