F A Q's about SLCC's Nursing Program


Q: What are the "prerequisites" for the SLCC Nursing program?

A: Math 1020, Biology 1610/1615, Biology 2320/2325, Biology 2420/2425 and Chemistry 1110/1115

Q: I am an excellent math student and have taken many higher level math classes and/or the statistics that are required for other Nursing programs.  Will that substitute for your Math 1020 requirement?

A: No.  You have a couple of options to satisfy this requirement.

  1. You may register for the class.
  2. You may contact our testing and assessment center to challenge this class.  This is not the same test as the math placement, it is a challenge exam.  If you plan on following this option, please contact our testing and assessment center at 957-4269.  There is a fee required to take the challenge exam.  They will provide calculators for your use.
    NOTE:  If you are unsuccessful in taking the challenge exam you must either register for the class or wait 6 months to retake it.  You may only retake it once and the testing fee is higher for the second attempt.  You may not take the challenge exam if you have ever registered for this class.

Q: Can I apply for the nursing program or be placed on the acceptance list while I am completing prerequisites for the program?

A: No.  Each of the prerequisites must be completed (with a grade of C+ or better) before an application can be approved.

Q: After applying for the program, do SLCC students have to wait before starting the nursing program?

A: Yes, whereas most programs either accepts or denies an applicant, upon applying to the SLCC program, qualified applicants are place on an "acceptance list."  Students are mailed an "acceptance letter" that includes a projected starting date, and instructions on how to reach the Health Science Admissions Office for updates of their start date status. 

Q: Do I need to complete English 1010, Health 1020 and Psychology 1100 before applying to the Nursing program?

A: No, but they must be completed prior to graduation.  You may complete them while you are on the acceptance list or during the course of the program.  Please note that FHS 1500 Human Growth and Development or courses that transfer into SLCC as FHS 1500 do NOT satisfy our PSY 1100 requirement.

Q: How long are applicants on the acceptance List before starting the nursing program?

A: Currently on average, applicants remain on the acceptance list  2?- 3 years before beginning the technical training phase of our nursing program.

Q: What should I do while I'm on the acceptance list?

A: Two suggestions:

  1. Complete the additional general education requirements for an AS degree if you are planning to complete a Bachelor's degree in the future.
  2. Try to position yourself fiscally and psychologically with the understanding that you will need to devote a substantial portion of your energy to the requirements of the nursing program.
  3. Read the following document: What to do while waiting

Q: Can I work while I'm in the nursing program?

A: The nursing program is rigorous and involves an ample time commitment.  If you find it necessary to work while attending the program, we recommend that you work the minimum number of hours needed to meet your obligations (15-20 hrs. per week).

Q: Does having a superior GPA, great letters of recommendation, health care experience, being male, being an older student, having a degree in another field, etc., accelerate the time I spend on the acceptance list?

A: No.  Having completed the prerequisites with a grade of C+ or better is the only criteria we use to determine acceptance or denial for our program.  No other merit or competitive factors are considered to determine acceptance or order of placement on the list.

Q: I have heard that if I work for a hospital it will help me to be placed higher on the acceptance list?

A: No.  Some students appear to have been accelerated on the acceptance list because they work for a hospital.  However, this is not the case.  They have been admitted to a �cooperative nursing program� set up by their employer.  These programs are separate and operate independently from the acceptance process of the traditional SLCC Nursing program.  If the applicants for these programs are not selected, they have the option of reapplying for future cohorts (educational group) or they can apply to be placed on the SLCC acceptance list if they have not done so already.

Q: What is a Cooperative Nursing Programs?

A: Cooperative programs are an effort on the part of some local health care corporations to increase their nursing pools.  The basic premise being that employees of the hospitals or clinics of these corporations who have fulfilled course and additional qualifying requirements prescribed by their employer may be selected to pursue a nursing degree, being offered in cooperation with the SLCC Nursing program.

Q. Are prerequisites for the cooperative programs the same as those for the traditional program?

A: Yes, but before you apply for the Cooperative programs applicants must also have completed the "Required Support Courses" that consist of English 1010, Health 1020 and Psychology 1100, (with a grade of C+ or better).  Please note that FHS 1500 Human Growth and Development or courses that transfer into SLCC as FHS 1500 do NOT satisfy our PSY 1100 requirement.

Q: Which agencies offer a Cooperative Nursing Program via Salt Lake Community College?

A: Currently the co-sponsors include; Intermountain Health Care (IHC), IASIS Healthcare, and the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics (UHC).

Q: How are cooperative programs different from the Traditional SLCC Nursing program?

A: The programs are different in the following ways:

  1. The acceptance mechanism is competitive and merit based verses a process of maturing through an acceptance list.
  2. Tuition and book loan may be covered by the co-sponsoring corporation.
  3. Course loads are spread amongst six continuous semesters rather than four semesters requiring students to attend during summer semesters.
  4. Applicant pool being completely separate from nursing students applying to the traditional SLCC Nursing Program, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
  5. Applicant must agree to work for the co-sponsor for the duration specified in a contract between them and the cosponsor (from 2-3 years).

Q: If selected to participate in a cooperative program will I begin my training immediately?

A: Yes, if you are selected, you will begin in the semester you applied and was selected for, unlike the traditional SLCC Nursing program.

