Health Sciences Student

A student’s admission to the Health Science curriculum programs (ADN, PN, LPN-ADN, RIBN and PTA) is based upon a comparison of grades and entrance test ranking with other applications. Admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program will also be based on a personal interview, essay, and completion of clinical observation hours.

• For Nursing Applicants, meet or exceed the benchmark score (60% with no subtest less than 25%) on the ATI TEAS Test. ADN, PN & LPN-ADN benchmark is 60% overall with no subtest less than 25% while RIBN is 70% overall with no subtest less than 25%.
• For PTA Applicants, meet or exceed the benchmark score of 59.4% on the ATI TEAS Test.
• Have and maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher in all post-secondary courses taken (includes all schools), with an overall GPA of 3.0 required for RIBN. ADN, PN & LPN-ADN require overall GPA of 2.5 while RIBN requires 3.0. If high school students have no post-secondary courses they must have at least a 3.0 GPA in their high school courses.
• For PTA and ADN applicants who have not taken BIO 168 Anatomy & Physiology I, Biology and Chemistry must have been completed in either high school or college with a passing grade. Anatomy & Physiology 5-year timeframe is only required for PTA and all nursing students (not just LPN-ADN) are exempt from this requirement.
• For PTA applicants, a minimum of 20 observation/volunteer hours in a physical therapy clinical setting under the supervision of a licensed PT or PTA must be completed. These hours must be documented and validated by the signature of the supervising PT or PTA.
• LPN-to-ADN applicants must have an unrestricted practical nursing license in North Carolina or one of the compact states.

Annual Deadlines

Reading, English, Science and Math.

The ATI TEAS Test is the admissions test used for admission to the Physical Therapy Assistant program and the Nursing programs at Surry. The TEAS measures comprehension and skills in Math, Reading, Science and English. Students are only eligible to take the TEAS test once every 30 days. Taking earlier versions of the test currently used at Surry Community College, or at different locations will be counted in the frequency of testing, but no other versions or scores will be accepted. TEAS scores will remain valid for one year.

Surry requires students to take a different version of the ATI TEAS test every 30 days; therefore, students are encouraged that all testing be completed at Surry. Students can take the test at any location and have the official transcripts from Assessment Technologies Inc. (ATI) sent to Surry, Attn: Admissions.

These tests are offered by the college in January for fall ADN & RIBN candidates, February and May for fall PTA candidates, August for spring PN and LPN-ADN spring-start candidates, and February for LPN-ADN summer-start candidates.

Students must pre-register for PTA and nursing TEAS by contacting Bridgette Slate, Instructional Assistant for Data and Programs Support, at slatebd@surry.edu. Cost for the ATI TEAS Test is $70.00 + North Carolina sales tax. Fee for the admissions tests are due at the time of testing. Students taking the TEAS can purchase a study guide from ATI Testing.

Students taking the test on the computer will receive their score at the conclusion of the test and will know if they met the benchmark score required for qualification as a possible candidate for admission. ADN, PN & LPN-ADN benchmark is 60% overall with no subtest less than 25% while RIBN is 70% overall with no subtest less than 25%. The numeric score benchmark for the TEAS for PTA is 59.4%. Once the admissions tests have been completed, the Director of Nursing will provide Student Services with a list of students who have met the benchmark score on the TEAS. An audit of each student’s file will be conducted to ensure all criteria for admission have been met.

Admission into the Health Science programs is contingent upon completion of the following items by the dates requested in the Nursing or PTA Applicant Information Session.

• Completed medical form with test results and the most recent dates of immunizations/proof of immunity, including a positive Hepatitis B titer, or a signed waiver; positive varicella (Chicken Pox) titer or proof of 2 varicella vaccines (history of having chicken pox is not acceptable proof of immunity); positive MMR titer or proof of 2 MMR vaccines; a T-DAP vaccine within the last 5 years; and 2-step TB screening within the last 12 months. If TB screening is positive a chest x-ray within the last 2 years confirming absence of active TB must be presented. If a chest x-ray is required, annual screening questionnaire must be completed thereafter. Medical forms must be completed and submitted to the vendor contracted by the nursing department by the deadlines specified. Arrangements must be made by the student to have influenza vaccines each fall when they become available as these are highly recommended (or in most instances mandatory) by the clinical facilities.
• Evidence of appropriate health and/or accident insurance (or can be purchased through school).
• Malpractice insurance is included in tuition and fees for nursing students. Insurance for PTA must be paid by designated date.

