Nursing

• Registered Nurse

• Registered Nurse

Saddleback College offers multiple pathways to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Please review the options below carefully to determine which pathway best fits your educational background and career goals.

1. Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
   • Traditional 2-year Nursing program
   • Leads to an Associate Degree in Nursing
   • Eligible for NCLEX-RN licensure
2. LVN to RN (30-Unit Option)
   • Designed for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) only
   • No degree is granted upon completion
   • Eligible for NCLEX-RN licensure in California
   • Most other states don’t recognize this pathway for RN licensure

Program Overview

The LVN to RN 30-Unit Option is a non-degree pathway designed for California Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) seeking eligibility for RN licensure.

This option allows qualified LVNs to complete up to 30 units of nursing and science coursework required to become eligible for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Admission is based on space availability and individual applicant evaluation.

• Designed for Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) only
• No degree is granted upon completion
• Eligible for NCLEX-RN licensure in California
• Most other states don’t recognize California’s LVN 30-Unit Option for RN licensure
• Students completing this option will not graduate from the Saddleback College Nursing Program.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Hold a current California LVN license or provide proof of satisfactory completion of an accredited vocational nursing program
2. Complete the following courses with grades of “C” or better and a minimum GPA of 2.5:
   • BIO 12 - Human Physiology
   • BIO 15 - General Microbiology
   • N 162 - Successful Transition to Professional Nursing (within a max of three semesters of program entry)
3. Attend an LVN to RN guidance session
4. Complete required ATI assessments at or above designated cut scores
5. Provide proof of at least one year of direct patient care experience as an LVN
6. Submit an application with the Director/Assistant Director of Nursing
7. Submit a written commitment to the 30-Unit Option pathway prior to or during application

Admission Information

• Admission is based on space availability
• Qualified applicants are placed on a waitlist
• Each applicant is individually evaluated based on prior education
• All classes are challengeable

Required Coursework (30 Units)

Students must complete the following required coursework:

Science Courses:

• BIO 12 - Human Physiology (4 units)
• BIO 15 - General Microbiology (5 units)

Nursing Courses:

• N 162 - Successful Transition to Professional Nursing (1 unit)
• N 162L - Skills Lab (0.5 units)
• N 165 - Lifecycle 1: Fundamentals of Aging (1.5 units)
• N 171 - Mental Health Nursing (2 units)
• N 171L - Mental Health Nursing Lab (1 unit)
• N 173 - Nursing Care of Children and Families (1.5 units)
• N 173L - Pediatric Nursing Lab (2 units)
• N 174 - Women’s Health Nursing (1.5 units)
• N 174L - Women’s Health Nursing Lab (2 units)
• N 176 - Advanced Nursing (3 units)
• N 176L - Advanced Nursing Lab (5 units)

Download the LVN to RN Program Summary

Program Overview

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program at Saddleback College is a two-year, full-time program designed to prepare students for entry-level practice as Registered Nurses (RNs).

The program combines classroom instruction, skills lab, simulation training, and supervised clinical experience in a variety of healthcare settings throughout Orange County.

Graduates of the program earn an Associate Degree in Nursing and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Saddleback College admits approximately 60 students each application cycle (Spring and Fall) and invites an additional 25–30 alternate candidates per cycle. Alternate candidates may be offered admission if spaces become available prior to the start of the semester. Alternates must complete all required onboarding and compliance requirements to remain eligible for admission.

Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students are strongly encouraged to work no more than 20 hours per week and maintain a flexible schedule that accommodates classroom, lab, simulation, and clinical requirements.

Program Structure

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program consists of four consecutive nursing semesters (Fall and Spring only; no summer sessions). Each semester is approximately 16 weeks in length and includes lecture, skills lab/simulation, and clinical coursework completed concurrently.

Students are required to complete each semester in sequence. Nursing courses are offered during Fall and Spring semesters only.

Program Components

Lecture

Lecture courses are generally held on Wednesdays during morning hours and are attended by the full nursing cohort. Lecture sessions are typically approximately five hours in length; however, schedules may vary by semester.

Skills Lab and Simulation

Skills lab and simulation training are conducted on campus in the Nursing Skills and Simulation Labs. Dates and times vary throughout the semester and are provided to students at the beginning of each term.

Clinical

Clinical courses are held at affiliated hospitals and community healthcare sites throughout Orange County. Clinical rotations are typically scheduled once per week and consist of a 12-hour shift.

Clinical placements and schedules are assigned by the Nursing Program based on site availability and course requirements. Students are not permitted to request specific clinical sites or schedules.

The semester breakdown below reflects nursing and selected support coursework only. Additional general education and graduation requirements are required for the ADN degree.

