Transfer And Challenge Process
Transfer students are those who have successfully completed some portion of their core nursing courses in an accredited nursing program. Admittance is based on space availability. Students who wish to transfer into the second, third, or fourth semester of the ARC nursing program must contact the department office by email.
In addition, transfer students should be aware that the ARC Nursing Program:
- Has a very low attrition rate. There is rarely space for transferring students. Second and third semester transfers are the most difficult to obtain. Priorities for admission are detailed in the ARC Nursing Student Handbook.
- May have different sequence of nursing specialty courses from the transfer college. This may result in repetition of one or more semesters of study.
- Allows students only one year out of active nursing school enrollment to be considered for transfer. Students who exceed this timeframe must apply to the nursing program as a new student.
- Will evaluate all prerequisite and co-requisite course work for equivalency, including achievement of the required grade point averages in the sciences and support courses .
- Does not require challenge examinations for nursing theory or clinical practice. Transfer students will be given credit for nursing course work after the department has reviewed course descriptions, transcripts, and skills lists.
Pima Medical Instituteranking Score: 9701
Location: Mesa, Phoenix & Tucson ARIZONA |Chula Vista & San Marcos CALIFORNIA | Aurora, Colorado Springs & Denver COLORADO | Albuquerque & Albuquerque West NEW MEXICO | Las Vegas, NEVADA | El Paso & Houston TEXAS | Renton & Seattle WASHINGTON
Accreditation: ABHES
Program Type: Certificate
Pima Medical Institute is the largest for-profit training school for allied health professionals in the U.S. The institute operates 17 campuses in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Washington. The Institute provides certificate-, associate degree- and bachelors degree-level training for aspiring dental assistants, nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians, paramedics and surgery techs in addition to certificate-level training for aspiring MAs.
You can complete a medical assistant certificate program through Pima Medical Institute in just nine months at campuses located in East Valley, Mesa, Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona Chula Vista and San Marcos, California Colorado Springs, Denver and Aurora, Colorado Las Vegas, Nevada Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico Houston and El Paso, Texas and Renton and Seattle, Washington. Coursework includes basic patient skills as well introductions to medical office management and billing. Students get to hone the skills theyve mastered through clinical externships in the offices of local physicians.
International Nursing Graduate Information
The Board of Registered Nursing receives applications from persons seeking RN licensure per BPC 2736 who have completed their nursing education in a nursing program located in countries other than the United States. Due to not meeting required or equivalent curriculum, per CCR 1426, applicants may be found not eligible for RN licensure.
This guideline provides information for graduates of international nursing programs seeking California RN licensure and addresses questions related to the most common applicant situations. There may be specific situations that other laws and rules may apply and requires individual consultation by Licensing staff.
Don’t Miss: Nursing Schools That Accept Straighterline
Pasadena City Collegeranking Score: 9776
Location: Pasadena, CALIFORNIA
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certificate
Pasadena College, the third-biggest community college system in the U.S., is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year, post-secondary schools in California. Its main campus is in downtown Pasadena, but its Health Sciences Division is located at its satellite Foothill College, which is nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The Health Sciences Division prepares students for careers as emergency medical technicians, anesthesia technicians, dental assistants, vocational nurses and radiology techs as well as medical assistants.
The College offers three MA programs: one in clinical medical assisting, one in medical office administration and one in medical office insurance billing. Applicants to the clinical medical assisting training course have top priority for admission. Upon acceptance, students will be required to undergo a background check and obtain an American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers card and a First Aid certificate. Once classroom courses are complete, clinical medical assistant students must complete a six-week, unpaid practicum to order to earn their Certificate of Achievement.
American Career Collegeranking Score: 9105

Location: Los Angeles, Orange County & Ontario CALIFORNIA
Accreditation: ABHES
Program Type: Diploma
American Career College is a for-profit system of educational centers that specializes in preparing students for careers as ancillary health care professionals. The College markets its services primarily to students in Southern California with campuses in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ontario, Long Beach and Lynwood.
