Advanced Placement for LVNs

Current Licensed Vocational Nurses have the opportunity to gain advanced placement in the ADN Program by taking a bridging course or taking challenge tests to gain credit for first-year nursing courses.

Bridging Course

The bridging course is designed to appraise the LVN’s theory base in nursing content and skills as well as introduce nursing theory not presented in traditional vocational nursing curricula.

After successful completion of the bridging course, the LVN is given academic credit for all first-year required nursing courses in the ADN Program and is eligible to enter the second year of the program if all other criteria are met.

Criteria for Admission to Course

All applicants for RNSG 1327, the bridging course, will be evaluated according to the criteria specified below. An application is not complete until all required course work is complete prior to beginning RNSG 1327 and transcripts and application forms have been submitted. Final selection of the applicants will be made by the admission committee. Science courses for advanced placement for LVNs do not have to conform to the within five years currency rule.

  1. Grade Point Average x 10. GPA is calculated using support courses in the ADN curriculum, excluding the humanities elective.
  2. Grade of "A" in required sciences on first attempt:
    • BIOL 1406, 1407, 1408, 2404, CHEM 1405, CHEM 1407 or CHEM 14111 point
    • BIOL 24011 point
    • BIOL 24021 point
  3. Residence (Furnishing false information to the college with intent to deceive may result in admission denial or program dismissal.)
    • McLennan County1 point

One of the following as a Pre-Requisite:

  • CHEM 1405 Introduction to Chemistry I
  • CHEM 1407 Introduction to Chemistry II
  • CHEM 1411 General Inorganic Chemistry
  • BIOL 1408 General Biology
  • BIOL 2404 Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIOL 1406 Biology for Science Majors I
  • BIOL 1407 Biology for Science Majors II

Freshman Year

  • HPRS 1206 Medical Terminology
  • ENGL 1301 Freshman Composition
  • PSYC 2301 General Psychology
  • PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development
  • BIOL 2401 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIOL 2402 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Sophomore Year

  • BIOL 2420 Microbiology
  • Any 3-hour college-level speech course
  • Any humanities course as an elective (See General Catalog.)

Challenge Program

  1. Read and understand policies related to Credit by Examination in current MCC General Catalog.
  2. Courses that may be challenged sequentially are: RNSG 1523 and 1462, RNSG 2504 and 1463, and RNSG 1293 and 1161.
  3. Proof of current Texas LVN license. An LVN transcript and college transcript must be in the ADN Program Director's office prior to taking the exam.
  4. All prerequisite course work must be completed prior to taking Challenge Test. (See current General Catalog.)
  5. To be eligible, a student must make passing grade on the Nursing Admission Assessment Test. Complete all admission requirements for MCC in regard to testing and documentation of previous education.
  6. When a student is unsuccessful on a Challenge Test, the student cannot continue to challenge courses in the nursing program.
  7. The bridging course is available for unsuccessful challenge students who meet the requirements.

Challenge Test

The Challenge Test consists of three methods of evaluation:

  1. A written test that covers the semester’s course material. The test consists of 50-100 questions. The student is given two hours to complete each written test. This test is graded immediately. If the grade is 75 or better, the student moves to the next level of evaluation.
  2. A skill competency exam to evaluate nursing skill performance. Skills evaluated will be based on clinical competencies, which are provided in a course study packet. Grading is on a pass/fail basis.
  3. Completion of a clinical preparation sheet. A clinical situation with a history, assessment, and orders will be given. Current textbooks may be used, and students have one hour to complete the written assignment.

To move successfully to the next course, the student must pass the written test, the skills competency evaluation, and the nursing care plan.
The student determines the date for the test by using the following steps:

  • Make an appointment to take examinations through the ADN office by calling 254-299-8367.
  • Obtain the Credit by Examination Application and Checklist from the ADN office to complete prior to taking the examination. Be prepared to pay a testing fee at the Business Office.

Application & Enrollment in Bridging Course or Challenge Program

The application deadline is May 15 or Nov. 1.

The following requirements must be met for enrollment into the bridging course or challenge program. Applicants must:

  1. Provide evidence of a valid current Texas LVN license. (Include copy of license with application.)
  2. Meet all of MCC's admission requirements for testing and documentation of previous education.
  3. Complete required non-nursing courses in the freshman year of the ADN program.
  4. Achieve a GPA of 2.8 in first science (BIOL 1407, BIOL 1408, BIOL 2404, CHEM 1405, CHEM 1407 or CHEM 1411), BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, and PSYC 2301, and a minimum GPA of 2.8 for all courses applicable toward the ADN Program.
  5. If necessary, submit Declaratory Order of Eligibility from Board of Nurse Examiners. See Licensing Information to determine if this is required.
  6. Submit receipt from Business Office verifying payment of $20 application fee.
  7. To be eligible, a student must make a passing grade on the Nursing Admission Assessment Test.

Advanced Placement for Paramedics

The Paramedicine to ADN Program allows for advanced placement of paramedics. For more information, call 254-299-8367.

RN to BSN Program

Through a partnership with the University of Texas at Arlington, students can earn a BSN degree by taking classes on the MCC campus through the University Center. For more information, call 254-299-88UC or visit uc.mclennan.edu.

RN to MSN program, MSN to DOCTORAL

Through a partnership with Texas Tech Health Science Center, a Masters in Nursing may be obtained. Details are currently being finalized. For more information, contact Dr. Sandra Goss at 299-8365.