First Nursing Semester:

• N 170 - Nursing Process (3 units)
• N 170L - Nursing Process Lab (4.5 units)
• N 171 - Mental Health Nursing (2 units)
• N 171L - Mental Health Nursing Lab (1 unit)
• **N 160 - Pharmacology for Nursing (3 units)
• **N 165 - Lifecycle 1: Fundamentals of Aging (1.5 units)

Second Nursing Semester:

• N 172 - Medical-Surgical Nursing (3.5 units)
• N 172L - Medical-Surgical Nursing Lab (5 units)
• **PSYC 1 - General Psychology (3 units)
• **N 161 - Lifecycle 2: Growth and Development (1.5 units)

Third Nursing Semester:

• N 173 - Nursing Care of Children and Families (1.5 units)
• N 173L - Nursing Care of Children and Families Lab (2 units)
• N 174 - Women’s Health Nursing (1.5 units)
• N 174L - Women’s Health Nursing Lab (2 units)

Fourth Nursing Semester:

• N 176 - Advanced Nursing (3 units)
• N 176L - Advanced Nursing Lab (5 units)

** Recommended to be completed prior to admission

RN Application Support

If you would like assistance with:

• Completing your RN Application for Spring 2027.
• Submitting or confirming Course Substitutions for nursing prerequisites and supplemental courses (Please complete with a counselor prior to application opening to ensure petition completion prior to application deadline.)
• Confirming equivalent courses for nursing prerequisites and supplemental courses.
• Confirming number of points, you currently are applying with.

Receive Support In Person

During the hours indicated as "In Person" below:

Location:
Saddleback College Gateway Counseling Office
Room 201

Receive Support on Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 854 2586 9004
Passcode: 591713

Support Schedule

Next Application Period

Spring 2027 Cohort:

• Application Period Opens: July 1, 2026
• Application Period Closes: July 15, 2026
• Program Begins: January 2027

Check Your Status

Previous Admission Cycle Information

Fall 2026 Admission Point Cut-Off:

• The initial admission offer cut-off for the Fall 2026 Nursing cohort was 82 points.
• As accepted applicants declined their admission offers, alternate applicants were subsequently invited and the point cut-off decreased.
• Final Fall 2026 Admission Cut-Off: 75 points

Please note that not all applicants with 75 points received an admission offer. Admission decisions are based on the program's multi-criteria screening process, available seats, and established tie-breaker criteria.

Current Minimum Eligibility Requirements to Apply to the Saddleback College Nursing Program:

1. Age Requirement
   • Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission.
2. Social Security Number or ITIN
   • Applicants must possess a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to allow for a background check and eligibility for NCLEX licensure upon program completion.
3. Completion of Science Prerequisites
   • The following courses must be completed with a grade reflecting on our official transcript.
     • Anatomy
     • *Physiology
     • Microbiology
     • *Physiology must be completed within 7 years of the application deadline.
       • For example, for the July 15, 2026 application deadline, Physiology must have been completed in Summer 2019 or later.
   • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 across these three courses is required.
     • Please note:
       • +/- grades are not factored into the GPA calculation
       • Grades are not rounded when calculating GPA
       • If a course has been repeated, the highest grade earned will be used when calculating GPA
     • Additional Note:
       • Online science courses taken between 2020–2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic are acceptable. Otherwise, science courses must be completed in person, although hybrid courses with an in-person lab component are permitted.
4. English Requirement
   • Completion of English C1000 (formerly ENG 1A - Principles of Composition I) or an equivalent transferable course with a grade of C or higher.
5. ATI TEAS Exam Requirement
   • Applicants must complete the ATI TEAS Exam (Version 7).
   • A minimum overall score of 62% is required to qualify.
   • Preliminary scores will not be accepted.
   • Applicants must upload an unofficial TEAS score report with their application and send official TEAS scores directly to Saddleback College. The applicant’s name must be clearly listed on the score report.

Testing Policy

• Applicants must take Version 7 of the TEAS exam.
• There is no minimum waiting period required between attempts.
• The highest qualifying score will be used for evaluation.

Important Update: Admissions Testing

We want to clarify an upcoming change to our admissions testing requirement:

• If you are applying in July 2026 (for Spring 2027 start)
  • You will still take the ATI TEAS exam
• If you are applying in February 2027 (for Fall 2027 start)
  • You will need to take the HESI A2 exam

The TEAS exam will be discontinued after the July 2026 application cycle.

More information about the HESI A2 exam, including what to expect and how to prepare, will be shared on our website soon.

Important Information

Requirements are subject to change. All official transcripts must be submitted to Admissions & Records before the application deadline.

