The Associate of Applied Science (AAS degree) in Nursing is designed to prepare the student for a career as a Registered Nurse. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, the graduate will be prepared to take National Council Licensure Exam - Registered Nurse (RN). The program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Students wishing to transfer to four-year institutions will have the academic foundation to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For additional information, please see the MCC Nursing webpage for contact information.
Students wishing to obtain their license as a Practical Nurse are qualified to take the National Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-LPN) after successful completion of the first two semesters.
Obtaining a license to practice as an LPN provides potential opportunities for students to work while they complete the Nursing, AAS program, gain confidence and experience, and begin to establish themselves in the workforce.
Traditional
This option starts in the fall and spring each year. Students progress through the program in a cohort, have the summer off, and complete the program in 24 months. No previous healthcare experience required.
Advance Placement Options Available:
Assisted Living Caregivers and Certified Nursing Assistants/Licensed Nursing Assistants with a current, unencumbered certification qualify to receive credit for NUR 102. See the Nursing, AAS Program Course Pathway for details.
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) with a current, unencumbered license qualify to receive credit for NUR 102, NUR 103 , NUR 111 , NUR 124 , NUR 125 , and NUR 126 . See the Nursing, AAS-Advanced Placement Option for Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) Program Course Pathway for details.
Paramedics with a current, unencumbered certification qualify to receive credit for NUR 111 , and NUR 213 . See the Nursing, AAS-Advanced Placement Option for Paramedics Program Course Pathway for details.
Prerequisite Requirements
Student must be a graduate of an accredited high school (or hold a GED certificate), demonstrate evidence of potential success in the community college, and/or be a transfer student in good standing from another college or university.
Student must have an active, unencumbered Certified Nursing Assistant/Licensed Nursing Assistant (CNA/LNA)
Student must successfully complete the following courses and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application to the program:
Successful completion of Biology Competency Exam Credits: (0) OR
BIO 181 - General Biology I (Majors) with Lab Credits: (4)
BIO 201 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab Credits: (4)
BIO 202 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab Credits: (4)
CHM 130 - Fundamental Chemistry with Lab Credits: (4) or higher
ENG 101 - English Composition I Credits: (3)
MAT 142 - College Mathematics Credits: (3) or higher
PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: (3) OR PSY 245 - Lifespan Development Credits: (3)
Student must achieve a minimum score of 62 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
Application Requirements
A completed application must be submitted to be considered for admission to the AAS Nursing program. The application may be obtained online from the Nursing website. Application to the Nursing Program is not a guarantee of admission. The following documents must be submitted for the application to be considered:
Completed Application
Official College Transcripts
Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) results
Requirements for Clinical
MCC relies on various clinical placement agencies to provide clinical experiences for our students. These sites have several requirements, so once a student is accepted to the Registered Nurse program, they are required to have a drug screen and background check. This information is included in the acceptance packet. In addition, the student will be required to submit the following:
- Evidence of measles, mumps, rubella, and TDAP immunizations
- Evidence of varicella titer
- Evidence of Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) series or a completed declination form
- Evidence of a two-step tuberculosis (TB) screening within the past year
- Evidence of a flu shot within the past 12 months
- Evidence of COVID vaccination may be required
- Regular COVID testing may be required
- Evidence of a physical examination within six months of beginning the program
- Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
Requirements for Graduation
No D or F grades in any program required courses and completion of all field of study courses with a B or better.
Note: For a course to be eligible for transfer, the student must receive a C or better. Acceptance of a transfer course is determined by the receiving institution. Most courses have a lab and clinical component.
Students who took NUR 103 prior to Fall 2023-24 can graduate with 3 credits.
Students who took NUR 212 prior to Fall 2024-25 can graduate with 5 credits.
Students who took NUR 213 prior to Spring 2024-25 can graduate with 4 credits.
