Application Requirements
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are required to complete (1) prerequisite courses and (2) the TEAS test.
Applicants must complete the prerequisites prior to application to the nursing program - courses must be finished (showing a grade) before applying:
| Course | Minimum Requirements | LACCD Course | Common Course Numbering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy* | 4 semester units with (in-person) lab | Anatomy 1 | |
| Physiology* | 4 semester units with (in-person) lab | Physiology 1 | |
| Microbiology | 4 semester units with (in-person) lab | Microbiology 1 or 20 | |
| General Psychology | 3 semester units | Psychology 1 |
|
| Life-Span Psychology | 3 semester units | Psychology 41 | |
| College Reading/Comp | 3 semester units | English 101 |
|
| Intermediate Algebra or higher** | 3 semester units | Math 125 or Higher |
|
*A combined Anatomy/Physiology course of 8 units with lab may be substituted.
**One course in intermediate algebra or successful completion of competency exam is a prerequisite for the program. Math 125 or higher will meet this requirement. However, Math 227 is highly recommended.
Course Equivalences: Nursing equivalencies no longer need to be completed prior to submitting the application. After submitting the nursing application, student selection is conducted by a random lottery. If your name is selected, any prerequisite courses taken outside of LACCD (including High School AP classes in English and Math) will be evaluated by the LAPC Counseling Department. We will notify you if we require anything further or if you do not meet the course equivalency requirement.
GPA requirements, course repetitions and recency:
- An overall GPA of 2.5 for all Human Anatomy, Human Physiology and Microbiology prerequisite courses, with no grade less than a “C” in any one of these courses, and no more than one repetition of any one of these courses. A “W” is considered an attempt at taking the course and a grade received after a withdrawal “W” is counted as a course repetition;
- College level transferable English (English 101), minimum of three (3) semester units with a grade no less than a “C”; and
- A cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all college coursework taken.
- We do NOT have a recency policy. Courses taken in the past are not considered expired.
Course Equivalencies (CEs) are required if you completed courses at a school outside of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). Please check for your school on the TES list below to find CEs.
Also note: Not all courses that meet nursing requirements are listed in TES; furthermore, not all schools are listed. If your course/school is not listed, it will be reviewed after you submit your nursing application. If you have questions or would like your coursework reviewed prior to applying to the Nursing Program, please meet with a Counselor - Counseling Department.
Course Equivalency (CE) report for TES
California Lutheran University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University Pomona
California State University Bakersfield
California State University Channel Islands
California State University Chico
California State University East Bay
California State University Fullerton
California State University Long Beach
California State University Los Angeles
California State University Monterey Bay
California State University Northridge
City College of San Francisco+
Los Angeles Southwest College*+
San Diego State University (including Imperial Campus)
San Francisco State University
Southern California University of Health Sciences
University of California Davis
University of California Irvine
University of California Merced
University of California Riverside
University of California San Diego
University of California Santa Cruz
University of Southern California
West Coast University (all campuses)
*Courses in LACCD with the same prefix and number are considered comparable; only those with different prefixes or numbers are listed.
+ California Community College Common Course Numbering (CCN) Effective Fall 2025
All CCN courses at California Community Colleges are considered equivalent and accepted at LA Pierce College’s Nursing Program. Starting Fall 2025, the CCN courses that meet Nursing requirements are:
· ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing
· COMM C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking
· PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology
· STAT C1000 Introduction to Statistics
TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skill) version 7: All students are required to take TEAS version 7. This assessment measures basic skills in the areas of Reading, Mathematics, Science, English and Language Usage. The TEAS test is a 170-item, multiple choice exam, lasting 3 to 4 hours. The test is administered online using the computers in the nursing department at LAPC. The test is free of charge visit the TEAS page).
You must pass with a minimum composite score of 62% (in all areas). Only the first attempt will be accepted. If you fail to achieve a 62%, you may remediate if you took the TEAS at Pierce College but not at ATI or other institutions or colleges.
Prepare for this exam by utilizing the work-study book (TEAS 7 edition). Go to Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC to create an account.
LAPC nursing must be able to validate your TEAS score for admission. You must provide LAPC nursing with access to your TEAS transcript through ATI if you did not take the exam at LAPC. Visit https://www.atitesting.com/teas/transcript for directions. Failure to provide access will result in a denied application.
TEAS Testing Remediation Plan for Prenursing Students:
The minimum passing score of the ‘first time” TEAS test is a composite score of 62%. If you have performed below the necessary benchmark on the TEAS exam, you will be required to complete remediation as defined below in order to re-take the test with Pierce College. If you do not follow the remediation plan, you will not be able to re-take the test with Pierce College. The remediation period shall commence on the date the student receives the remediation plan for pre-entry coursework.
Demonstration of readiness will be achieved by:
Successful completion of a remediation plan for the subject area(s) where you did not score at least 62% and successful retaking of the TEAS test with a passing composite score of 62% in all areas.
To participate in remediation, you must agree to remediation via email to gelardkl@piercecollege.edu and attend the information session where information about remediation will be reviewed. During the remediation process, you will be followed by one of the TEAS Grant Nursing Faculty Administrators. All documentation of remediation must be emailed to your Nursing Faculty Administrator during your remediation.
Nursing Faculty Administrator: Katherine Gelardi, MSN, ANPc, RN Email: GelardKL@piercecollege.edu
1. You must buy the TEAS study guide and use it to review all subject matter. The TEAS study guide is how students that need to remediate for science will learn the material. You can obtain the study guide from the ATI using the following link: https://www.atitesting.com/teas-prep
2. For English and math, you must meet with a tutor and/or attend necessary workshops offered through academic success a minimum of 10 times (a combination of tutoring sessions/activities is acceptable to meet the requirement). It is the student’s responsibility to connect with a tutor, enroll in Canvas courses, and/or schedule attendance to the workshops.
