Advanced Placement to Maricopa Nursing

Are you a Licensed Practical Nurse? Did you successfully complete nursing courses in a program other than MaricopaNursing? Are you a graduate of the Maricopa Veteran’s Bridge course, Paramedic Transition course, or NUR191?

If so, now is the time to advance your career by becoming a registered nurse (RN). Your prior education and experience can help you to gain admission to the MaricopaNursing program through advanced placement.

• Increased skills, knowledge, accountability, and responsibility vs. the LPN role.
• Career advancement opportunities in management and advanced practice nursing.
• In Arizona, LPNs can increase their annual salary by 55% after becoming a RN.
• More acute care job opportunities. Many employers in Arizona no longer hire LPNs in acute care agencies.
• More availability of specialty area employment opportunities such as critical care, emergency/trauma, obstetrics, and psychiatry.

By entering the RN program in Block 2 or 3, you can become an RN in 2-3 semesters by earning their Associates of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS) degree and completing AZ Board of Nursing testing and licensure requirements.

1. Advisement - GCC offers personalized, one-on-one advisement by nursing advisors. See the GCC Nursing website for dates/times.
2. High school graduation or GED.
3. Become a GCC Student - complete online or in the GCC Enrollment Center.
4. Official transcripts must be obtained from all colleges or universities attended, and high school transcripts may be needed.
5. Level One DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card is required for application. An additional supplemental background check is required for students admitted to MaricopaNursing.
6. HESI Admission Assessment (HESI A2). Testing must be completed within 24 months of application. Scores required for application: 80% English Language Composite, 75% Math.
7. HESI LPN - RN Mobility Exam minimum score of 850 is required for application to Block 3 or 4.
8. Pharmacology: Applicants to Block 3 or 4 must show evidence of pharmacology content within 24 months of application.
9. Behavioral Health/NCE214OP - Applicants to Blocks 3 or 4 must show evidence of successful completion of sufficient behavioral health content, or NUR172. If additional behavioral health content is needed, MaricopaNursing offers a course, NCE214OP, which fulfills this requirement.
10. LPN License - A current, unrestricted PN license is required for LPN applicants, NUR191 applicants and for those applying to Block 3 more than 12. months after completion of GWCC Practical Nursing and/or Veteran’s Bridge programs. *Not all requirements needed for all applicants. See AP packet for complete information about admission requirements per classification. **Tuition and fees subject to change.

*Not all requirements are needed for all applicants. See the AP packet for complete information about admission requirements per classification.

**Tuition and fees are subject to change.

For more information, see the Advanced Placement Information & Application Packet below in downloads. Submit applications to the GCC Nursing Advisement Team at gccnursing@gccaz.edu.

Read more about Advanced Placement and download the application on the MaricopaNursing Website.