Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

Nursing Associate Degree (ADN) Program 

North Central's Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program utilizes a combination of classroom, clinical and lab experience to provide students a hands-on educational experience.

Graduates are prepared to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which they pass at rates above the state and national average to become Registered Nurses.

ADN Program Information

The two-year, cohort-style program will accept 48 students per cohort, with one cohort starting each fall. The program runs full time and includes four semesters of nursing coursework.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  North Central's ADN program includes a competitive application process. Simply meeting the minimum parameters and applying to the nursing program does not guarantee admission. SEE THE 2024-2025 NURSING STUDENT HANDBOOK

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ADN Program Application

Applications for the ADN program must be submitted by May 1 of the year of the anticipated Fall semester entry. There is no waitlist for the ADN program. Applicants who are not admitted to the program must re-apply.

North Central students* can apply to the ADN program from the NC Portal:

1. Log in to the portal.
2. Select "My North Central."
3. Select the "Admissions" tab.
4. Select the Health Science application.

*Prospective students must first complete North Central's general admission application before applying to the ADN program.

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ADN Program Requirements Prior to Admission

Nursing program applicants must meet specific nursing-related admission requirements in addition to North Central's general admission requirements. Nursing students are selected in the Spring of each academic year for a Fall course start date. All nursing students are selected based on the following criteria:

• An applicant must have a college cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
  The GPA is calculated using the general education and science requirements prior to program admission. Applicants should be aware that class GPAs entering the program are traditionally well above 3.0.
• Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Scores:
  Information and study materials regarding the TEAS can be found at www.atitesting.com. Students will receive information on TEAS testing dates once we have received your application. The test dates are typically January through March, with the first week of April for retakes if you are testing at North Central. The TEAS can also be taken at many institutions in the State of Michigan and through ATI Testing directly; please see those websites for additional dates.

Science Requirements:  

Nursing requires a great understanding of science as a whole and how it works within the human body. It is highly recommended that these nursing course requirements be completed with a GPA of 3.0 or higher due to the competitive nature of the nursing admission process. The following courses must have been completed within five years of admission to the program. Requirements prior to program admission must be completed by the end of Winter semester of the application year.

• BIO 235 General Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 236 General Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIO 242 Pathophysiology

These science requirements must be completed with a GPA of 2.0 or better and no more than five years prior to admission to the ADN program.

General Education Requirements: 

Understanding of science is only part of what makes for a well-prepared nursing program candidate and a great nurse. A well-rounded knowledge of health systems, communication, psychology and written communication are also beneficial in the nursing industry.

• AH 232 Introduction to Health Systems OR AH 231 Health System Concepts (inactive)
• ENG 111 English Composition I
• COM 111 Speech OR COM 170 Interpersonal Communication
• PSY 161 Introduction to Psychology

Additional Requirement:

An additional requirement for admission into the program is the successful completion of MATH 109 or placement into MATH 120 or higher. (NOTE: These MATH courses may not be eligible for financial aid).

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Acceptance Into The ADN Program

Acceptance emails are sent in mid-June to a student's @student.ncmich.edu email account. Students accepted into the ADN program are required to do the following:

1. Return your Letter of Acceptance to the Nursing Department by the deadline.

North Central Michigan College uses Viewpoint Screening to track and maintain the student requirements for the ADN program.

2. Authorize a background check.

Accepted students must authorize Viewpoint Screening to perform a background check. Michigan Public Health Act 27, 28 and 29 of 2006 require that clinical agencies perform a background check on all employees, including students who participate in clinical experiences. Certain felonies and misdemeanors may exclude a student from participating in clinical experiences and thus being part of the North Central nursing program. For an interpretation of these laws, read the Michigan Workforce Background Check Program Legal Guide. 

A background check costs approximately $35.

3. Set up your health portal.

Once the background check is complete, students will receive another link from Viewpoint Screening to set up their health portal with the requirements listed in this document.

NOTE: It is the student's responsibility to keep all health records and immunizations up to date and provide copies to their Viewpoint Screening health portal.

4. Attend Program Orientation.

Students accepted into the ADN program must attend the mandatory Nursing Program Orientation Session, typically held the first week of August. The exact date is included in the Letter of Acceptance.

Orientation is a one-day session for ADN students to learn about the specific expectations of the program. You will also learn helpful information about what equipment and uniforms you'll need to purchase prior to the start of the Fall semester.