3. You will utilize the Center for Academic Success (CAS) site to find tutors and workshops for the subject area you need help with. Follow this link for the CAS website: http://www.piercecollege.edu/departments/academic_success/
Students who need to remediate for ENGLISH:
Once you are on the CAS site, you can select ENGLISH as the subject area to access the canvas shell for tutoring. You must enroll in the course to have access to the tutors. The following link will take you directly to the ENGLISH tutoring Canvas shell: https://ilearn.laccd.edu/enroll/4YDDYF
Students who need to remediate for MATH:
Once you are on the CAS site, you can select MATH as the subject area to access the canvas shell for tutoring. You must enroll in the course to have access to the tutors. The following link will take you directly to the MATH tutoring Canvas shell: https://ilearn.laccd.edu/courses/105246
If you need assistance navigating the CAS website, contact them directly:
CAS Help Desk
(818) 305-4569 cas-helpdesk@outlook.com
Live Help via Zoom M-Th 9-5:30, F 9-2
You must complete all recommended activities for remediation before you are able to take another TEAS test and be considered for entry into the nursing program. On your second TEAS test attempt, you must achieve a 62% in all areas to pass.
If you are admitted to the nursing program, you will be assigned a case manager that will follow-up with you on a regular basis while you are in the program. It is critical that you adhere to your case management plan throughout the program.
*If you fail the TEAS test on your second attempt, you will not be a candidate for the nursing program at LAPC.
Eligible applicants for the Spring of 2026 are selected for the program using a multi-criteria selection process for 50% and random lottery for the remaining 50% of the cohort. In Fall of 2026 only the multi-criteria screening process will be applied to all applicants.
Applicants that are accepted to the nursing program will be notified by email in May/June for Fall admission and November/December for Spring admission. All applicants must provide a valid email address. Add LAPC-nursing@piercecollege.edu to your address book and check the spam folder if you did not receive an email.
LAPC Nursing Program Multicriteria Screening Process for Admission
LAPC is using the multi-criteria selection process for 50% of students to be admitted in the Spring of 2026. The remaining 50% will be lottery. Please answer each question. Please note, this information will be correlated with the information you have provided, and any misrepresentation will automatically cause your application to be denied. The maximum number of points = 80.
Associate the correct points value with your first TEAS score.
85.0 to 100% = 20 points
78.0 to 84.9% = 15 points
71.0 to 77.9% = 10 points
62.1 to 70.9% = 5 points
62% = 0 points
GPA for science courses (Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology [lecture and lab]). No more than one repetition of one science course. A "W" is considered an attempt.
GPA 4.0 = 15 points
GPA 3.5 - 3.99 = 10 points
GPA 3.0 - 3.49 = 5 points
GPA 2.5 - 2.99 = 0 points
Cumulative GPA for all coursework
GPA 4.0 = 15 points
GPA 3.5 - 3.99 = 10 points
GPA 3.0 - 3.49 = 5 points
GPA 2.5 - 2.99 = 0 points
Completion of relevant coursework with a C or better to obtain the nursing degree from LAPC. (Maximum 9 points)
Sociology 001, Sociology 002, or Anthropology 103 = 3 points
Communication 101, 104, 121, or 151 = 3 points
Ethnic Studies = 3 points
None of these have been completed = 0 points
Do you have an academic degree - AA/AS/BA/BS or higher from a regionally accredited college?
Yes = 5 points
No = 0 points
Please indicate if you have recent human patient care.
5 points = LVN, CNA, EMT, Respiratory Therapist with at least 1000 hours of experience
3 points = Medical assistant, School health aide, unlicensed personnel, hospital unit based clerk or telemetry staff, physical therapy aide, or medical scribe with at least 1000 hours of experience
2 points = clinical care extender or health care volunteer with at least 200 hours of experience
0 points =
None of these apply to me
Veteran Status (Documentation required - i.e. honorable discharge or copy of document for active-duty status of spouse)
5 points = Active/former service
5 points = Spouse of active/former military
0 points - None of these apply to me
Life experience or special circumstances (Documentation required). Examples include, DSPS, Pell Grant, Immigration documentation
1. Disabilities
2. Non-traditional fields (i.e. men in nursing)
3. First generation college attendee
4. Disadvantaged social, educational, environment (i.e. Pell Grant, Promise Grant)
5. Low income - taxable income did not exceed 150% of poverty level amount or household income is below average
6. Refugee status
If any of these apply to you = 3 points, if not, enter 0. *
Additional graduation requirements
- General education requirements: All students must complete a pattern of general education course work. Nursing students may follow Plan B, C or D as stated in the Pierce catalog. Please consult a Pierce counselor to determine the best plan for you.
- Graduation competency in math and English. Students will meet the English competency requirement by completing English 101. Students must meet with a Pierce counselor to determine math competency satisfaction.
- Communications 101, 102, 104, or 121 and Anthropology (Anthropology 102) or Sociology (Sociology 001 or 002). These courses may also be used to fulfill general education requirements. For information concerning course planning, contact the Counseling Department at (818) 719-6440.
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New students enrolling for the first time at a LACCD campus in Fall 2023 or later, or a returning student, must complete one Ethnic Studies course to graduate with an associate degree. Students with catalog rights established prior to Fall 2023 are exempt from this requirement.
For further information, visit the Application Procedure page.
There is a tuition charge for all students as determined by the Los Angeles Community College District. Students are responsible for their own living accommodations and transportation to and from clinical facilities. There are additional costs for uniforms, books, supplies, pre-entrance health/hospital requirements, and liability insurance. The cost of the program is approximately $7000, distributed over the two-year program period. Scholarships and financial aid are available. Financial Aid: (818) 719-6428