Admission to a Program or Course
Admission to the College is not the same as admission to a program of study and/or courses. Admission to a program or courses is based upon previous education, experience, and levels of achievement.
Admission to a Program of Study
Admission to a program of study requires that a student has earned a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Certificate based on the GED Test, meets the “ability to benefit” criteria through a recognized test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or meets the guidelines for the Admission of High School Students and “Gifted” High School Students.
Each program of study (for example, Nursing, Accounting) has specific requirements for admission. These requirements are based on the student’s previous education, work experience, and levels of achievement. See our Programs of Study for a complete list of prerequisites for each program. Information that may be used in admission to a program includes
- A transcript of the student’s high school and college records. The student should request a transcript from the school(s) to be sent to the Student Success Center at Richland. High school seniors applying for admission should also include a list of courses in progress. High school and college transcripts should be sent directly from the appropriate schools to Richland’s Student Success Center. Transcripts hand-delivered to the Student Success Center will only be accepted in a sealed, tamper-free envelope from the institution.
- Test scores. Richland generally uses the ACT and the SAT. Other comparable test results may be submitted as appropriate.
- Application and personal interview, including related experiences since leaving high school or college.
Students may be provisionally admitted to a program even though they fail to meet all the requirements. Students provisionally admitted may be required to enroll in developmental courses, take a reduced load, complete further testing, and/or receive career counseling. Similar procedures may also apply to students enrolling in individual courses only.
Selective Admission to Health Professions Programs
Students who wish to declare a major in some health professions programs must meet specialized criteria. Admission to some health programs is selective due to availability and limitations of practicum sites and limitations in the number of students who can be accommodated in clinical groups. The selective admissions procedures also apply to readmission students, advanced placement students, and transfer students. Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee admission to selective admissions programs. The following programs require selective admission:
Evaluation of Specialized Courses
Students who would like to request evaluation of specialized coursework from another college must obtain a Request for Evaluation of Specialty Credit Form from the Health Professions Office, submit a weekly outline for the completed course, and pay a fee for each course evaluated. Nursing course credit may be earned by students who wish to transfer core nursing courses from approved programs in the United States. Advanced placement into the ADN Program is possible based upon successful results of the HESI tests for the appropriate course and available space. All admission and graduation requirements must be met, and in order to graduate from Richland’s ADN program, transfer students must complete a minimum of two semesters of core nursing courses at Richland. Interested students must complete a Richland Information Form and an Associate Degree Nursing Program Application for Transfer available at www.richland.edu/health.
Evaluation of Clinical Courses
Students who wish to transfer credit for clinical courses may be required to have their skills evaluated. Additional lab fees are required depending on the extent of the evaluation needed. See the appropriate Health Professions program director for the evaluation of the lab time and fees required.