Nursing FAQs

Nursing Program FAQs

Find answers below to frequently-asked questions about admissions, coursework, student success and more. Need more info? Email questions to nursingapp@mpc.edu or call the MCCSN directly at (831) 646-4258.

You will be conditionally accepted pending your background check and 10-panel drug screen. 

Consistent with Education Code 66055.9, you must comply with background check authorizations as clinical agencies require. The school does not seek the specific results of any student's background check. Background checks are not requested until after an applicant is conditionally accepted. However, based on the result, the clinical facility retains the prerogative to deny any student access to their facility. Students pay a fee to a designated vendor to conduct the background check after they are notified of their conditional acceptance. Human Resource personnel at designated clinical sites are given access to the results. If MCCSN is notified that a student has been denied access to a facility required to meet the course objectives, the student will not be able to progress in the nursing program.

Nursing licensure applicants must be fingerprinted separately to conduct a criminal history record check by the California Department of Justice (consistent with Section 144, Business and Professions Code). Be aware that licensure as a registered nurse may be denied for crimes or acts substantially related to a nurse's qualifications, functions, or duties or for falsifying statements on the application for licensure. The application requires disclosure of prior convictions. Detailed information is available on the California Board of Registered Nursing website.

Students are advised to consider the impact of these regulations on their potential or licensure before applying for or pursuing a nursing career.

All applicants who have received a conditional offer of admission to nursing programs must submit a 10-panel pre-admission drug test collected and processed by a designated vendor lab with Medical Review Officer oversight. The cost of this testing is the student's responsibility. Any applicant who refuses to test will have their conditional offer of admission rescinded. The offer of admission will be withdrawn for students with positive results. A dilute urine specimen will yield inconclusive results and require retesting at the student's expense. Applicants who comply with the pre-admission drug test will not be admitted to the program. Acceptance will be rescinded for positive results and students who test positive after suspicion of impairment while in the program will be dismissed.

The 10-panel drug screen consists of: 

  • Amphetamines
  • Barbiturate
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cannabinoids
  • Cocaine
  • Methadone
  • Methaqualone
  • Opiates
  • Phencyclidine
  • Propoxyphene
Yes! You may cross-enroll in the ADN-to-BSN program at the California State University Monterey Bay from the very first semester of the ADN program or beginning the summer after completing the second semester of the nursing program. This collaborative enrollment enables the student to earn a BSN degree in as little as one summer between years 1 and 2 of the ADN program, plus one additional summer and fall semester after graduating from the community college. Options also exist for BSN completion over a more extended period. Info sessions are provided every fall and spring semester while enrolled in the nursing program at MPC.
Higher TEAS results award more points in the selection process. You may retake the TEAS at your own expense for a higher score, but you must wait a minimum of one year from the previous attempt unless the version has changed. Any selected applicant who does not achieve a minimum composite score of 62 or greater on the first TEAS attempt (looking back for two years) must complete the remediation process as approved by the Director of the School of Nursing. The remediation process does include a retake funded by the college.
The designated vendor needs a Social Security or ITIN number for background checks, as the clinical facilities require. Also, you must provide your social security or Tax ID number to sit for the licensure exam. According to Section 30(c) of the Business and Professions Code, the Board of Registered Nursing may not process any application for licensure unless the applicant provides a U.S. social security or Tax ID number. Any licensee failing to provide the federal identification number or social security number will be reported by the licensing board to the Franchise Tax Board and, if failing to provide it after notification, will be subject to a penalty (under Section 19528 of the Revenue and Taxation Code).
At this time, there is no recency requirement. However, fresh math, science, and language skills will result in better TEAS exam scores, a pre-entrance diagnostic and intervention tool the nursing school uses to screen applicants. And of course, students who have a strong foundation in the pre-requisite sciences (anatomy, physiology, and microbiology) will also do better in applying nursing content in the program. Potential applicants are advised to refresh their knowledge of algebra, foundational sciences, and English usage if it has been more than two years since these courses were taken. Also, you should plan to study for the TEAS exam by obtaining prep materials from the ATI website or by enrolling in NURS 150 (Nursing Program Readiness).
MPC participates in Title IV Student Aid and Cal Grant programs and adheres to all applicable requirements and restrictions. Financial Aid is money given, paid, or loaned on your behalf to assist you in paying for college. Be aware that financial aid will not cover all of your educational expenses, and it is the student's responsibility to budget properly for the academic year, with or without financial aid. Find more information on Financial Aid..

