San Bernardino Valley College’s Nursing Program, approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, is a two-year program designed to prepare students to give direct nursing care to clients in various practice settings. The Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) prepares students as providers of care across the health/illness continuum and as members within the profession. SBVC’s Nursing Program respects the individuality of the student and aims to provide a positive, innovative learning community that enables the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills so that students are equipped to deliver care to a culturally diverse population in a variety of healthcare settings. Upon successful completion the ADN, students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Application to the Nursing Program

Applications to the nursing program may only be submitted when all program prerequisites have been completed and met GPA requirements. Admission to the program is based on a multi-criteria points system. Applications must be received when application period is open, please visit the SBVC Nursing website for updated information on when application period is open. Applications are available online during the application periods. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. The Health Education Systems, Inc. Exam (HESI) is by invitation only.

Overview of the Application Process: 

Step One: Submit the following to the College Admissions and Records Office

• Official Transcripts: Students must have completed high school or equivalent (transcripts, diploma, G.E.D., or the California State High School Proficiency Exam, or a BA/BS degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution). International Students must show high school equivalent through third party. The documents below must be submitted to Admissions and Records.
  • Evaluation of prior college credit – Official college transcripts from all colleges or universities attended except for SBVC Transcripts must be issued within the last 6 months and document that the program prerequisites have been completed.
  • International transcripts must be evaluated for equivalency.
  • High school completion or equivalent (transcript, G.E.D. or the California State High School Proficiency Exam or a degree from a U.S. accredited institution).
  • International students need their high school equivalency evaluated by outside agency

Step Two: Complete Program Prerequisite Courses and Meet G.P.A. Requirements

• Students must have completed the program prerequisites with the following G.P.A: (See Prerequisite Page for additional information)
  • General Education G.P.A.: 2.50
  • Science G.P.A.: 2.75
  • Cumulative G.P.A.: 2.50

Step Three: Submit the following to the Health Science’s Department Office (HLS 101)

• Submit Application and required documents

Step Four: Upon Invitation from the ADN Program

• Complete HESI Entrance Exam
• Applicants must also pass a background check and drug screen. For further information, go to: www.rn.ca.gov. SBVC reserves the right to deny students entry based on background check and drug screen.

Selection Process

• Round 1 selected applicants will be selected based on a multi-criteria selection process (point system).
• Round 2 selected applicants will be invited back to take the HESI exam that will determine entry into the nursing program.
• Entrance to the nursing program is limited to students who have completed all prerequisites, met all G.P.A. requirements, taken the HESI exam, completed a background check and drug screen.

LVN to RN Career Ladder

The Nursing Program offers an LVN to RN Career Ladder allowing Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) to become Registered Nurses (RN) by completing the required prerequisites and nursing coursework. 

The application, prerequisites, and scoring system are the same for the LVN to RN Career Ladder as SBVC’s ADN Program. Prerequisites must be completed at the time of application. LVNs must be licensed and have one-year full-time LVN work experience. Applicants to the LVN to RN Career Ladder Program will be invited to take the HESI. Accepted students will be given a challenge exam and may be placed in either first or second semester dependent on exam results. Students are welcome to reapply if their application is denied and it is recommended that they meet with a counselor prior to re-application. Students applying on the point system for the LVN to RN Career Ladder Program will not be competing with the SBVC’s ADN applicants. Instead, they will be considered for admission using a separate pool with LVN to RN students. 

Requirements for LVN to RN Career Ladder

1. Complete all program prerequisites. (Same as the ADN Program)
2. One-year full-time work experience as an LVN
3. Current California LVN license
4. Employment verification with signature – letter verifying employment as an LVN
5. Detailed Résumé summarizing work experience as an LVN (employer, type of patient care unit, month/year starting and ending dates)
6. Completed the following LVN to RN courses upon acceptance to the ADN Program with a 78% or higher:
   1. NURS 140
   2. Take challenge exam to determine eligibility for placement into either NURS 150, NURS 151, or NURS 160.

LVN 30-Unit Option

The LVN 30-Unit Option prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN Examination, but does not award an Associate of Science (AS) degree. Individuals who become licensed as Registered Nurses using this option may not be eligible for licensure in states other than California and may have difficulty applying to a college/university for an advanced degree. Applicants are admitted as space is available. A 30-unit completion option is available to Licensed Vocational Nurses per the California BRN code of Regulations 1429. However, it is important to note that LVNs choosing to take the 30-unit option can never be qualified as graduates of the SBVC ADN program and will permanently be referred to as having attained a Nursing Non-Degree/Non-Graduate Status. This option is recognized only in the State of California.  

Prerequisites for the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program

Accepted Students are admitted in the Fall and Spring semesters. Students must complete required prerequisites to apply. Students must also meet application requirements on the Application Page.

Prerequisite Courses: Required G.P.A.

General Education G.P.A.: 2.50
Science G.P.A.: 2.75
Cumulative G.P.A.: 2.50

Prerequisites: Required General Education Courses

The GE courses below must be completed with grade of C or higher and a minimum of a 2.50 G.P.A:

CODE	TITLE	UNITS
ENGL 101	Freshman Composition	4
or ENGL 101H	Freshman Composition-Honors
MATH 108	Introduction to Probability and Statistics	4
or PSYCH 105	Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
COMMST 100	Elements of Public Speaking	3
or COMMST 100H	Elements of Public Speaking – Honors
or COMMST 111	Interpersonal Communication
SOC 100	Introduction to Sociology	3
or SOC 100H	Introduction to Sociology – Honors
or ANTHRO 102	Cultural Anthropology
or ANTHRO 102H	Cultural Anthropology – Honors
Humanities – Select six units from two disciplines (3 units maximum from Applied Area) 1

1	See Associate Degree Graduation Requirements Category III for list of humanities courses.

Prerequisites: Required Science Courses:

Science courses listed below must be completed with a grade of C or higher and a minimum G.P.A. of 2.75 in the four courses:

CODE	TITLE	UNITS
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Select one series from the following:
BIOL 250 & BIOL 251	Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II	8
BIOL 260 & BIOL 261	Human Anatomy and Human Physiology	8
Microbiology
BIOL 270	Microbiology	5
General Psychology
PSYCH 100	General Psychology	3
or PSYCH 100H	General Psychology – Honors

All coursework must meet the cumulative 2.5 GPA to apply

Note: BIOL 261 (or BIOL 250 & BIOL 251) and BIOL 270 must be taken within 5 years of application to the program; Online sciences will not be accepted. BIOL 250 & BIOL 251 must be completed at the same regionally accredited institution.