Pre-Nursing

PVCC participates in both the Traditional Program and Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP). Through the Traditional Program, a student can complete their Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing. Through CEP, they have the opportunity to complete both their AAS and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the same time through one of our university partners.

There are courses that must be completed before applying to the program which are outlined on the MaricopaNursing website. To learn more about program requirements and how to apply to the Nursing Program at PVCC, please visit the Nursing Program Advisement page for more information.

PVCC and MaricopaNursing support the progression of clinical competence through a myriad of experiential learning opportunities that foster the development of clinical judgment. PVCC, through MaricopaNursing, has adopted a constructivist framework which guides delivery of educational experiences, acknowledging the uniqueness and complexity of the individual learner and the importance of active learning and personal engagement within the process of learning.

Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is a proud partner of MaricopaNursing, a program committed to preparing students for the complexities of current nursing clinical practice. We were ranked #8 on RegisteredNurse.org’s 2024 Top Ten Nursing Schools in Arizona and #6 on the Nurse Journal’s 2023 Annual Review of the Best Nursing Schools in Arizona.

RN - stands for Registered Nurse

NA - stands for Nurse Assisting (NA) program which prepares students for entry level employment in various health care settings as a nursing assistant.

HESI - stands for “Health Education Systems, Inc” and the A2 stands for “Admission Assessment.” The HESI A2 exam is used to determine eligibility for students applying to the Nursing Program, similar to the assessment testing students take upon admission to the college. It only tests on English Composition and Math and is a 4 hour timed test. 

NCLEX - stands for National Council Licensure Examination. They are the standardized tests nurses need to pass in order to become either a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN). Anyone who wants to work as a nurse will be required to take and pass the NCLEX exam once they have completed a nursing degree from an approved program.