Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 pm on August 15th each year (for a spring semester start). We will accept up to 50 students each spring. Applications must be complete, meaning the following items must be uploaded with the application by the August 15th deadline:

1. Driver's license
2. LPN/Paramedic license
3. Proof of graduation from an LPN/Paramedic program within the last two years OR a work verification letter (template) confirming the applicant has worked as an LPN or Paramedic for at least 1,000 hours within the last two years
4. Proof of attendance from a nursing information session

Your TEAS score report(s) are added separately, but must be received by 11:59pm August 15th. Please review #3 on the Nursing FAQ to see how to submit your official TEAS score report(s).

The online application will be available under the Process for Admission tab from May 1st to 11:59pm August 15th. Early submission of the application is encouraged.

*Applications received in the last two weeks before the deadline date are not guaranteed to be reviewed for missing or incorrect requirements.

Admission to the college

Submit the following materials to the Georgia Highlands College admissions office:

• Completed Georgia Highlands College application
• Copy of high school transcript
• Official copy of transcripts from all colleges previously attended
• Check Admissions Status
  • If accepted for the program, all admissions requirements MUST be complete in order to be registered for nursing classes.

LPN & Paramedic Bridge Pathway

Atrium Health Floyd LPN & Paramedic Bridge to RN Program (Application deadline 11:59pm August 15^th)

Admission to the program is a two-step process, requiring the student to apply to the college and then the nursing program.

1. Applicants must submit the following materials to the Georgia Highlands College Admissions Office:
   1. Completed Georgia Highlands College Application for the summer after high school graduation.
   2. Copy of high school transcript.
   3. Official copy of transcripts from all colleges previously attended if a dual enrollment student.
      1. These are only required if the applicant attended college classes while dual enrolled at another institution, GHC dual enrollment students will skip this process.
   4. Check Admissions Status
      1. If accepted into the program, all GHC Admissions requirements MUST be completed in order to be registered for nursing classes.
   5. Applicants must meet the following requirements for program eligibility:
      2. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in the required general core courses
         1. A grade of C or better in A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, ENGL 1101, MATH 1001 or higher.
            1. The C in the biology courses includes both lecture and lab
            2. The science classes do not expire for working LPN/Paramedic applicants.
            3. When sciences are taken within six years, those recent attempts within six years will be counted and the older sciences excluded*
      3. A minimum composite score of 70 on the ATI TEAS exam.
         1. An official ATI TEAS score report is required by the application deadline.
            1. Applicants who test with the GHC Testing Center do not have to worry about submitting their score reports.
            2. Applicants who test outside of the GHC Testing Center must submit an official score report to GA Highlands College through their ATI account.
            3. Cannot be older than two years from the application deadline.
            4. No more than four attempts in each application cycle.
               1. The application cycle runs August 16^th – August 15^th yearly
            5. Applicants must attend a nursing information session
               1. The information sessions are held the third Wednesday of every month from 1pm-2pm via Microsoft Teams

• LPN & Paramedic Bridge Pathway

Each student must take responsibility for making sure his/her records are current, complete and received prior to the application deadline.

Criminal background checks and drug screenings are required for clinical practice by institutions used by the nursing program for the clinical experiences associated with the nursing courses. These will be completed after being accepted into the nursing program. A student will be required to participate in these checks upon acceptance to the program and at least annually while in the program. All criminal background checks and drug screenings will be at the expense of the student. Criminal background checks and drug screening are to be performed through AdvantageStudents (www.advantagestudents.com) as required by many of the clinical facilities. Clinical experience is a component of all required nursing courses. A course cannot be satisfactorily completed without completing the clinical component of the course. Should a student be denied placement by a clinical facility related to results on a criminal background check or drug screening, the student will be dismissed from the program with no opportunity for readmission.

A student who has been arrested or convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation may not be permitted to take the RN licensure examination. This decision rests with the Georgia Board of Nursing (www.sos.state.ga.us).

Students with a criminal record must see the nursing program director for advice before submitting an application regarding the licensure examination.

Admission to the nursing program is a two-step process:

1. Admission to Georgia Highlands College
   1. If you have questions about the college admission process please visit the GHC Virtual Hub.
2. Acceptance to the Nursing Program
   • Professional Bridge Programs Application
3. Students are responsible for reaching out to the Associate Degree Nursing Program to ensure their application is complete by emailing Chance Hooper at chooper@highlands.edu.
   • No required documentation will be accepted after the August 15th deadline.

The nursing program is split between the Floyd Campus and Heritage Hall Site, please visit the new Virtual Tours website to take an online tour of each Georgia Highlands campus.

Current Tuition & Fees: https://www.highlands.edu/tuition-and-fees/

The LPN/Paramedic Bridge Nursing Program is 26 credit hours total:

• First Semester: 9 credit hours
• Second Semester: 9 credit hours
• Third Semester: 8 credit hours

**Costs below are approximate**

• Nursing Resource & e-Book Bundle: Approximately $800 per semester, covered by our partner Atrium Health Floyd.
• Clinical Supplies: Approximately $220 for the first semester of the LPN/Paramedic Bridge program is now covered by the Nursing department.
• GHC Nursing Patch: $10.00
• Nursing Uniform: $325 (Scrubs, Shoes, and Jacket) One uniform per student is paid for by Atrium Health Floyd.
• Liability Insurance: $16/annually* (All students in the nursing sequence are required to have professional liability insurance purchased through the school.)
• Course Fee: $198/semester
• Health Insurance: $1,120/semester** (**All students in the nursing sequence are required to have health insurance. If the student has a personal health insurance policy, proof of insurance must be provided and a waiver request can be completed to have the health insurance fee removed. Please use the Student Health Insurance link under the Navigation links.)
• ACEMAPP: $50/annually, this is now covered by the Nursing department.
• Background Check/Drug Screen: $99.95/annually

For scholarship information, please visit the Georgia Highlands College Financial Aid website: https://sites.highlands.edu/financial-aid/

Nursing Information Sessions:

Information sessions will be held virtually, through Microsoft Teams, the third Wednesday of the month 1pm-2pm(EST). Anyone arriving after 1:05pm will not be admitted to the session and will need to register for a future session. Please complete the attendance form between 1pm-2pm, if your email is received after 2pm you will be requested to attend another session to obtain proof of attendance.

Participants should plan to attend using the Microsoft Teams app on their phone, tablet, or computer without calling in. If you call in through the Microsoft Teams app you will not have access to the information session attendance form. This is to encourage everyone to attend when they can view the PowerPoint presentation.

Proof of attendance will be required for admission to the program. It is the applicant's responsibility to keep up with their attendance proof. Losing the proof of attendance will require attending another information session. Create a file folder on your device to keep track of your nursing application requirements: scanned front of driver's license, LPN/Paramedic license, work verification letter or unofficial transcript showing graduation from a program within the last two years, and proof of information session attendance.

2024 Information Session Dates:

January 17th              July 17th

February 21st             August 15th

March 20th                September 18th

April 17th                  October 16th

May 15th                   November 13th (Second Wednesday)

June 18th                  December 11th (Second Wednesday)