Nursing is a demanding but rewarding career. Upon acceptance into the nursing program, you must make a commitment to hard work and study to be successful in the program. The following suggestions are strongly recommended:

• Plan to limit full-time work to fewer hours so that you have time to study nursing.
• Complete as many of the support courses as possible before starting the nursing courses.
• Allow at least 15 hours per week to study and prepare for class and clinical.

The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two-year degree offered by community colleges and hospital-based schools of nursing that prepares individuals for a defined technical scope of practice.  The Associate Degree Nursing program prepares students to be registered nurses (RN).  Registered nurses with an ADN degree can work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services, outpatient clinics, schools, and nursing care facilities. 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Visit Collin Bursar for information regarding Tuition and Fees. 

The nursing student should anticipate other costs in addition to books, tuition and fees paid to the college for courses taken.  

A few general additional fees include: 

• Uniforms and/or lab coat (as applicable to the specific program)
• ATI learning materials
• Collin College Nursing Student ID
• CPR Certification
• Skills packet or medical equipment (as applicable to the specific program)
• Drug testing
• State Board of Nursing fee (as applicable to the specific program)
• FBI fingerprints and background check
• Health insurance
• Physical exams
• Immunizations
• Online instructional resources

 

This list is not necessarily all inclusive and is subject to change. Special fees and charges may be added as necessary and as approved by the Board of Trustees of Collin College.

The ADN program consist of 60 credit hours and prepares the student for licensure examination with the State of Texas Board of Nursing (BON). 

The ADN graduate will be able to:

• Use clinical reasoning and knowledge based on the nursing program of study, evidence- based practice outcomes, and research studies as the basis for decision-making and comprehensive, safe patient care to improve quality of life.
• Demonstrate skills in using patient care technologies and information systems that support safe nursing practice.
• Promote safety and quality improvement as an advocate and manager of nursing care.
• Coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with diverse patients/clients, families, and the interdisciplinary health care team to plan, deliver, and evaluate care.
• Adhere to standards of practice within legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks of the professional nurse.
• Demonstrate knowledge of delegation, management, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrate behavior that reflects the values and ethics of the nursing profession.

The ADN student can expect to be on the McKinney Campus a minimum of 2 to 3 days per week (Monday through Thursday) between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm.  Occasionally, attendance on a Friday may be required.  Students will attend Clinical at an assigned Health Care Facility in and around the Dallas area.  Clinical hours can be between 8 to 12 hours a day, 1 day a week.  There are no summer, night or weekend hours.  

The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program is offered at the McKinney Campus.   

 

The ADN Program is a two-year program (4 semesters).  The admission cycles will be in Spring and Fall Semesters.  

 

For the next admission start, see the application tab below. 

Notice to Potential Students:  At this time, the ADN Program is unable to accept students who have been unsuccessful in other nursing programs.  

Nursing Students requesting to transfer and are in good standing with their current Nursing Program and have not failed nursing courses, will only be considered if they meet the application requirements and understand they must start in the First Level of the ADN Program.  See the Nursing Program Student Handbook - Section 10.11 - Transfer to Collin College from Other Colleges/Degree Evaluation.

 

The following steps are to be followed for application to the ADN Program.

1.  Application to Collin College:

• The applicant must apply and be accepted as a student at Collin College before applying to the ADN program.  Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the nursing program.  
• Applicants must have a CWID Student Number. 
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (NOT including Collin College transcripts) must be submitted to Admissions at Collin College.  Students will request a transcript evaluation by accessing "Transfer Credit Evaluation Request" through their student Workday account.  This should be completed before applying to the Nursing Program. 

2.  Application to the ADN Program:

• Admission into the Nursing program is selective and based on available  seats.  Applications are considered for the fall and spring semesters for the Associate of Applied Science Degree (ADN and LVN-RN Bridge programs).  Prospective students must submit an application, unofficial transcripts and TEAS test score from ATI Testing.  

3.  TEAS:

• All nursing applicants are required to complete the TEAS exam.  There are no exemptions.  A minimum  total composite score of 65% is required to be considered for admission.  The Reading and Science components of the TEAS score  must be 50% or higher.  Applicants should register for the exam at www.atitesting.com or call 800-667-7531.  
• Applicants must have a TEAS score on file with ATI  and available to Collin College on or before the application deadline date.  Applicants are responsible to assure that ATI sends the TEAS score to Collin College. 
• All Collin College TEAS test dates are through ATI.  The TEAS exam can be taken at the  McKinney Campus Testing Center (W206), OR, as a online, proctored exam on any date that ATI Testing offers the TEAS.  See available TEAS test dates for the McKinney Testing Center below on the TEAS tab.   
• A TEAS score is accepted if it is within one year of the application deadline date.
• The TEAS can be taken 2 times between admission deadlines.