The school offers an MA diploma program that aspiring medical assistants can complete in as little as nine months. The medical assistant curriculum is offered at the Los Angeles, Ontario and Orange County campuses. Education aims at helping students become proficient in administrative office procedures as well as in basic patient management skills.
Also Check: Martha And Mary Nursing Home
Vocational Nursing To Associate Degree Of Nursing Program Options
Licensed vocational nurses who apply to ACCs ADN program seeking an academic degree will be offered educational mobility opportunities that take into account their previous education and/or work experience. Academic credits will be evaluated and applied to nursing course requirements. Pretesting and counseling will be available to assist students to make appropriate decisions.
LVNs seeking admission to the ADN program must first meet the ACC eligibility requirements for new or transferring students. These eligibility requirements may be different for the LVN opting for the 45 unit option .
Everett Community Collegeranking Score: 9600
Location: Everett, WASHINGTON
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certificate
Everett Community College primarily serves students throughout the Seattle, Washington metropolitan area. The College offers associate degrees in nearly 100 different majors and certifications completion in more than 30 technical and career fields. Approximately 80 percent of Everett Community Colleges students stay in the area to pursue careers once theyve finished their education.
MA students can earn a Certificate in Medical Assisting , an Associate in Technical Arts or an Associate in Applied Science-Transfer . The associate degrees require general education classes in addition to specific MA-focused coursework. All MA students complete 160 clinical rotation hours once they have successfully completed the classroom curriculum. Clinical rotations are scheduled Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, for approximately one month.
You May Like: Luther Oaks Nursing Home Bloomington Il
Chippewa Valley Technical Collegeranking Score: 8728
Location: Eau Claire, WISCONSIN
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Diploma
The largest campus in the Chippewa Valley Technical College system is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The College focuses on career-oriented training and offers technical diploma programs as well as associate degrees.
Chippewa Valley Technical College is one of several medical assistant colleges that award an MA diploma alone. The MA program takes place at the campus in Eau Claire. Classes begin in August and January, and the curriculum takes most students one year to complete. Students will have the opportunity to practice clinical, laboratory and administrative skills theyve learned through an externship at a local physicians office.
Berkeley Collegeranking Score: 8939
Location: Woodland Park, NEW JERSEY
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certification & Associate
Berkeley College is a for-profit system of schools that offers both liberal arts education and career-focused training at campuses in New York and New Jersey. The College offers diploma certificates as well as associate, bachelors and graduate-level degrees.
The Associate degree in Applied Science with an emphasis in medical assisting is an extension of the Colleges career-track, certificate-level programming. Both programs teach patient care procedures and office administration skills, but the associate degree curriculum also includes more background science and general education classes. All students must complete a faculty-monitored practicum at the conclusion of their academic coursework.
Read Also: Nursing School Without Entrance Exam
Davenport Universityranking Score: 9823
Location: Grand Rapids & Lansing MICHIGAN
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: AAS Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy
Davenport University prides itself on its ability to integrate new information, technology and trends into its curriculum. The Universitys main campus is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but it maintains satellite campuses in Holland, Lansing, Midlands, Warren, Flint, Kalamazoo, Traverse City and Detroit.
The Universitys 61 credit-hour medical assistant associate degree program is designed to give students a foundation in patient care, basic laboratory skills and medical office procedures. Students may also choose to pursue an additional six credits of coursework focusing upon venipuncture techniques that will qualify them to sit for the Phlebotomy Technician Certification exam. The AA degree requires 180 hours of field experience while the phlebotomy subspecialty requires an additional 120 hours of clinical experience. Students must submit to a criminal background check and drug screening before they will be admitted into this major.
Lvn To Rn Program Option
Prospective students’ ability to complete the following program options is on a seat availability basis and at the discretion of the Director of Nursing.
