Admission to the College does not guarantee admission into any of the health science clinical programs. The programs listed below have limited enrollment capacity and rigorous academic standards. Each requires additional procedures for selective admission, initial enrollment, and continuation in the program. Therefore, there is a special process, called petitioning, associated with admission into each program. Interested students must contact an advisor to discuss the petitioning process and the minimum requirements in place for each clinical program.

  • Health Information Management†
  • Health Navigator
  • Medical Assisting
  • Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Certificate†
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology†
  • Nursing (LPN) †
  • Nursing (RN) †
  • Nursing LPN to RN Transition †
  • Paramedic*†
  • Paramedic to RN Transition
  • Radiography†
  • Respiratory Therapy†
  • Surgical Technology

* Employees of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department will receive priority admission.

† Designated as either Health Manpower Shortage or Statewide Instructional Programs.

Out-of-county Maryland residents should review the information about these programs in Tuition and Fees.

General Nursing and Allied Health Admissions Information

Admissions Priority

Priority will be given to admission of Prince George's County residents when possible. However, in programs designated as Statewide Instructional Programs, 10 percent of the available seats will be reserved for residents of other Maryland counties until the petitioning deadline published in this catalog has passed. Remaining seats will then be made available without regard to county of residence. Per the articulation agreement with the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), the Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, and Respiratory Therapy programs reserve 25 percent of their seats for transfer students from CSM until the petitioning deadline published in the College catalog has passed. At that time, any remaining seats become available to the best-qualified petitioners still in the pool, regardless of Maryland county of residence.

Out-of-state residents will be accepted only if remaining seats exist after all qualified Maryland residents have been admitted. Students attending the College on a non-domiciliary visa, as determined by the College, will not be considered for admission to any of these programs. Students petitioning to these programs must submit a copy of their social security card as part of their petition.

Meeting With an Advisor

Students interested in petitioning for admission to any of these programs must first meet with an advisor to obtain a list of admission criteria and prerequisite coursework. The petition for program admission should not be completed until all criteria have been met. Advisors' offices are located in the Center for Health Studies, Suite 1400. Call 301-546-0731 or email healthscienceadvisor@pgcc.edu for more information.

Enrolling in Multiple Programs or Changing Programs

If you are currently enrolled in a health science clinical program, you may not petition for admission to another clinical program. If you wish to enroll in a different clinical program, you must officially graduate or withdraw from the current program before filing a petition for a new clinical program.

Background Checks and Drug Screens

A criminal background check and drug screen are required of all students in the health science clinical programs. Social security numbers will be verified as part of the background check. Continued participation in each program is contingent upon a satisfactory response on the background check and drug screen. All information on the background check and drug screen remain confidential.

If a clinical agency denies clinical placement for a student because of the background check or drug screen, that student may not be able to complete the clinical program. The cost of the criminal background check and drug screen is the responsibility of the student. Specific information related to the process used for obtaining a criminal background check and drug screen will be discussed with students at orientation.

For a current price of the criminal background check and drug screen, please contact AlliedHealthandNursingOffice@pgcc.edu. Students, at their own expense, may also be required to submit to random urine drug testing at clinical sites. Results of random urine drug testing may result in the student not being able to complete the clinical program.

Health Assessment Forms

All students in health science clinical programs are required to submit a completed health assessment form, which verifies general health, immunization status, and ability to meet the program’s technical standards. Students with incomplete health records on file with the College will not be able to complete the clinical program.

Health Insurance Requirements

You are required to carry health insurance, and you must provide documentation of current health insurance coverage before the first day of classes. It is your responsibility to maintain health insurance coverage while enrolled in the program.

Before being assigned to a clinical agency, you may be required to show the agency proof of current health insurance. The clinical agency, not the college, will make any final determination about clinical placement. If a clinical agency denies you clinical placement because of lack of health insurance, you may not be able to complete the clinical program.

Prerequisite Coursework

Students who are interested in selective admissions programs are first enrolled in prerequisite courses and are designated as "petitioners" for their program of choice. The majority of students spend at least two or more semesters taking prerequisites (preparatory courses) to become eligible for admission to the clinical phase of their program.

Clinical Coursework

Selective admissions programs have clinical phases of coursework that must be completed to earn a degree or certificate. The courses in the clinical phases are open only to those students who have completed the selective admission process and are officially admitted to the clinical phase. If you are officially admitted, you will be notified by letter from the Admissions office.

Program-Specific Nursing and Allied Health Admissions Information

Each health science clinical program requires that students complete certain prerequisite courses, listed below, with grades of C or higher; maintain a specified GPA; and meet program-specific requirements prior to petitioning for admission to that program. In some cases, students may petition while currently enrolled in their final prerequisite courses. Students may repeat a prerequisite course only once to achieve the required grade. A grade of W has no impact on the student's GPA but does count as one attempt at the course. Please note that the criteria listed below are the minimum requirements for consideration. There is no guarantee of admission to any of these programs based solely upon meeting the minimum standard.

Health Information Management (A.A.S.) and Medical Coder/Billing Specialist (Certificate)

Deadline for petitioning is April 1. If seats remain, petitions will be accepted through the end of the summer term.