4.  Prerequisites:

• ADN candidates must maintain an overall prerequisite GPA of 2.5 or above from all completed colleges/universities courses applicable to the nursing degree plan including prerequisite courses.  
• ALL prerequisite courses must be complete with a grade of "C" or better before applying to the ADN Program by the application deadline date.  The ADN Application will not be accepted with any of the prerequisites missing or in progress. 
  • There are 3 prerequisites.  
    • Biology 2401 (Anatomy and Physiology I),
    • Biology 2402 (Anatomy and Physiology II),
    • Biology 2420 (Microbiology).
• The completion date of the Biology courses must be within five (5) years of the application deadline date.  
• Provisional admission is granted according to a point system.  Points are calculated according to the specific program admission criteria sheet .  Criteria Score Sheet.   Students are admitted to the nursing program on a provisional status pending successful completion of the background check, immunizations and completion of functional abilities/core performance standards.  

5.  Waitlist:

• The top 10-15% of qualified, unadmitted applicants whose admission criteria scores are passing but are not high enough to make the initial acceptance list, will be ranked and placed on a waitlist.   If a waitlisted applicant is not granted acceptance into the current class cohort, the applicant will be guaranteed admittance to the program in the following application cycle.

6.  Application:

• The ADN Application is online.  Complete and submit the application.  After submitting the application, an email will be sent with a link to upload required documents.  Follow the directions to upload unofficial transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended (including Collin College), TEAS score and military documents, if applicable. The application can not be considered if the required documents are not submitted.

 7.  Immunizations:

• Immunization records are NOT to be submitted at the time of application. Accepted students will be provided instructions on how to submit immunization records. Since some immunization are given over time, you are strongly encouraged to carefully review immunization requirements before applying.  See the  Immunization Checklist for Clinical.
• Each of our clinical facilities has requirements that must be met in order to be allowed entry to the facility and to participate in clinical experiences.  Most of the requirements are standardized between healthcare organizations.  However, some have specific requirements related to patient population.  In order to meet program outcomes and complete your clinical experience you must comply with the clinical agency requirements.  If you choose to not comply with the agency's requirements, we cannot guarantee completion of the nursing program.  

8.  Provisional acceptance into the ADN program, students are required to:

• Purchase Liability Insurance (provided through the school, included in your tuition).
• Purchase school-approved uniforms for clinical experiences.
• Obtain CPR certification -  Basic Life Support (BLS) must be from American Heart Association.
• Have a Physical Form completed by your physician.  See the Immunizations and Physical Form.  
• Complete all required immunizations.
• Complete a TB (Tuberculosis) skin test and provide a copy of the results annually.  See the Nursing Program Student Handbook - Section 10.30 - Health Record Requirements  - No. 3 Tuberculosis (TB) PPD or Mantoux skin test annually.  
• Agree to a criminal background check. See the Nursing Program Student Handbook - Section 10.4 Criminal Background Checks - TBON Background Check
• Apply and receive the "Blue Card" from the TBON.  See the Nursing Program Student Handbook - Section 10.5 - Declaratory Order of Eligibility.
• Health Insurance documentation. All nursing students must provide documentation of having a health insurance policy.
• Purchase required supplies, uniforms, and textbooks to include mandatory instructional resources from ATI or other designated provider.

The next admission for the ADN Program will be FALL 2026 with an application deadline date of March 2, 2026. The application will be available in December 2025.  

 

ADN Application

 

Notice to Potential Students:  At this time, the ADN Program is unable to accept students who have been unsuccessful in other nursing programs. 

 

Nursing Students requesting to transfer and are in good standing with their current Nursing Program and have not failed nursing courses, will only be considered if they meet the application requirements and understand they must start in the First Level of the ADN Program.    See the Nursing Program Student Handbook - Section 10.11 - Transfer to Collin College from Other Colleges/Degree Evaluation.

 

 

2025  - Available Dates 

September 9, 11

• All nursing applicants are required to complete the TEAS exam.  There are no exemptions.  A minimum  total composite score of 65% is required to be considered for admission.  The Reading and Science components of the TEAS score  must be 50% or higher.
•  Applicants should register for the exam at www.atitesting.com, or call 800-667-7531.  
• Applicants must have a TEAS score on file with ATI and available to Collin College on or before the application deadline date.  Applicants are responsible to assure that ATI sends the TEAS score to Collin College.  
• All Collin College TEAS test dates are through ATI.  The TEAS exam can be taken at the  McKinney Campus Testing Center (W206), OR, as a online, proctored exam on any date that ATI Testing offers the TEAS.  See available TEAS test dates for the McKinney Testing Center above.    
• A TEAS score is accepted if it is within one year of the application deadline date.
• The TEAS can be taken 2 times between admission deadlines.