No. This question arises occasionally when a foreign-educated nurse is applying for California licensure and has been directed by the BRN to take specific courses in the U.S. The five pre-licensure specialties (med-surg, obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and psych/mental health) are offered within combined courses at MCCSN. None of them are stand-alone courses that would fulfill this unique need for an isolated component. 

Foreign-educated nurses who seek admission to the program as first-semester students are subject to all of the published pre-requisite coursework and selection processes, including transcript evaluation by an appropriate foreign transcript evaluation service.

Foreign-educated nurses seeking suggestions for specific courses in BRN-required specialties may contact the Director of the School of Nursing at (831) 646-4258.

Applicants are selected using a multi-criterion selection process whereby points are awarded for various criteria, heavily weighted by science and non-science GPA and TEAS result. Student applications are scored and selected from the top 40% applicant pool. The criteria include academic degrees or certificates, grade point average in relevant coursework, relevant work or volunteer experience, life experiences and special circumstances specifically listed, advanced coursework, or proficiency in a language other than English. A second scoring phase is based on the current version of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The selection process is discussed in detail at all public info sessions at the nursing school. 

The nursing coursework consists of 4 semesters (starting the fall semester), with optional courses available in the summer for additional supervised clinical experiences, basic EKG, and other offerings. The pre-requisite coursework encompasses 26 Science, Math, English, Lifespan Development, and Pharmacology units. A full-time student can complete the pre-requisite courses in 2-3 semesters (including a summer session), but the time frame depends on previously completed transferable courses and individual needs. It’s essential to plan a manageable course load in the pre-requisites to achieve high grades, yet balance the minimum course load requirements for financial aid if needed. Once the nursing coursework begins, there is no part-time option. For this reason, most students try to complete all additional degree requirements (9 degree-required units that are not pre-requisites) before entering the nursing program. 

Students who cross-enroll at CSUMB can complete their BSN in one additional summer and fall semester, plus the summer between year one and year 2 of the ADN program. The units per semester will reflect an increased academic workload for this pathway (up to 16 units), so students should be prepared to adjust their personal lives to prioritize this full-time (+) commitment.

The nursing program admits generic (first semester) students once per year in the fall semester. Applications are accepted every fall semester for the class entering the following year. Currently, program funding is enhanced by a Chancellor's Office Nursing Support grant, which accommodates 32-40 new students in the fall semester. Future enrollment may change depending on available funding.

Qualified LVNs and others with previous education in the field of nursing may seek advanced placement into the second or third semester of the program if space is available after individual counseling. Apply the usual fall application cycle and indicate that you are an LVN or seeking advanced placement. For placement details, please refer to policies for "Advanced Placement for LVNs'' and for "Previous Education in the Field of Nursing," including military education and experience (CCRs 1423.1 & 1430).

Anyone interested in studying nursing should begin by visiting an academic counselor to map out an education plan and thoroughly understand admission and graduation requirements. To schedule an appointment, please call 831-646-4020. To see a counselor, you must be a current MPC student or have submitted an Application for Admission to the Admissions and Records Office. 

International students should contact International Student Programs for guidance at (831) 645-1357 or email internationalcenter@mpc.edu. 

For updates, attend an info session! Consider taking NURS 150, Nursing Program Readiness, to get introduced to nursing as a career choice and to learn what makes a nursing student successful.

Read more about Nursing as a career pursuit at ONET and The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

No. Under our current multi-criterion selection process, there is no scoring penalty for repeated coursework. The highest grade verified by official transcripts will be applied to the score. Contact Academic Counseling for the best advice about repeating courses for higher grades, as there are college restrictions and financial aid implications.

