Science Requirements:  

Nursing requires a great understanding of science as a whole and how it works within the human body. It is highly recommended that these nursing course requirements be completed with a grade of 3.00 or better, due to the competitive nature of the nursing admission process. The following courses must have been completed within five years of admission to the program.

• BIO 235 General Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 236 General Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIO 242 Pathophysiology

General Education Requirements: 

Understanding of science is only part of what makes for a great nursing program candidate and a great nurse—a well-rounded knowledge of health systems, communication, psychology, and written communication are all extremely beneficial in the nursing industry.

• AH 231 Health System Concepts
• ENG 111 English Composition I
• COM 111 Speech or COM 170 Interpersonal Communication
• COM 170 Interpersonal Communication
• PSY 161 Introduction to Psychology

Nursing program applications must be submitted by May 1 of the year of the anticipated fall entry. You can apply to the program from your North Central student account. The application is on the Admissions tab. Login to the NCMC portal and go to My North Central and select the admissions tab. On the left side of the page is the Health Science application.

Nursing program applicants must meet specific nursing-related admission requirements in addition to the general admission requirements of the College. Nursing students are selected in the spring of each academic year, for a fall course start date.

Nursing students are selected based on the following criteria:

• An applicant must have a college cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. The GPA is calculated using the general education and science prerequisites. Applicants should be aware that, traditionally, entering class grade point averages have been well above 3.00.
• Grades in the Science requirements, BIO 235 General Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO 236 General Anatomy and Physiology II must be completed with a grade of 2.00 or better and no more than five years prior to admission to the nursing program.
• Scores of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). Information and study materials regarding the TEAS can be found at www.atitesting.com. You will be given information regarding testing dates for the TEAS, once we have received your application. The test dates are in the spring and can be taken at many institutions in the state of Michigan.

Acceptance letters are sent in mid-June of each year.

Students accepted into the nursing program are required to do the following:

Return Letter of Acceptance to Nursing Department by Deadline and Authorize a Background Check

Students must also authorize the nursing program to perform a background check completed by the state of Michigan. Michigan Public Health Act 27, 28, and 29 of 2006 requires that clinical agencies perform a background check on all employees, including students who participate in clinical experiences. Certain felonies and misdemeanors may exclude a student from participating in clinical experiences and thus being part of the North Central nursing program. For an interpretation of these laws, click here.

Attend a Mandatory Nursing Program Orientation

Students accepted into the nursing program must attend the mandatory Nursing Program Orientation Session. The orientation session is held during the summer. The exact date is included in the letter of acceptance. It is a one-day session in which nursing students learn about the specific expectations of the program.

Obtain Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Students accepted into the program must also obtain CPR certification. This can be completed a number of ways, including:

• Completing North Central EMS 100 CPR and First Aid class ( 1 credit)

• Completing the American Heart Association for the Healthcare Provider

• Completing the American Red Cross Adult and Child Professional Rescuer (Adult and Child Certifications).

CPR certification must be obtained by the first day of any clinical experience and valid through the last day of the semester.

Medical Health History

Students should be in good physical and emotional condition in order to meet the demands of the profession. Students must provide the Nursing Department with a medical history (forms provided at orientation) completed by a physician or other primary care provider.

The purpose of the required physical exam is to assess the students’ ability to meet the essential functions of the occupation of nursing.  These functional abilities include, but are not limited to:

• Speak clearly in order to communicate with clients, families, health care team members, peers, and faculty.

• Stand and walk for six to eight hours/day.

• Bend, squat, and kneel.

• Assist in lifting or moving clients of all age groups and weights.

• Perform CPR, i.e., move above the client to compress the chest and manually ventilate the client.

• Work with arms fully extended overhead.

• Use hands for grasping, pushing, pulling, and other fine manipulation.

• Demonstrate eye/hand coordination for manipulation of equipment, i.e., syringes, procedures, etc.

• Possess tactile ability to differentiate changes in sensation.

• Possess auditory acuity to note slight changes in the client’s condition, i.e., lung sounds, bowel sounds, etc.

• Possess auditory acuity to hear the client’s calls for assistance without facing the client.

• Possess auditory acuity to interpret various equipment signals and use the telephone.

• Possess visual acuity to read and distinguish colors, to read handwritten orders and other handwritten/printed data.

• Possess visual acuity to clearly view electronic monitors and scales in order to correctly interpret data.

Proof of Immunization

The immunizations required are consistent with the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for health care providers and exist to protect both patients and students.

• Proof of Varicella (Chicken Pox) immunization or titer

• Proof of Hepatitis B immunization or titer

• Proof of Measles-Mumps-Rubella immunization or titer

• Proof of Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Td/Tdap/P) vaccination within the last 10 years

• Proof of 2-step negative TB test or negative chest x-ray in the case of a positive skin test; TB test must be repeated annually.

• Influenza Vaccines repeated annually.

• Students must have proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19:
  • In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
    • 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; or
    • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
  • If you do not meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated regardless of your age.

It is the responsibility of the student to keep all health records and immunizations up to date and provide copies to the nursing department.

We know paying for classes can be tough, and we're here to provide you with resources to help. Below are a number of scholarships that can help you achieve your nursing degree! 

Minority Nursing Student Scholarships

Discover Nursing Scholarships

North Central Scholarships

2022-2023 Nursing Handbook

Pre-Admission Medical History Form

Nursing Program Requirements and Applicant Steps

Immunization Requirements

TEAS Directions

North Central is proud to recommend the following resources for further exploration of the nursing industry:

Michigan Center for Nursing

Nurse ICON

Discover Nursing

National League for Nursing

Michigan Nurses Association

Ed2Go - Online Learning

Masters in Nursing

For many people, a career in nursing is a calling. They want to pursue a career that is concerned with care giving and compassion. For others, nursing is a fast paced and stimulating career that requires the ability to think critically and utilize evidence-based practice. In reality, it is a combination of a caring heart and a keen mind.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for jobs in nursing remains positive. Nurses continue to find positions in acute care, long term care and home health. As the baby boomers retire, a greater need for registered nurses is anticipated. Advanced practices nurses, those with a master’s degree or higher, especially nurse practitioners will be in high demand throughout Michigan and the US.

The preprogram requirements to the nursing program are BIO 235 General Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 236 General Anatomy and Physiology II, ENG 111 Composition I, AH 231 Health System Concepts, PSY 161 Introduction to Psychology, PSY 261 Developmental Psychology, either  COM 111 Speech or COM 170 Interpersonal Communication.

The preprogram requirements can be in progress when you apply to the nursing program; however, they must be completed by the end of the winter semester prior to the start of the program in the fall.

Science courses must be taken within five years of entry into the nursing program and you must have a grade of “C” or better.

Individuals may contact Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) or by calling toll free at (800) 667-7531 for information on how to obtain review materials. By logging onto ATI’s website, students can purchase various study materials from their online store. Our school library has two study guides on loan that can be checked out of the library.

Read "Everything You Need to Know About the ATI TEAS Exam."

North Central is fortunate to have clinical agreements in a variety of settings which allow students to see the full range of nursing experiences. Clinical sites are not only in Petoskey but at various agencies in Charlevoix, Cheboygan, East Jordan, Gaylord, Harbor Springs and St. Ignace. As a result, students are expected to have dependable transportation at all times.

However, sites change semester to semester based on availability and need.