All eligibility requirements must be met and documented before submission of your application. It is strongly recommended that applicants meet with a counselor before applying to confirm they meet all eligibility criteria.

Please call (949) 582-4572 or visit the Make a Counseling Appointment page.

Admission to the Nursing Program is based on a 100‑point multi‑criteria selection process. Applicants with the highest total points will be offered placement.

If multiple applicants receive the same total score, applicants will be ranked using the following criteria in order:

1. Completion of relevant nursing coursework as indicated on the criteria. 
2. GPA in biology prerequisite courses (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology)
3. Documented healthcare work experience

1. Academic Degree (Maximum 5 Points)

Points are awarded for the highest completed degree only. Cannot combine. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES‑approved credential evaluation agency.

2. Biology Prerequisite GPA (Maximum 30 Points)

• Courses included: *Anatomy, *Physiology, *Microbiology
• Minimum GPA required to apply: 2.8

Please note:

• +/- grades are not factored into the GPA calculation.
• Grades are not rounded when calculating the GPA.
• If a course has been repeated, the highest grade earned will be used when calculating the GPA.

3. Relevant Coursework (Maximum 20 Points)

* Courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Courses that are in progress will not receive points, and an official grade must be posted on your transcript at the time of application review.

If you completed prerequisite or relevant courses at another college, you are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment with a Saddleback College counselor to review course equivalencies before submitting your application. To schedule an appointment, please call (949) 582-4572.

4. Life Experience (Maximum 3 Points)

All applicants automatically receive 3 points in this category. No documentation is required.

5. Second Language Proficiency (Maximum 2 Points)

Applicants may submit ONE of the following forms of verification. The applicant’s legal name must appear on the document submitted.

Accepted forms of verification include:

• A letter on official letterhead from an employer, professor, or clergy verifying language proficiency. View a sample letter here. 
• A transcript from a foreign school showing coursework completed in the language.
• A high school transcript demonstrating completion of at least three years of the same second language with a grade of C or better. 
• A college transcript demonstrating completion of at least two years of the same second language with a grade of C or better. 
• An official AP exam score report with a score of 3 or higher.

Please note:

• Only the documentation listed above will be accepted as proof of second language proficiency.
• Self-written letters, emails, or other documentation not listed above will not be accepted.
• Coursework must demonstrate completion of a sequential level of the same language.

6. TEAS Score (Test of Essential Academic Skills (Maximum 25 Points)

Applicants must take the ATI TEAS exam. A minimum overall score of 62% is required to qualify. Preliminary scores will not be accepted. Applicants must upload an unofficial TEAS score report with their application and send official TEAS scores directly to Saddleback College. The applicant’s name must be clearly listed on the score report.

Testing Policy:

• Applicants must take Version 7 of the TEAS exam.
• There is no minimum waiting period required between attempts.
• The highest qualifying score will be used for evaluation.

7. Healthcare Work Experience (Maximum 15 Points)

Applicants must have work experience within the past five years in one of the following roles:

• LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse)
• LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician)
• CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)
• EMT-P (Paramedic)
• EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)
• Respiratory Therapist

Only the work experience roles listed above will be accepted. No other types of work experience will be considered.
Applicants must also hold a current and valid license or certification for the respective role.\

NOTE: Applicants must provide both qualifying work experience and a current, valid license or certification to receive full points. Partial points will not be awarded. Any amount of work experience hours will be accepted, provided the work experience is directly related to the license or certification listed above.

Required Work Experience Documentation (must be included with your application):

1. A copy of your current and valid professional license or certification
2. An employment verification letter from your employer on official company letterhead. The letter must include the applicant’s name, job title, employment dates, job duties, and total hours worked.

For questions, please send an email to scnursing@saddleback.edu.

Students admitted to the Saddleback College Nursing Program are required to meet all clinical compliance and health clearance requirements prior to participating in clinical rotations.

Clinical education is an essential and mandatory component of the nursing curriculum and is required to meet California Board of Registered Nursing regulations, program learning outcomes, and national accreditation standards.

Health Clearance Requirements

Students admitted to the program should anticipate completing the following clinical compliance requirements.

Immunity Titers

Laboratory-confirmed immunity titers for:

• Measles (IgG)
• Mumps (IgG)
• Rubella (IgG)
• Varicella
• Hepatitis B Surface Antibody

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening

One of the following:

• Two-step TB skin test (TST/PPD), or
• IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON Gold or T-Spot)

Students with a positive TB result will also be required to provide additional documentation, such as a chest X-ray.

Required Vaccinations

• Current seasonal COVID-19 vaccine/booster
• Tdap
• Current seasonal influenza vaccine

Physical Examination

A completed physical examination form signed by a licensed healthcare provider, including a vision screening.

