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Home / Vocational Nursing ProgramHealth Science & Nursing Division
The Vocational Nursing Program is a two-semester program, following the completion of prerequisite courses. It is designed to prepare students for employment as a Vocational Nurse, giving care to patients in a variety of settings, such as acute hospitals, extended care facilities, home health care, surgical centers, and medical offices. The program is approved by the California State Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Students who complete the curriculum, and achieve the Certificate of Achievement, are qualified to apply for the examination leading to licensure as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (VN-NCLEX).
The Associate of Science Degree in Vocational Nursing: To acquire the associate of science degree in vocational nursing, students must complete one GE pattern in addition to the VN courses. GE patterns are: Rio Hondo College General Education and Proficiency requirements, California State university General Education Breadth (CSU GE), or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum.
Applicants who are interested in the nursing programs should attend a nursing Information Session to discuss prerequisites, general education requirements, assessment tests and the application / selection process. Applicants may also make an appointment with the counseling Department at 562-908-3410 to discuss individual situations.
Application Period
August 16, 2024 – September 9, 2024, Spring 2025 Start
Applicants can prepare for the filing period by following the steps below.
Apply for a Rio Hondo Student ID, Apply to Rio Hondo College Now! This can take up to two weeks to process. You need a Rio Hondo College ID number in order to apply to the VN program.
Update contact information through Admission and Records by following this link prior to starting the application.
Prerequisites and general education requirements – Prerequisites (HS 060, Psy 101) must be completed within five years prior to applying to the Vocational Nursing Program. Due to the intensity of the Nursing Program, it is highly recommended that all general education requirements be completed prior to entry.
Enrollment in the Rio Hondo’s Vocational Nursing Program is open to persons regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, ethnic group, religion or national origin.
Students seeking admission to the Vocational Nursing Program must meet or exceed all of the following criteria:
Before applying, prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade “C” or better with an overall College GPA of 2.5 or better.
| Academic Requirements for Applicants | Units |
| HS 060 Health Science Core (or BIOL 125 Human Anatomy) 5-year recency | 5.0 (4.0) |
| Psy 101 Introduction to Psychology 5-year recency on course | 3.0 |
| Recommended Courses | |
| ENGL 101 College Composition and Research | 3.0 |
| READ 134 Effective Study Methods | 3.0 |
ASSOCIATE DEGREE GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Please see a counselor to determine remaining GE courses based on path / goal.
REQUESTS FOR EQUIVALENCY
Request for equivalency for courses: Courses must meet or exceed the equivalent unit minimum, as required by the California Community College Chancellor’s office. If you are uncertain whether a course taken inside or outside the California Community College system is equivalent to the Rio Hondo College course, please contact the Counseling Department https://www.riohondo.edu/counseling-center/
FOREIGN COURSE WORK
Course work completed in another country may be accepted to satisfy requirements for graduation. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized foreign evaluation service http://www.apie.org/ . If you are selected as a candidate for the Nursing Program, please submit an official, sealed copy of the foreign evaluation to Admission and Records.
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OR EQUIVALENT
Applicants must provide proof of graduation from one of the following:
Official Transcripts must be received by the RHC Admissions and Records prior to application deadline. HS diploma or transcripts may be provided as a hand-carried copy to the RHC Admissions & Records or sent by the high school to the RHC Admissions & Records. All other Transcripts (College, GED, AP exam results from the College Board) must be sent from that institution to to the RHC Admissions & Records.
OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The Vocational Nursing Program uses a random selection for all applicants meeting the minimum requirements.
The following are requirements for the VN Program:
□ Minimum Overall GPA of 2.5
□ Major Prerequisite GPA of 2.0
□ Passing HS 060 with a C or better within the last 5 years; OR passing Anatomy (Biol 125) with a C or better within the last 5 years
□ Passing Psychology 101 with a C or better within the last 5 years
□ Official Transcripts from ALL colleges must be received prior to application deadline.
Official Transcripts must be received by the RHC Admissions and Records prior to application deadline. HS diploma or transcripts may be provided as a hand-carried copy to the RHC Admissions & Records or sent by the high school to the RHC Admissions & Records. All other Transcripts (College, GED, AP exam results from the College Board) must be sent from that institution to to the RHC Admissions & Records.
Institutions and other colleges may email or mail official transcripts to:
Rio Hondo College
Attention: Admissions and Records
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
□ High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent. Attach a copy of diploma with your application.
Any equivalency transcripts (official) must be sent to Admissions and Records (see above).
International Applicant:
If you graduated from high school and/or college in another country, please have your transcripts evaluated by a private International Evaluation Service; http://www.apie.org/ . Official documents should be sent to Rio Hondo College Admissions and Records International Office. https://www.riohondo.edu/admissions/international-students/
□ Applicants must provide a valid copy of California Driver’s License or California Identification card. The name on all identification MUST read the same as the application. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
□ Valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) will be required upon acceptance into the program.
Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians requires a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax identification Number (ITIN) for licensure. “Disclosure of your social security number is mandatory. Section 30 of the Business and Professions Code and Public Law 94-455 [(42 USCA (c)(2)(C))] authorizes collection of your social security number. Your social security number will be used exclusively for tax enforcement purposes and for purposes of compliance with any judgment or order for family support in accordance with Section 17520 of the Family Code, or for verification of licensure or examination status by a licensing or examination entity which utilizes a national examination and where licensure is reciprocal with the requesting state. If you fail to disclose your social security number, your application for initial license will not be processed and you will be reported to the Franchise Tax Board.” The California Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians will also accept an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the LVN License.
The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians should be consulted for qualifications for licensure for legal residents without Social Security Numbers or Individual Tax Identification Numbers. The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technician can be reached at 916.263.7800 or at https://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/contact.shtml.
All applicants will be notified by email of their status as either “Provisionally selected”, ‘Alternate’ or ‘Not selected’. Provisionally selected applicants and alternate applicants will be required to attend a mandatory advisement meeting to discuss health/safety requirements and background checks. Applicants that are alternates may have their status changed to ‘Selected’ up until the first day of class. All applicants not selected and alternates not selected by the first day of class are encouraged to re-apply during the next application period.