Program Specific Requirements

The ADN, RIBN, PNE, and LPN-ADN programs require the above along with the following:

• Valid documentation of current Nurse Aide I certification and any other current related certifications, licenses, etc. (LPN-ADN students are exempt from the Nurse Aide I requirement but must have a valid, unencumbered LPN license). Student transcripts will be evaluated to ensure the student successfully completed a state approved program for Nursing Assistant I training (Curriculum or Continuing Education Courses will suffice for this requirement); challenging the certification examination will not stand as qualification. The training must be completed by the application deadlines. Note: Students may choose to sit for the certification testing to obtain credentials to work as a Nurse Aide I; however, this is not a requirement for admission to a nursing program.
• Valid CPR certification through American Heart Association (Health Care Provider) that is valid by the first clinical day, and maintained through the end of their respective program.
• Documentation of one year of clinical experience as an LPN with direct patient care in a health care agency within the last three years or LPN licensure and graduation from a PNE program within 1 year. (Required for LPN-ADN students only).
• Courses that must be completed by LPN-ADN applicants to be considered for admission include: BIO 168, PSY 150, & ENG 111. BIO 169 & PSY 241 must be completed prior to entering nursing program. ACA 122 must be completed by the end of the first semester in nursing. (Required for LPN-to-ADN students only).
• RIBN applicants must have completed 20 hours of college credit (100 level or higher). The 20 hours will not include any developmental courses (below 100 levels). Students may apply directly form high school before completion of 20 hours of college credit with an unweighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale in high school classes. RIBN applicants must take the ACT test and achieve a benchmark composite score of 19 or greater. Official high school scores are acceptable, and applicants may take the ACT test every 60 days. RIBN applicants must have completed CHM 131 & CHM 131A with a grade of C or higher (CHM 151 will substitute-4 SH).

Each January, students can apply for admission into the ADN or RIBN program by January 15th for a fall cohort. Any additional admission periods will be published. Each fall those student applicants who have the highest rank on their grades earned in BIO 168, BIO 169, ENG 111, ENG 112 or ENG 114 and MAT 152, GPA, and the TEAS will be admitted into the ADN or RIBN programs.

For LPN and spring LPN-to-ADN, there is one opportunity to be considered for program admission each spring for students who meet all criteria and take the TEAS test by the September cutoff date. For summer LPN-to-ADN, there is one opportunity to be considered for program admission each summer for students who meet all criteria and take the TEAS test by the March cutoff date. Student applicants who have the highest rank in BIO 163, ENG 111, and MAT 152, GPA, and TEAS test will be admitted into the PN program. Student applicants who have the highest rank in BIO 168, BIO 169, ENG 111, ENG 112 or ENG 114, and MAT 152, GPA, and the TEAS test will be admitted into the LPN-ADN program.

Physical Therapist Assistant

There are opportunities to be considered for program admission each fall into the PTA program for students who meet all criteria and take the TEAS by the May cutoff date. TEAS testing is offered in February and May.

In Phase I of the admission process students will be ranked based on their GPA, grades earned in BIO 168, BIO 169, ENG 111, PSY 150, and MAT 152, work experience in the physical therapy field or currently licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist, bachelor's degree in an allied health related field, which includes exercise physiology, athletic training, orthotics, prosthetics, COTA, respiratory therapy, speech language pathology, etc. (Personal trainers, CNA, etc. are not included among "Allied Health"), associate degree in science, and the score on the ATI TEAS Test.

PTA applicants who have met all of the criteria in Phase I by the May 31^st deadline will continue on to Phase II, during which applicants will be interviewed and required to write an essay. Once this process is completed, all applicants will be ranked according to their performance in Phases I and II.

Decision Notification

Admission for the Fall ADN and RIBN programs will be offered in late February. Admission into the Fall PTA program will be offered in late June. Admission for the Spring LPN-ADN and PN programs will be offered in late October. Admission for the Summer LPN-ADN program will be offered in late April. Students can expect to receive decisions regarding admission by email and mail.

Acceptance and orientation information will be included in the acceptance packets letters. Students must reply by specified date in order to maintain their admitted status. Final admission status is contingent upon completion of the required items by the dates requested.