General Information about the Nursing Program

Faculty Pledge

NURSING PROGRAM OPTIONS:
The Cerritos College Nursing Program welcomes all applicants. 

The nursing program has six options of entry (Option A - F) into the program depending on the applicant's needs and current training status.  The various options are discussed below.  There are a number of general admission requirements that must be completed by students applying to the nursing program. In addition, certain “Options” of entry into the program include variations in these requirements. 

"Option A": You are entering a nursing program for the first time and completing the full two years.  You will earn an "AA Degree in Nursing". 

Option A Academic Plan

"Option B": You are a Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT) seeking advanced placement in the program.  You will earn an "AA Degree in Nursing".

Option B Academic Plan

"Option C": You are a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) planning to "bridge" into the program to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing, which results in eligibility for an unrestricted registered nurse (RN) license.  You will earn an "AA Degree in Nursing".

Option C Academic Plan

"Option D": You are a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) planning on completing only 30 semester units beyond LVN completion, which results in eligibility for a “non-degree” registered nurse license, valid only in California. This option does not provide an AA degree and may not allow you to transfer to a BSN program.

Option D Academic Plan

 

"Option E": TRANSFER OPTION. You have completed nursing program courses in another associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or military program and are seeking advanced placement into the Cerritos nursing program. You are a "transfer student".  Completion of the program will earn you an AA degree. 

*Cerritos College Nursing Program does not accept transfer students into the first or into the fourth semesters.

**The Nursing Program is launching a Major Curriculum Revision in Fall 2024.   During the 18month time frame to teach out the current curriculum and to teach in the new curriculum, the nursing program will NOT be taking in any Transfer students.  This option will be on hold for 3 semesters.   Current students seeking transfer will need to be completed with Transfer requirements AND admitted by Spring 2024.  Otherwise, Transfer students will need to wait for admission until after Spring 2026.  We will resume the Transfer Option in Spring 2026.  

Option E Academic Plan

 

"Option F": FOREIGN NURSE - BRN REFERRAL: You completed your nursing education in another country and have been referred to us by the Board of Registered Nursing to complete one or more content areas before qualifying for RN licensure.

*The nursing program does not take BRN Referrals for Medical Surgical courses.

Option F Academic Plan

 

** Military Servicemen / Veterans may apply and receive credit for courses, training, experience received in the military.  Please see the Military Policy and Procedure on the website. 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

To qualify for the program, students must successfully complete prerequisite courses and other requirements as stated above (per program entry option).  Generally, the core prerequisite courses are:

  1. A&P 150:  Anatomy  4.0units  (with lab)
  2. A&P 151: Physiology  4.0units  (with lab)
  3. MICRO 200:  Microbiology  5.0units (with lab)
  4. ENGL 100:  English Composition  4.0units

Core prerequisite coursework must be passed with a 2.5gpa or higher. 

ATI TEAS7 EXAM must be taken and passed with a 62% or higher.  

The generic program (Option A) consists of four semesters of sequenced courses. 

FIRST SEMESTER: (12.5units)

  1. N210: Fundamentals 
  2. N211:  Theoretical Principles in Nursing/Nursing Process
  3. N212:  Medical Surgical Nursing I 
  4. N213A: Major Drugs and Nursing I 
  5. N57LA:  Beginning Nursing Skills Tutorial 

SECOND SEMESTER: (13.0units)

  1. N220: Medical Surgical Nursing 2
  2. N222:  Maternal / Child Nursing 
  3. N213B:  Major Drugs and Nursing II 
  4. N57LB:  Intermediate Nursing Skills Tutorial 

THIRD SEMESTER: (11.0units)

  1. N230: Psychosocial Community Nursing 
  2. N232:  Medical Surgical Nursing III
  3. N57LC: Intermediate / Advanced Nursing Skills Tutorial

FOURTH SEMESTER: (9.0units)

  1. N240:  Medical Surgical Nursing IV 
  2. N242:  Professional Role Transition
  3. N57LD:  Advanced Nursing Skills Tutorial

For successful completion of the nursing program, the student is required to achieve a minimum 75% in all nursing and nursing-related courses. This is consistent with the Board of Registered Nursing’s standard of competency for nursing practice. Completion of the nursing program, along with required General Education coursework, provides the student/graduate with an Associates Degree in Arts - Nursing (AA Degree).  This degree meets the qualifications necessary to apply to the California State Board of Nursing to take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam to earn a Registered Nurse license in the state of California.

GENERAL EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN NURSING DEGREE
For Options A, B, C, and E: (Options D and F are non-degree options)
To graduate with an Associate in Arts Degree in Nursing, the student is required to complete, in addition to prerequisites and nursing courses, the following general education courses:

See PLAN A,  PLAN B, and PLAN C for your Academic Pathway and Goals:

https://www.cerritos.edu/transfer-center/general-education-requirements.htm

 

The total cost of the program is approximately $7500.00. Anticipated costs found here:

 

Questions / Answers Re: RN Licensure 

Once I complete the nursing program and apply to the CA-BRN for state licensure, can I work as a RN in another state???

A graduating student from Cerritos College must apply to the CA-BRN to sit for the national licensing exam (NCLEX-RN) in the state of California (CA).  Once the student takes and passes the NCLEX-RN Exam, the student will be provided a RN license for the state of CA.   If a licensed RN in CA chooses to move and work in another state, the RN must apply for "licensure through endorsement" in that state, through their board of nursing.  Each state has their own specific application requirements and timelines, however, there are some commonalities: 

a) you must show proof of graduating from a state approved nursing program, usually by submitting your official transcripts and degree. 

b) Provide verification of no criminal background / convictions

c) current RN license with no disciplinary actions

d) current CEUs towards license renewal

Most states will not require a licensed RN from CA to retest in their state, as the NCLEX-RN exam is a national based examination. 

There are currently 34 states in the nation who are a part of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC).  This compact is an agreement between the states involved in the compact that nurses are permitted to practice in the state in which they are licensed, as well as any other state in the compact.  Currently, California is NOT a part of this compact. Therefore, RNs licensed in CA who move to another state, must apply for "licensure through endorsement" in that state.