View the detailed AAS Degree Plan

 

In response to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a national survey of administrators of health care facilities, which employ nurses, validated a list of essential competencies a nurse must possess in order to function safely and effectively in a variety of clinical settings. Results indicate that relatively high numbers of activities were identified in each essential competency category by the health care agencies as being necessary for nursing practice.

These competencies include:

•  Extended walking and standing daily

•  Ability to grasp, push, and/or pull

•  Ability to bend and stoop

•  Moving quickly in response to an emergency

•  Using upper body movements

•  Ability to reach carrying and moving equipment

•  Reaching and/or lifting

Other essential competencies identified for nursing care include:

•  Vision that allows detecting physical changes

•  Hearing that allows responding to physical and verbal cues

•  A sense of touch that allows for assessment and palpation

Adaptations most frequently reported as being used by nursing staff were hearing aids, adaptive phones, and calculators.

*The ADN Nursing Program at Collin College has also accepted these physical competencies as expectations for success in the program. Applicants will complete a Functional Abilities/Core Performance Standards Form upon conditional acceptance to the nursing program.

It is important to understand the licensing process in order to minimize potential problems nursing graduates might experience in obtaining a nursing license. Schools of nursing do not have the power to grant licensure for the Registered Nurse (RN). The nursing program has accreditation by the Texas Board of Nursing to provide education and training which qualifies the student to take a state licensing examination. The graduate of the program must make application to the Texas Board of Nursing to take the licensing examination.

 

An individual enrolled or planning to enroll in a basic nursing program who has reason to believe that he/she might be ineligible for licensure must petition the Board for a declaratory order to determine his/her eligibility.

 

Factors affecting eligibility for licensure include:

Been convicted of a misdemeanor?

Been convicted of a felony?

Plea nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty?

Received deferred adjudication?

Been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?

Been sentenced to serve jail, prison time or court-ordered confinement?

Been granted pre-trial diversion?

Been arrested or have any pending criminal charges?

Been cited or charged with any violation of the law?

Been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action?

 

•  Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency investigation?

 

•  Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, canceled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license, certificate or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?

 

•  Within the past five (5) years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?

 

•  Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder? Additional eligibility criteria may be present and the requirements may change. The interested applicant is urged to review the information published by the Texas Board of Nursing.

In partnership with Collin College, HCA offers the ADN program to eligible employees. 

 

Below are the eligibility guidelines for Medical City Healthcare:

•  Must be employed at a Medical City Healthcare facility for a minimum of six months. 

•  Is in good standing with the facility - no disciplinary action/write-ups within previous six months.

•  Submission to the site coordinator for our respective facilities, a recommendation letter from your manager or director on hospital letter head addressing your professional behavior, attendance, work ethic and attitude.

•  Two-year employment commitment and completion of BSN degree (2nd step)

•  Application to Collin College

•  Completion of all primary prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.5.  All prerequisites must be complete with a grade of "C" or better.  We will no longer accept two prerequisites complete and one prerequisite "In-Progress".  

A&P I (BIOL 2401)
A & P II (BIOL 2402)
Micro (BIOL 2420)

•  Completion of all secondary prerequisites with minimum grade of “C”:

ENGL 1301
PSYC 2314
PSYC 2301
Humanities course

•  Completion of the ATI TEAS Exam with a minimum total composite score of 65%.  The individual scores for the Reading and Science portion of the TEAS score needs to be 50% or higher.

•  Complete the application process on the Admissions Requirements and Application tab.  

 

For more information regarding the program contact, Chantal Bontemps-Christian at cbontempschristian@collin.edu .

 

View Immunization Checklist for Clinical

 

End of Program Student Learning Outcomes (EPSLO):

 

EPSLO #1: The students will demonstrate the knowledge to serve as a member of the profession. 

EPSLO #2: The students will demonstrate the ability to serve as a member of the profession. 

EPSLO #3: The students will demonstrate the knowledge to serve as a provider of patient-centered care. 

EPSLO #4: The students will demonstrate the ability to serve as a provider of patient-centered care using clinical judgment. 

EPSLO #5: The students will demonstrate the knowledge to serve as a patient safety advocate by reducing patient risks of harm, including safe medication administration. 

EPSLO #6: The students will demonstrate the ability to serve as a patient safety advocate by reducing patient risks of harm, including safe medication administration. 

EPSLO #7: The students will demonstrate the knowledge to serve as a member of the health care team through teamwork and collaboration. 

EPSLO #8: The students will demonstrate the ability to serve as a member of the health care team through communication.

 

ADN Program Outcomes: 

	NCLEX-RN Pass Rate from Texas Board of Nursing	On-Time Completion	Completion in 150% of Time	Employment Within 1 Year of Graduation
2021	82.41 89/108	82%	86%	96%
2022	90.05% 172/191	83%	90%	85%
2023	94.71% 179/189	80%	89%	86%