The LVN may desire to complete the entire Registered Nursing curriculum beginning with the first semester of the program. Other options for the LVN include the following:
LVN to Non-Degree Nurse
Prior to admission, an LVN applicant will meet with the DON who provides objective counseling for the 45-unit option. Persons interested in this curriculum option are advised that a degree will not be granted, a certificate will not be given, and the student will not be a graduate of the ADN nursing program. A transcript which documents the required courses completed for RN licensure will be available. Completion of this option may not be recognized for RN licensure outside of California.
Each candidate will be assessed individually including review of LVN transcripts and other Advanced Placement Criteria by the DON.
Students who have chosen the 45-unit LVN option must have a current unencumbered LVN license in the State of California and must have successfully completed the required coursework with a minimum grade of C. IV Certification is required.
ACC LVN 45 Unit RN Curriculum Guide |
Recommended Reading: Monmouth Crossing Nursing Home Nj
Coyne Collegeranking Score: 9043
Location: Chicago, ILLINOIS
Accreditation: ABHES
Program Type: Diploma
Chicago-based Coyne College specializes in preparing students for a variety of careers in the construction and allied health care professions. The for-profit school first opened its doors in 1899.
The College offers students an opportunity to earn a medical assisting diploma in 10 months. Students are taught a blend of clerical and clinical skills. Six weeks of intensive coursework that focuses on electronic health record management helps graduates become experts in this niche. At the conclusion of coursework, all students must complete an externship at a physicians office, medical billing office or hospital in the area.
Keiser Universityranking Score: 9697

Location: Daytona Beach, FLORIDA
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate
Community College Week ranked Keiser University second in the nation among colleges offering associate degrees in the health sciences. The Florida-based system is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale but maintains 18 campuses throughout Florida. The school also has regionally accredited sites in international locations, including San Marcos Nicaragua and Shanghai China.
The Associate of Science degree in Medical Assisting prepares students to function in an administrative capacity as well to perform patient care duties under the supervision of a physician. The University prioritizes small class sizes so that students can benefit from personalized interactions with instructors. The medical assistant course includes credit hours of science and medical procedure coursework as well as 24 credit hours of general education classes, and most students finish the program in two years. At the conclusion of their classroom work, all students complete a clinical externship.
Don’t Miss: Columbus State Nurse Practitioner Program
American Career College Accreditation
Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains the standards required to achieve the credentials for professional practice. It is the status granted to an institution that meets or exceeds specific criteria of educational quality as defined by the accrediting agency.
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that the education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. College accreditation can be an important factorboth for students selecting a college, and for employers deciding which graduates to hire. American Career College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools .
Dakota County Technical Collegeranking Score: 9655
Location: Rosemount, MINNESOTA
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Diploma & Associate
Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minnesota is famous for the educational opportunities it offers to students who are interested in nanoscience technology. The school partners closely with local industries in unique Customized Training programs that are often funded by local businesses.
Dakota County Technical College offers both an MA certificate program and an MA associate degree. To be accepted into either track, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in both reading and arithmetic skills on the ACCUPLACER test. Students in both tracks will be required to complete a clinical externship and write a paper for a capstone class, but aspiring MAs pursuing the associate degree option will also be required to complete 18 general education credits.
Read Also: Skilled Nursing Facilities In Ct
Daytona State Collegeranking Score: 9532
Location: Daytona Beach, FLORIDA
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certificate
Founded in 1957, Daytona State College was one of the first colleges in Floridas comprehensive junior college system. The college partners with local school districts on courses that allow high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits via dual enrollment. The College transitioned to a four-year school in 2006, and in addition to associate degrees, it now offers workforce baccalaureate degrees such as bachelors degrees in nursing.
The 43-credit-hour MA program takes approximately 36 weeks to complete. The application process begins in July, and applicants are accepted on a first-come basis until the class quota is met. Academic coursework is scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All students are required to complete a 6-week clinical externship in a local physicians office following the conclusion of the classroom portion of their training.
