Traditional ASN Program Admissions

Program Eligibility Requirement Updates

Nursing Information Sessions are mandatory for all applicants to the nursing program. A proof of attendance is given to all registrants at the end of the session and should be uploaded with the nursing application.
Spring transfer grades are not allowed in the nursing admission score, this is due to the time it takes a transfer evaluation to be completed. GHC student spring semester grades will be used in the nursing admission score. However, transfer students should plan to complete all prerequisites for the program by the fall semester before applying.
Students must have A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and MATH 1001 or higher (STAT 1401 eligible) in order to be eligible for the program. Transfer applicants (who are not planning to attend spring semester classes) must have these classes completed in the fall semester before the nursing application is submitted.
NURS 1000 (Introduction to Nursing) is a required course and may be taken prior to acceptance into the Nursing program. Students may only repeat NURS 1000 once. Students who earn a grade of D, F, or W in any non-clinical course may repeat that course only once. (See ASN Student Handbook for reference.)
NURS 1152 (Clinical Calculations) is an optional course, but it is strongly recommended to help prepare for medication dosage and calculation skills.

Keys to Success

Keys to Success is a mandatory orientation/workshop that all nursing students must attend shortly after being accepted into the program. This usually occurs in June and is held at the Lakeview Auditorium on the GHC Floyd campus and runs 9am-4pm.

For a copy of the Traditional ASN Advising Pathway sheet, please visit the link below and look under Associate and then Career Programs: https://sites.highlands.edu/advising/program-checklists/

Current GHC Students

Applicants must meet the following requirements for program eligibility:
1. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in the nine general education prerequisite courses
  1. A grade of C or better is required for A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, ENGL 1101, and MATH 1001 or higher (STAT 1401 included)
    1. The C in the biology courses include both the lecture and lab
    2. It is the policy of the GHC nursing program to require students to retake biology courses if they were taken more than six years before the application deadline for the nursing program.
    3. A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and MATH 1001 or higher (STAT 1401 included) must be completed by the spring semester a student plans to apply to the program.
      1. If any of these four classes is not completed the application will be marked ineligible.
    4. An official ATI TEAS score report is required by the application deadline (The nursing department does not control the time between attempts at exams, that is determined by each testing facility/provider):
      1. The application cycle runs April 2^nd – April 1^st each year.
        
        Score reports cannot be older than two years from the application deadline.
        
        Only the first four attempts in an application cycle are eligible.
        
        A total of eight attempts is possible between the last two application cycles.
      2. A minimum composite score of 70 is required.
        
        The score is not rounded up, a 69.9 is not eligible
      3. If English is the student’s second language, proof of the following achievement on the TOEFL is also required:
        
        550 on paper-based exam
        
        213 on computer exam
        
        80 on internet exam
      4. All applicants must attend a nursing information session:
        
        Proof of attendance is required to be uploaded with the nursing application.
        
        The proof of attendance is given to all attendees at the end of each information session.
        
        Information sessions are held in person at Lakeview Auditorium on the Floyd campus.
        
        Registration links are available under the Nursing Information Sessions drop down menu at the bottom of this page.

Transfer Students & GHC Readmits

Transfer applicants must follow a two-step process:

Submit the following materials to the Georgia Highlands College Admissions office:
1. Completed Georgia Highlands College application.
2. Copy of high school transcript.
3. Official copy of transcripts from all previously attended colleges.
4. Check Admissions Status
  1. If a transfer student is accepted into the nursing program, they MUST complete all general college admissions requirements as soon as possible to avoid issues with registration for nursing classes.
  2. All Admissions holds must be cleared.
5. Transfer applicants must meet the following requirements for program eligibility:
  1. No spring semester transfer grades will be used in the nursing admission score. The nursing admissions committee meets in mid-May to determine admission scores and make their decisions. This does not allow time for students to submit official transcripts with spring semester grades to the college for evaluation.
  2. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in the nine general education prerequisite courses
    1. A grade of C or better is required for A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, ENGL 1101, and MATH 1001 or higher (STAT 1401 included)
      1. The C in the biology courses include both the lecture and lab
      2. It is the policy of the GHC nursing program to require students to retake biology courses if they were taken more than six years before the application deadline for the nursing program.
      3. A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and MATH 1001 or higher (STAT 1401 included) must be completed by the spring semester a student plans to apply to the program. If any of these four classes is not completed the application will be marked ineligible.
    2. An official ATI TEAS score report is required by the application deadline (The nursing department does not control the time between attempts at exams, that is determined by each testing facility/provider):
      1. The application cycle runs April 2^nd – April 1^st each year.
        
        Score reports cannot be older than two years from the application deadline.
        
        Only the first four attempts in an application cycle are eligible.
        
        A total of eight attempts is possible between the last two application cycles.
      2. A minimum composite score of 70 is required.
        
        The score is not rounded up, a 69.9 is not eligible.
      3. If English is the student’s second language, proof of the following achievement on the TOEFL is also required:
        
        550 on paper-based exam
        
        213 on computer exam
        
        80 on internet exam
      4. All applicants must attend a nursing information session:
        
        Proof of attendance is required to be uploaded with the nursing application.
        
        The proof of attendance is given to all attendees at the end of each information session.
        
        Information sessions are held in person at Lakeview Auditorium on the Floyd campus.
        
        Registration links are available under the Nursing Information Sessions drop down menu at the bottom of this page.

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 Advantage Students (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 (sos.ga.gov Mandatory Reporting).

Process for Admission - Application Deadline: April 1st 11:59pm

The Traditional ASN Program Application is available 12:00am January 1st - 11:59pm April 1st each year.

