Bergen Community College

Entrance Requirements for Health Professions Programs

Admission to college programs in health professions is limited to a specific number of candidates each year because of requirements imposed by accrediting agencies and by the availability of faculty, college laboratories, and clinical agency resources. To ensure that all applicants are evaluated in the same way, within each discipline, criteria for acceptance have been developed by the Division of Health Professions and Student Services. These criteria will be utilized in determining the candidates who will be offered admission. Admission will have a step process: academic eligibility will be determined, as well as a criminal history background check, basic skills testing, and admissions examination for the Nursing programs.

Nursing candidates who meet the criteria and are eligible to move forward in the admissions process will receive an invitation to take the required TEAS admissions examination. There is a fee that is payable directly to the examination company. The examination is given off-campus at a testing center.

If students have not taken the necessary high school prerequisites, the courses can be made up by substituting courses taken at Bergen. These courses must be taken before students apply to any Health Professions program. Science prerequisites must be completed within the last five years. Applicable college science courses taken more than five years ago are not transferable. All science grades must be a “C” or better.

Please be advised that candidates for all Health Professions programs taking science classes with labs must register for sections that are delivered on-campus or as a hybrid (online lecture/on-campus lab). Effective January 2022, all prerequisite science courses must have an on-campus lab component. Students who took online science courses from Spring 2020 through Fall 2021 will be exempt from this requirement.

All students applying to health professions programs must take the basic skills test and successfully complete all remedial coursework prior to the application deadline.

A successful candidate for a health professions program at Bergen Community College must possess certain abilities and skills necessary to provide and maintain safe and effective care administered to the patient. The candidate must be able to function on an independent level without any intermediary. These skills and abilities include observation, communication, motor skills, cognitive and intellectual skills, and behavioral, and social attributes.

Health Professions students must carry personal medical health insurance, and professional liability insurance, and be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by the American Heart Association (Healthcare Provider with AED). In addition, all health professions students are required to complete health examination forms upon admission to the program and fulfill the requirement for a yearly Mantoux skin test for tuberculosis.

Students seeking admission to the Nursing Day program must submit completed applications including transcripts by January 15 for fall (September) admission. Nursing Evening applications are due by September 15 for spring (January) admission.

Prerequisites for the Nursing Day program must be completed prior to the application deadline of January 15. Prerequisites for Nursing Evening must be completed prior to the application deadline of September 15.

Criminal History Background Check/Drug Screening Requirement

Clinical agencies mandate criminal history background checks and drug screenings for all individuals engaged in patient care, and all students must undergo criminal history background checks before admission may be offered. These checks are conducted by external companies, and the information is sent to the Dean of Health Professions. All background reports must be clear to be eligible for admission and to be invited to take any Admissions Examination. Any applicant with a criminal history background report that is NOT clear will not be eligible for consideration.

Drug screenings must be completed after acceptance to the program. The drug screening form will be sent with the acceptance packet and must be completed by the deadline noted. All drug screenings must be negative to be eligible to participate in the program.

Minimum Entrance Requirements for Health Professions

Degree Programs

Nursing Day Program AAS.NURS.DAY
Program Length: 2 academic years
Program Admits: Fall semester
Application Deadline: January 15
GPA for Admissions Eligibility: 2.50
Preadmission Test: Nursing Program Admission Exam
High School Prerequisite Courses: AP Chemistry and AP Biology with labs and Algebra. High School students must complete CHM 112 (College Chemistry), before the application deadline.  A junior or senior high school student, 16 years of age or older, may apply for dual enrollment, with their guidance counselor or principal’s permission/endorsement.  Students can register for CHM 112 during the fall semester and successfully complete prior to the application deadline.

Prerequisite Courses:

• Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits; in-person lab required)
• College Chemistry (4 credits; in-person lab required)
• Algebra for Liberal Arts

*For additional course information and syllabi, please use the “Catalog Search” feature available at https://catalog.bergen.edu/.

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the application deadline.

Nursing Evening Program AAS.NURS.EVE
Program Length: 2 academic years
Program Admits: Spring semester
Application Deadline: September 15
GPA for Admissions Eligibility: 2.50
Preadmission Test: Nursing Program Admission Exam.
Prerequisite Requirement Courses:

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the application deadline.

• Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits; in-person lab required)
• College Chemistry (4 credits; in-person lab required)
• Algebra for Liberal Arts
• Anatomy and Physiology 2 (4 credits; in-person lab required)
• English Composition 1
• English Composition 2
• Developmental Psychology: Lifespan
• Sociology

*Prerequisite courses for Nursing, Dental Hygiene and Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs must be completed prior to application. Science prerequisite courses must be completed within the last five years. Prerequisite grades must be a “C” or better.

Information in this document is subject to change at any time.

Bergen Community College Tuition and Fees

Nursing courses are subject to program fees (Updated Nurse Education Program Tuition Fees 2022-2023 (2)Nurse Education Program Tuition and Fees) as well as standard tuition and fees for Bergen Community College.

Information in this document is subject to change at any time.