The following courses must be completed prior to petitioning:

  • EGL-1010
  • INT-1010
  • BIO-2050

Additional requirements include:

  • Eligibility for MAT-1140 (A.A.S.) and MAT-0104 (formerly MAT-1040) (Certificate)
  • Average GPA of 2.00 or higher for the three courses listed with no grade below C
Medical Assisting (A.A.S.) and Medical Assisting (Certificate)

This program has rolling admission - please consult Medical Assisting program director.

Requirements include:

  • Eligibility for EGL-1010 and MAT-1250 or higher
Nuclear Medicine Technology (A.A.S.)

The deadline to petition for the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is April 1; courses begin only in the fall semester.

The following courses must be completed prior to petitioning:

  • BIO-2050
  • BIO-2060
  • INT-1010
  • MAT-1250
  • CHM-1010
  • EGL-1010

Additional requirements include:

  • Average GPA of 2.50 or higher for the six courses listed with no grade below C
  • ATI TEAS required at time of petition with a minimum preparedness category score of "proficient"
Nursing, RN (A.S.) and Nursing, LPN (Certificate)

Deadlines for petitioning:

  • RN: February 1 for fall admission, August 1 for spring admission
  • LPN: April 1

The following courses must be completed prior to petitioning:

  • EGL-1010
  • PSY-1010
  • BIO-2050
  • BIO-2060
  • RN only: NUR-1010 and MAT-1250 or higher
  • LPN only: NUR-1000 and eligibility for MAT-1250 or higher

Additional requirements include:

  • All science courses completed no more than 10 years prior to petitioning
  • Average GPA of 2.50 or higher for all courses listed with no grade below C
  • ATI TEAS required at time of petition with a minimum preparedness category score of "proficient," and a minimum adjusted individual reading score of 70 percent.
Nursing Transition, LPN to RN (A.S.) and Paramedic to RN (A.S.)

The following courses must be completed prior to petitioning:

  • EGL-1010
  • MAT-1250 or higher
  • PSY-1010
  • BIO-2050
  • BIO-2060
  • BIO-2010

Please note: Students are strongly encouraged to complete all other general education courses prior to enrollment in the transition course, NUR-1060 (LPN to RN) or NUR-1070 (EMT/Paramedic to RN).

Additional requirements:

  • Average GPA of 2.50 or higher for the six courses listed with no grade below C
  • For LPN to RN:
    • Deadline for petitioning is February 1 for fall admission and August 1 for spring admission.
    • Current Maryland LPN License (or Compact License from another state); see here for special requirements for graduates of the Prince George's Community College LPN program.
  • For EMT/Paramedic to RN:
    • Meeting with the Nursing Department chair by February 1 for summer admission
    • Current state license as a paramedic with three years employment and an NRP with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)
    • Graduation from an accredited program
  • ATI TEAS required at time of petition with a minimum preparedness category score of "proficient," and a minimum adjusted individual reading score of 70 percent
Paramedic (A.A.S. and Certificate)

Deadline for petitioning:

  • This program begins only in the summer semester.
  • Deadline for petitioning is March 1.

Additional requirements include:

  • BIO-2050 and BIO-2060
  • An average GPA of 2.00 or higher for the two courses listed with no grade below a 70 percent
  • Eligibility for EGL-1010 and MAT-1250
  • Current valid EMT license and a minimum of one year experience as an EMT
  • Minimum age of 18; must be a U.S. citizen
  • ATI TEAS required at time of petition with a minimum preparedness category score of "proficient"
Radiography

Deadline for petitioning is April 1. Program begins only in fall semester.

The following courses must be completed prior to petitioning:

  • EGL-1010
  • BIO-2050
  • BIO-2060
  • MAT-1250 or higher

Additional requirements include:

  • Average GPA of 2.50 or higher for the four courses listed with no grade below 70 percent
  • ATI TEAS required at time of petition with a minimum preparedness category score of "proficient"
Respiratory Therapy

Deadline for petitioning is April 1. Program begins only in fall semester.

The following courses must be completed prior to petitioning:

  • MAT-1250 (or any other college algebra course)
  • EGL-1010
  • BIO-2050
  • BIO 2060
  • CHEM 1010

Additional requirements include:

  • Average GPA of 2.50 or higher for the five courses listed, with no grade below 70 percent
  • ATI TEAS required at time of petition with a minimum preparedness category score of “proficient,” and a minimum adjusted individual reading score of 60%.
Surgical Technology (A.A.S.)

Rolling admission -- please consult Surgical Technology Program director.

  • Eligibility for EGL-1010 and MAT-1250 or higher is required.

Upcoming Deadlines

Deadlines may vary by program. Check program-specific information above.

Nursing and Allied Health Programs Advising

You must first meet with an advisor to obtain a list of admission criteria and prerequisite coursework. Your petition for program admission will not be considered complete until you have met all criteria or you are enrolled in and attending the last prerequisite course. Email healthscienceadvisor@pgcc.edu for more information.

Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Center for Health Studies

Suite 1400A, Room 1402
Phone: 301-546-0731
Email: healthscienceadvisor@pgcc.edu 

You must be present one hour before closing for full service.