Q: Will all applicants be accepted? How are cooperative applicants selected?

A: No.  Applicants will either be selected or denied with an opportunity to apply again in future cohorts, if available.

Selection of applicants for the cooperative programs is competitive and merit based.  The minimum criteria typically considered include:

  1. Being an employee of the cooperative sponsor.
  2. Must have all of the prerequisites and support courses completed with a grade of C+ or better. (Math 1020. Biology 1610/1615, Biology 2320/2325, Biology  2420/2425, Chemistry 1110/1115, English 1010, Psychology 1100, and Health 1020).
  3. Be prepared to contract to work for the cooperative sponsor for and under the terms specified in the contract.
  4. Other factors are typically considered.

Q: Will having a criminal record/negative background check, prevent/harm my chance of becoming a nurse?

A: It may, but not in every instance.  However, crimes that breech or are contrary to societal standards are frowned on, and have the potential to impede your training and employment.

If you have a criminal record, consult with the following before moving forward. 

  • SLCC Nursing Division Chair, Susan Labasky, PhD, RN, CNE at Susan.Labasky@slcc.edu,
  • Utah Dept. of Occupational and Professional Licensing (801) 530-6628, and or
  • The Human Resources Department at the types of facilities from which you are likely to seek employment.   

Q: Will courses I've completed at other schools transfer to SLCC?

A: The courses must be evaluated for equivalency before it can be answered with certainty, but many institutions offer courses that transfer well to SLCC.  See the website at http://www.slcc.edu/enrollmentservices/misc/TransCreditSub.asp for details on transferring credit.  SLCC's Incoming Transcript office will have the final determination on the acceptance of transfer courses.  Any appeals must be submitted through their office.

Q: I took Biology courses at another institution that did not include a lab, will that satisfy your prerequisite requirement?

A: No.  You must have the corresponding labs associated with the lecture courses.

Q: Am I able to take the labs separately at Salt Lake Community College?

A: You may contact our Biology department to obtain special permission to take the labs separately.  This permission is based on course demand and availability and may not always be granted.

Q: What if my Biology labs were not "in-person" labs, but were virtual or on-line.  Will those satisfy your prerequisite requirements?

A: No.  The labs must be a hands on lab.  Virtual labs will not be accepted.

Q: Will my SLCC courses transfer to other schools?

A: This question is best asked of the institution that will be receiving your SLCC transfer credits.  In many cases, the homework has already been done and your SLCC Academic Advisor may be able to tell you.  It is good practice to consult with the receiving institution's Advising Department for verification.

Q: What is the difference between the AAS and AS degrees?

A: SLCC offers both an AAS (Associate of Applied Science) degree in Nursing and the AS (Associate of Science) in Health Science, with a nursing option.

  • The AAS is generally intended for those planning to enter the job market without advancing their degree.
  • The AS degree in Health Science, with a nursing option requires additional general education requirements and is designed for students intending to transfer to a 4 year institution with plans to complete a Bachelor's degree.

Q: If I have an LPN nursing license from another state and wish to complete RN training, how should I begin?

A: See the following five steps.

  • Step #1 - Contact (DOPL) the Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing at (801) 530-6628 to verify the guidelines under which the state of Utah will honor your license.
  • Step #2 - Have official copies of your transcripts sent to SLCC and evaluated.  Information on having transcripts sent and evaluated can be found at: http://www.slcc.edu/transcriptevaluation/        
  • Step #3 - Make arrangements to take the (HESI) Health Education Systems Inc. Exam You may call (801) 957-6220 for details.  Hint: review a popular RN level NCLEX prep guide before testing.
  • Step #4 - After you have completed steps 1-3, we will be able to evaluate your readiness to pursue our LPN to RN (Advanced Placement) Program.
    • You may contact Erika Kent, at the Jordan Campus in the Health Sciences Bldg, #047 to submit:
      • your LPN license (original) that will be copied and returned to you
      • your HESI exam scores, and
      • verify that we have official copies of your transcripts.
      • Step #5 - At this time you may fill out the application for the LPN to RN program and await your decision.

Q: Is there an option to complete the SLCC Nursing program as a part-time or online student?

A:  We are currently running a trial phase of part-time and online nursing programs.  To be eligible for them you must have matured through the traditional program's acceptance list and wait for a part-time or online program to begin a new cycle of students.  (New cycles begin every 2 ? years and 3 years respectively). 

Q:  Can I defer my placement on the acceptance list in hopes of getting into either the part-time or the online program?

A:  Please keep in mind that you are only allowed a one time deferral on the acceptance list for up to 1 year.  If you attempt to defer twice or for longer than 1 year you may be required to resubmit an application to be placed at the end of the acceptance list.

Q: If I completed a nursing degree in a foreign country and want to work as a nurse in the state of Utah what steps should I take?

A: Because training and licensing standards for nurses differ around the world, it is not always possible to transfer courses or licensure obtained in other countries.  

  • To determine if you will be able to use your training/license from other countries in the United States, it is best to begin by contacting the Department of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) at www.dopl.utah.gov/  or (801) 530-6628, to ask if your license can be modified and recognized as valid for working in the state of Utah.
  • If not, schedule an appointment to meet the Nursing Advisor by calling (801) 957-2680 or (801) 957-6215 to outline an educational plan for obtaining licensure.