Additional Clinical Compliance Requirements

Additional program and clinical onboarding requirements may include, but are not limited to:

• Background check
• Drug screening
• American Heart Association (AHA) BLS CPR certification
• Student nurse liability insurance
• Health insurance verification
• Clinical compliance tracking platform enrollment
• Completion of required policy acknowledgements and onboarding documents
• Site-specific onboarding and training modules
• Annual renewal of time-sensitive requirements

Additional requirements may vary by clinical agency and are subject to change without notice.

Important Information

Clinical placement sites establish their own onboarding, health, and safety requirements. These requirements may vary by facility and may change without notice.

Because students must be eligible to attend any assigned clinical site, the Nursing Program applies the most stringent requirements across all affiliated clinical partners.

Students are responsible for:

• Maintaining compliance throughout the duration of the program
• Monitoring expiration dates for all requirements
• Renewing documents prior to expiration
• Retaining copies of all submitted documentation

Failure to maintain required clinical compliance documentation may impact a student’s ability to participate in clinical coursework and progress in the program.

Student Health & Wellness Center

Admitted students will complete the health clearance process through the Student Health & Wellness Center at Saddleback College and will receive detailed instructions upon acceptance into the program.

NOTE: Students should not begin the Mandatory Health Packet until officially admitted into the program and instructed to do so by the Nursing Department.

Download the Mandatory Health Assessment Packet

Additional requirements for clinical compliance may include, but are not limited to:

• Background Check
• Drug Screening
• Liability Insurance
• Health Insurance Verification
• American Heart Association (AHA) BLS CPR Certification
• Clinical Compliance Tracking System Requirements
• Additional site-specific onboarding requirements as required by clinical agencies

For additional information, please contact the Saddleback College Student Health & Wellness Center.

Information Sessions 

Work Recommendations for Nursing Students

We recommend that nursing students work no more than 20 hours per week while enrolled in the program. If working is necessary for financial reasons, it is advised to schedule work during weekends or holidays, and ideally in a role that offers flexibility to accommodate the rigorous demands of the nursing program.

Weekly Schedule Overview

• Lectures: Held once a week on campus every Wednesday.
• Simulation Days: Occur on campus approximately two days per week.
• Clinical Days: Clinical placements are assigned to students and will vary depending on the assigned clinical site. All clinical sites are located within Orange County.

Students should be prepared for a demanding schedule balancing theory, clinical practice, and simulation activities throughout the program.

Course Hours Breakdown

Saddleback College Nursing Program - Approximate Costs

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Approximate Program Total (excluding NCLEX fees): $6,372.25

Students who are in need of financial assistance are encouraged to apply for financial aid online. Get started on the Financial Aid page.

• Dean Grievance Form
• Saddleback Nursing Student Handbook 25-26
• Nursing Re-entry Petition Form
• Military Challenge Policy
• Saddleback College ADN Curriculum/ Recommended Courses
• File a Complaint
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing - Complaints Against an Accredited Program
  • California Board of Registered Nursing - File a Complaint
• 2nd Language Proficiency Letter Sample
• Samples of Grades and GPA

Apply for Nursing Program Re-Entry

Re-Entry Petition Guidelines - Fall 2026

This form is intended only for students who were previously enrolled in the Saddleback College Nursing Program and are seeking re-entry for the Fall 2026 term.

Who Should Use This Form

• Students who were previously enrolled in the Saddleback Nursing Program.
• Students requesting to return after a leave of absence.

Important Information

• Submission of this petition does not guarantee re-entry into the program.
• Re-entry is based on space availability and program requirements.
• All required documents must be submitted for your application to be considered.

Required Documents

• Completed Re-Entry Petition Form.
• Completed Remediation Plan Form.
• Any additional requirements listed in the remediation plan.

Deadlines

• All materials must be submitted by the April 1st, by 11:59 a.m.
• Late or incomplete applications may not be reviewed.

Notification

• Applicants will receive notification of the re-entry petition decision no later than April 15, 2026.
• If you have not received a notification by this date, please email scnursing@saddleback.edu.

All students selected for enrollment in the Nursing Program are required to complete a criminal background check prior to participating in clinical experiences. Please be aware that the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) may deny or delay licensure pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code, including for certain criminal convictions or acts involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit.

Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony are required to disclose this information when applying for RN licensure. A criminal history may impact eligibility to take the licensure examination and/or obtain a Registered Nursing license.

If you have concerns regarding how a prior conviction may affect your eligibility for licensure, you are strongly encouraged to consult with the Nursing Program Director and/or contact the California Board of Registered Nursing before beginning the Nursing Program.

Download the Saddleback Nursing Student Handbook 25-26