Current GHC Students

Current GHC students must meet the nursing program Admission Criteria and have the required documents listed below to submit with their nursing application:

A scan or picture of the front of the applicant’s driver’s license or other government issued photo ID.
Proof of attendance from a nursing information session.
OPTIONAL – an active CNA (Certified Nurse Aide license) to receive 100 extra points in the nursing admission score.
1. A CMA (Certified Medical Assistant license), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), Paramedic license, etc., do not award 100 extra points in the nursing admission score.

Transfer Students & GHC Readmits

Admission for transfer students is a two-step process:

Must complete all general college Admissions requirements to become a student of the college.
Must meet the nursing program Admission Criteria and have the required documents to submit with their nursing application:
1. A scan or picture of the front of the applicant’s driver’s license or other government issued photo ID.
2. Proof of attendance from a nursing information session.
3. OPTIONAL – an active CNA (Certified Nurse Aide license) to receive 100 extra points in the nursing admission score.
  1. A CMA (Certified Medical Assistant license), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), Paramedic license, etc., do not award 100 extra points in the nursing admission score.
4. Applicants must complete all prerequisites in the fall semester before applying to the nursing program OR be completing their final prerequisites at GHC in the spring semester of applying to the nursing program.

Please note: Applications received in the last two weeks of March are reviewed in the order they were received.

Clinical Credentialing

**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.

Annual Flu Vaccination – usually due by late October
1. Flu vaccination form available
2. DO NOT complete this requirement before August 1st
BLS – American Heart Association certification only
MMR
1. Positive titer showing immunity or
2. Proof of two or three dose vaccination series
Physical
1. The last page of the Student Health Screen Requirements
  1. A different physical form will not be accepted
TB
1. Quantiferon Gold TB test
TDAP
1. TDAP vaccination within the last ten years or
2. TDAP vaccination older than ten years plus a TD booster within the last ten years
Varicella
1. Positive titer showing immunity or
2. Proof of the two dose vaccination series
Covid 19
1. Not required, but students who are vaccinated are encouraged to upload proof
Hepatitis B
1. Positive titer showing immunity and proof of two or three dose vaccination series
2. Students with low or no immunity, and proof of the two or three dose vaccination series, can submit a Hepatitis B Declination Form once assigned to clinical rotations
Advantage Students/InfoMart Background Check & Drug Screen
1. All students must create an Advantage Students/InfoMart profile with their GHC student email and link Advantage Students to ACEMAPP for clearance
  1. Only students attending clinicals at AdventHealth Redmond will be required to upload their background check and drug screen to ACEMAPP
    1. Students attending clinicals at Atrium Health Floyd, Piedmont Cartersville, and WellStar Paulding's background check and drug screens will be satisfied by linking to ACEMAPP

Document examples and expanded requirement information available on our Clinical Credentialing website: https://sites.highlands.edu/nursing/associate-of-science-in-nursing-program/clinical-credentialing/

Students with a criminal record must contact the nursing program interim director Dr. Walker (swalker@highlands.edu) for advice before submitting an application regarding the licensure examination.

Virtual Campus Tours

Approximate Program Costs & Scholarships

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

The Traditional Nursing Program is 36 credit hours total:

First Semester: 9 credit hours

Second Semester: 10 credit hours

Third Semester: 9 credit hours

Fourth Semester: 8 credit hours

Approximate Program Costs:

Covered for all ASN students by our partner, Atrium Health Floyd:
1. Nursing Resource & e-Book Bundle: approximately $800 per semester
2. One nursing uniform: (Scrubs, shoes, jacket, and patch) approximately $325
  1. Additional nursing uniforms are paid for by the student.
3. Covered for all ASN students by the nursing department:
  1. Clinical supplies: Approximately $110 per semester for the first two semesters
  2. ACEMAPP: the $50 per year clinical credentialing system used by our clinical partners
4. Costs for students:
  1. Tuition & Course Fees
  2. Health Insurance
    1. If students use school provided health insurance, it costs approximately $1,100 per semester.
    2. If students want to use their personal health insurance, they must submit a waiver that is handled completely by the GHC Business Office. The waiver removes the $1,100 fee each semester and is available at certain times at the start of each semester and can be completed using the Student Health Insurance link under our Navigation links.
  3. Background Check & Drug Screen: approximately $100 each year
    1. Students are not to complete their background check and drug screen until they have been accepted into the nursing program and told to do so.
  4. Liability Insurance: approximately $16 per year and included in student tuition and fees.

Nursing Scholarship Information

Information about the Atrium Pathway/Scholarship Program is available here: https://sites.highlands.edu/nursing/asn_pathways_program_faqs/

Scholarship information is available through the GHC Financial Aid website: https://sites.highlands.edu/financial-aid/

Nursing Information Sessions

Nursing information sessions are available virtually once per month through Microsoft Teams. Virtual sessions are held 1:30pm-2:30pm.

Nursing information sessions will be from 5:30PM - 6:30PM in room W-333 in the Walraven building or from 1:30PM - 2:30PM in room 133 in the Lakeview Building on the Floyd campus at 3175 Cedartown Highway Rome, Georgia 30161. Proof of attendance from an information session is required for program eligibility and is given out at the end of each information session. If a student loses their proof of attendance, they will be required to attend another information session.

2025 Virtual Information Session Dates (Arrive early, no one will be admitted after 1:35pm):

September 16th 1:30PM - 2:30PM

October 14th 1:30PM - 2:30PM

November 11th 1:30PM - 2:30PM

December 9th 1:30PM - 2:30PM

2025 Live On Campus Information Session Dates and Times:

August 6th 1:30pm-2:30pm Lakeview Room 133

September 17th 1:30pm-2:30pm Lakeview Room 133

October 15th 5:30pm-6:30pm Walraven W333

November 10th - December 15th Dates