Ecpi Universityranking Score: 9753
Location: Charlotte, Greensboro & Raleigh NORTH CAROLINA | Columbia, Greenville & North Charleston SOUTH CAROLINA | Manassas, Newport News, Richmond, Roanoke & Virginia Beach VIRGINIA
Accreditation: ABHES
Program Type:Diploma & Associate
ECPI University began its existence as a technical college specializing in computer science and programming but expanded to include health care-related offerings such as medical assisting and nursing as demand for those services increased. The University has 19 campuses scattered throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Florida.
Accredited medical assistant programs are offered at ECPI Universitys campuses in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina Newport News, Richmond, Northern Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia and San Antonio, Texas. Students pursuing the 12-month MA diploma option and students pursuing the 15-month MA associate degree follow the same MA-related curriculum, which includes a medical assisting externship. Aspiring associates supplement this curriculum with additional semester credit hours in arts, sciences and computer literacy.
Don’t Miss: South University Nursing Program Cost
What Will I Do As A Nurse
Registered nurses work as part of a team with physicians and other healthcare specialists. Some registered nurses oversee licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, and home health aides.
As a registered nurse, your responsibilities may include the following:
- Recording patients’ medical histories and symptoms
- Administering patients medicines and treatments
- Setting up plans for patients care or contributing to existing plans
- Observing patients and recording observations
- Consulting with doctors and other healthcare professionals
- Operating and monitoring medical equipment
- Helping to perform diagnostic tests and analyzing results
- Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
- Explaining what to do at home after treatment
Registered Nurses’ duties and titles often depend on where they work and the patients they work with. They can focus in the following areas:
- A specific health condition, such as a diabetes management nurse, who helps patients with diabetes, or an oncology nurse who helps cancer patients
- A specific part of the body, such as a dermatology nurse working with patients who have skin problems
- A specific group of people, such as a geriatric nurse who works with the elderly or a pediatric nurse who works with children and teens
- A specific workplace, such as an emergency or trauma nurse who works in a hospital or stand-alone emergency department or a school nurse working in an elementary, middle, or high school
Ross Collegeranking Score: 9275
Location: Bettendorf, IOWA | Bowling Green, Erlanger, Hopkinsville & Owensboro KENTUCKY | Canton, Cincinnati, Dayton, Elyria, Niles, Ontario & Sylvania OHIO | Huntsville, ALABAMA | Evansville, Fort Wayne, Granger, Kokomo, Lafayette & Muncie INDIANA | Ann Arbor, Brighton, Canton, Davison, Flint, Grand Rapids North, Kalamazoo, Kentwood, Lansing, Madison Heights, Midland, New Baltimore, Port Huron, Portage, Roosevelt Park, Saginaw & Taylor MICHIGAN | Johnson City & Knoxville TENNESSEE | Charleston & Morgantown WEST VIRGINIA
Accreditation: ABHES
Program Type: Certificate, Diploma & Associate
Ross College is an online career-training institute associated with Ross Medical Education Center. Ross Medical Education Center is a for-profit system of schools with 40 locations throughout seven states.
The College offers certificate, diploma and associate MA training at sites in Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The medical assisting program curriculum has different tracks for day students and evening students day students should be able to complete the curriculum in 30 weeks while afternoon and evening students will require 36 weeks. Learning takes place through a series of modules that combine hands-on practice and informational topics. Students in all three academic tracks will be required to complete a clinical externship.
Also Check: What Courses Do You Take To Become A Nurse
Portland Community Collegeranking Score: 8835
Location: Portland, OREGON
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certification
As Oregons premier community college, Portland Community College serves more than 80,000 students every year in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas and Columbia counties. Classes are taught at four main campuses that are scattered throughout Portland. Additionally, the college maintains smaller facilities in the municipal area, which are dedicated to specialized training programs.
The College offers a certificate in medical assisting, which should take one year to complete. The curriculum is based on the Patient-Centered Model Home theory. Students can begin their MA training in either the spring or the fall, and they will need to pass a criminal background check and a drug screening. Classes and skill labs will prepare students for both the clinical and administrative responsibilities they will be called upon to undertake once they begin their professional careers. All students will complete a clinical externship.