No. A sufficient number of alternates are selected yearly to ensure a whole class for the fall semester. There is no "waitlist". Only alternate numbers are assigned when the class is selected to fill every available seat for the subsequent fall class ONLY. Alternates who are not admitted by the time the fall semester begins must re-apply the following year. Alternates who again score in the top 40% after Phase 2 will be admitted ahead of those in the same score group who were not alternates the previous year. (i.e., alternates from the previous are given preference as tied scoring allows). The alternate "number" applies ONLY to the respective fall class and is not retained for subsequent application cycles.

The selection is based on the top 40% of scores in the applicant pool for the given year. Accepted applicants may not "defer" admission to a later year. Accepted applicants who choose not to enroll in the cohort for which they are accepted must re-apply.

Applicants are expected to accept a seat in the nursing program in good faith and be prepared to be full-time students for the entire nursing program. Reapplications of students who withdraw from their first semester within the first six weeks will not be considered for two years. At the time of reapplication for a student who withdraws within six weeks of the first enrolled semester, the applicant must submit a letter of petition explaining how circumstances have changed to support the student's full-time enrollment in the nursing program, and this explanation will be evaluated before a Phase 1 decision is made.

Nursing school, like the nursing profession, is a commitment to professionalism, life-long learning, and advocating for patients and families. It involves a measure of selflessness while caring for patients in an environment that can simultaneously be tense, technical, and therapeutic. Quality and Safety in Nursing Education competencies are integral to the MCCSN program and require high cognitive skill and integrity. Nursing at the entry level also involves physical demands, hands-on care, and varied shift work. Getting to know what nurses do is the best way to have your eyes open before embarking on this wonderfully challenging and rewarding journey called nursing school. And, of course, a solid academic foundation is essential! The following are encouraged "while you wait" or while you are thinking about nursing:

  • Any healthcare work or volunteer experience is helpful, but patient contact is key. Much nursing care depends on communicating effectively with patients, who often feel uncomfortable communicating. Obtaining your CNA certification and working in a healthcare facility is one way to gain valuable patient contact experience.
  • Do a self-assessment. Do you like working with people? Do you accept conflict as an aspect of teamwork to be managed? Can you adjust to varied shift work at 8-hour (or longer) intervals with extended periods on your feet and using computers? (e.g., students may report for duty at 6:15 am or at 2 pm). Do you like changing situations where you need to think critically and quickly locate and apply new information? Do you value advocating for the needs of others even when it is uncomfortable? (YES answers are a good fit for nursing as a career choice)
  • Get good grades! Check out the many Support Services MPC has to offer.
  • Don't leave the academic counselor out of your plans! Make an Appointment with a Counselor to discuss your goal, make an education plan, and stick to it. Nursing students usually accumulate "excessive units" for financial aid purposes. Don't burden yourself with unnecessary coursework or repetitions because you lack the appropriate counseling. Check-in often (once per semester) and get your education plan in writing to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Review the Public Info Session video once per semester.
  • Make a financial plan to be a full-time student. Successful students have planned to work very little while enrolled in the nursing program. Nursing classes total 9-10 units each semester (and more if you cross-enroll at CSUMB), and there may be graduation requirements you still need to meet, as well as enrichment courses. When added together, class time, readings and homework, studying, and clinical shifts (2 per week on average) make for a whole week. You will also need time to rest and spend with family, so the time available to work is very little if you want to succeed (we recommend at most 16 hours per week). So start saving your money, plan for help with family responsibilities, and plan to be fully immersed in your education for two more years after being accepted to the program. It may seem obvious, but nursing school is not the best time to make significant changes if you can avoid them.
  • Speaking of money, complete your FAFSA every year and follow the steps of the financial aid process. There are also numerous private scholarships available if you don't qualify for financial aid, and even if you do. But know that any scholarship may affect your financial aid award.
  • NURS 150 (Nursing Program Readiness), or a comparable course from another institution, is an excellent primer for the nursing program. It offers learning styles assessment, TEAS prep, study techniques, "practice" exams at the application level of thinking, tips for non-native English speakers, and more. It will help you assess your aptitude for the nursing program and the nursing profession.

Applications are available online on this webpage during September for the cohort entering the following August. Official transcripts and other documentation must be submitted directly to the nursing office before the published deadline for the application to be considered complete. All required internal forms are available on this webpage in the first tab of this section. You can also send transcripts and inquiries to nursingapp@mpc.edu.