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 Veterinary Technology program.

All eligible candidates for admission to the Veterinary Technology program are required to take a national Health Professions standardized admissions examination – The Admissions Assessment Examination by HESI. There is a fee that is payable directly to the examination company. The examination is given off-campus at a testing center. All eligible Veterinary Technology candidates with a clear background report will receive an invitation to take the examination. The invitation will outline all information related to the examination.

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 prerequisite science courses 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, intellectual skills, behavioral, and social attributes.

Health Professions students must carry personal medical health insurance and be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation 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 Veterinary Program must submit a completed application including transcripts by the application date.

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

Veterinary Technology Program AAS.HP.VET
Application Deadline: September 15
Program Length: 24 months
Preadmission Test: Veterinary Technology Admissions Exam
GPA for Admissions Eligibility: 2.00
Prerequisites Courses:  MAT 040, VET 115, VET 102, VET 103, CHM 112, WRT 101
Program Admits: Spring semester.
Note: Applicants will only be accepted once the prerequisites stated above have been successfully completed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with a program official regarding application procedures. Travel is required for all students enrolled in this program.

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