Prior experience, education to figure in revised IVCC nursing admissions policy

Under a revised admissions policy, two new factors will be considered when prospective students apply to enter Illinois Valley Community College’s associate degree and licensed practical nursing certificate programs.

For the first time, students’ clinical work experience and related degrees – two factors that had not been scored before – will improve their chances of being admitted to the limited-admission program.

“Our application process before was solely academic, and the score was based on completion of core courses, the grades received in those courses and the admission exam,” Director of Nursing Sue Smith said in a news release. “Over the years, we heard many students say they wished their prior experience would count. Now it does. Now, prior health care experience, knowledge and/or a certificate can give you an added benefit on your application.”

The application period for admission in the fall 2025 program opens Oct. 1 and continues through March 1.

The revision was intended to recognize candidates’ accomplishments before entering the classroom, Smith said. A health care worker already understands the healing touch, how to communicate with patients, and the language and demands of the profession, while a student who already holds degrees has worked hard to attain that goal, Smith said.

Now, applicants can document full- and part-time work in the health care field within at least the past year as a certified nursing assistant, patient care technician, medical assistant, emergency medical technician, phlebotomist, respiratory therapist, radiation tech, lab tech, surgical tech, dental assisting/hygiene, physical therapy assistant, pharmacy tech, EKG tech or home health aide.

Additional education – such as master’s or bachelor’s degrees in a related field, an associate degree or paramedic certification – also will be weighed. Because a certified nursing assistant certification remains a fundamental requirement for admission, it won’t count as previous education but will count as work experience if the applicant still is active.

Grades in core courses such as English composition, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and human growth and development, and the score from the program entrance exam (known as the HESI), remain the largest chunk of the admissions index score. The top 48 scorers are admitted to the associate degree program, and the next 16 scorers make it into the LPN certificate program.

Smith said a holistic admissions process is becoming common for health care school programs to draw qualified candidates who will be successful in school and the profession.

“I hope that in changing the admissions criteria, we see a more diverse population of qualified students in our future classes,” Smith said. “We are thinking about how to better serve our students. Our goal is student success.”

To learn more about the admissions procedure or to register for one of the information sessions at which the process will be fully explained, visit ivcc.edu/admissions/nursingadmissions.php.

Prospective nursing students are mandated to attend at least one session. The sessions are from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Ottawa Center and from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 7 at the main campus. A virtual session is scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 23, and the final session will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 26 on the IVCC main campus.