Nursing Admission
The application deadline is March 1 each year.
Before graduation from the nursing program, a candidate must submit a written application to the State Board of Nursing and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Admission to the Colby Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program does not guarantee graduation from the program. Graduation from the nursing program does not guarantee eligibility to take the Registered Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) may deny a license to practice as a registered professional nurse if the applicant has been convicted of a felony or guilt of a misdemeanor involving an illegal drug offense unless the applicant establishes sufficient rehabilitation to warrant the public trust, except that no license shall be granted to a person with a felony conviction of a crime against persons as specified in Article 34 of Chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto. Also considered are patterns of practice and other behaviors that exhibit an apparent incapacity to practice nursing, as described in 65-1120 of the Kansas Nurse Practice Act. All criminal history must be disclosed and evaluated by the KSBN before licensure is granted or denied. Since CCC is located in Kansas, this information does not cover requirements in other states. Students should check with the board of nursing in the state where they will be requesting licensure.
Disclosure of Criminal Background/Substance Abuse
Clinical affiliates and their accrediting agencies require criminal background checks and urine drug screens for all students to maintain patient safety. If selected for admission to the CCC nursing program, students must consent to a background check to disclose any felony or misdemeanor convictions. Upon admission, students will receive detailed instructions on how to complete the background check and urine drug screen. Prior background checks cannot be used. Graduates of the nursing program will be asked to submit to an additional criminal background check as part of the application process for the NCLEX-RN examination.
Additional requirements and/or disclosures may become necessary throughout enrollment in the program. Non-compliance with all mandates may result in termination from the program. All fees associated with these requirements will be the financial responsibility of the student.
Health Policy
Students are required to obtain medical insurance coverage while enrolled in the health career programs at Colby Community College. Hospitals require students to have medical insurance to complete clinical rotations at their respective facilities.
Students entering healthcare programs should be aware that they will be in close contact with individuals with a variety of health conditions, some of which may have unknown causes.
Health career programs have specific precautionary requirements based on the type of exposure and/or clinical agency policies. It is the student’s responsibility to follow program guidelines necessary to prevent the contraction and transmission of diseases. The student is responsible for all healthcare costs (physical examinations and other health costs, vaccinations, immunizations and/or titers and may include X-rays). Neither the college nor the clinical agency to which students are assigned is responsible for the provision of any healthcare or for the payment of costs related to an injury or exposure to infection with a disease.
Proof of medical insurance is required while attending the Nursing Program. Clinical agencies may audit the physical exam and health records. Health records, background checks and urine drug screens may be shared with our clinical affiliates.
Students are responsible for meeting all course, clinic, and program objectives. Students may be asked to provide a physician’s statement to explain absences and/or justify re-entry into class/clinical settings.
Progression in the nursing program will be contingent upon satisfactorily meeting the health requirements. Health restrictions may prohibit student participation in clinical rotations and the performance of total patient care and, therefore, would prevent progression or completion of the Nursing Program. Incomplete records may result in dismissal from clinical (with unexcused absences) or dismissal from the program if sufficient documents are not produced.
Admission Summary
Students apply to the PN and ADN nursing programs each spring for a fall start date. The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) mandates the maximum number of students that are accepted into these programs. More detailed information follows.
The entrance exam (TEAS) can be scheduled with the nursing department in Colby at (785) 460-4797 or (785) 460-5442. The test can be taken up to two times per academic year (August to May). More information about preparing for the TEAS Test is available on the ATI website.
Selection for the PN and ADN programs is based on a point system.
Please refer to the Forms page to access the documents needed for your specific application.
Standards & Functional Abilities
Our nursing program prepares you for a nurse generalist role. Functional abilities to meet this role include cognitive, sensory/perceptual, psychosocial/emotional, and physical principal capabilities to provide safer care to individuals or groups of individuals. Please review the
standards and functional abilities of nursing students.Required Immunizations
- MMR -- two MMR immunizations OR a positive titer
- TB –– Annual tuberculin skin test, chest X-Ray, or QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT)
- Varicella -- proof of 2 immunizations, or a positive varicella titer
- Hepatitis B –– 1 Hepatitis B immunizations or sign a waiver
- Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Tdap) -- Boosters are required every 10 years.
- Influenza –- Yearly immunization
Required Certifications
PN Applicants
- Current CPR card, Healthcare Provider
- Current CNA certificate
ADN Applicants
- Current CPR card, Healthcare Provider
- Current LPN/LVN or RRT/MICT
Program Entry
Please utilize the following admission requirements when applying. The Colby campus has a 1 + 1 program. PN programs are offered during the day. The ADN program has a full-time day option. The Colby campus also offers a bridge program with transition courses from RRT/MICT to ADN.
Two-Phase Application Process
Phase 1: Application and Required Documents
Submit the nursing application and required materials for your program:
- TEAS results
- Current LPN license or CNA certificate, as applicable to the program (see required certifications below for ADN and bridge options)
- Current CPR certification
- Immunization documentation
- Resume
- GPA information
- Transfer credits and prerequisites
Phase 2: Interview and Recommendations
Phase 2 occurs only after nursing faculty review applications and determine that candidates meet the requirements. Candidates advancing to Phase 2 must complete an in-person interview and provide two letters of recommendation.
Application Requirements
To apply to the nursing program, please follow the steps listed below in the PN and ADN Admission Requirements. Students will not be considered for acceptance until a complete application packet is submitted. The application packet must be postmarked no later than March 1.
Applicants must first be admitted to Colby Community College, which is a separate process. Students should apply now if they have not been admitted to CCC. After being accepted to CCC, students can apply to the nursing program.To apply for the RRT/MICT bridge program, applicants need to contact the Director of Nursing at Colby Community College: michaelle.bliss@colbycc.edu or call 785.460.5442. The program is limited to 10 students.
Program Prerequisites/Corequisites
Program prerequisites (PN) or corequisites (ADN) are required. PN prerequisites must be completed before the fall semester begins. Prerequisites/corequisite courses must be:
- Completed with a “C” or better.
- Completed at an accredited institution.
The following are the prerequisite courses for PN admission and must be taken within 10 years of applying unless working in the medical field (petition for exceptions):
- AL101 Basic Nutrition (3)
- AL102 Medical Terminology (1)
- BI278 Anatomy & Physiology (5)
- PS276 Developmental Psychology (3)
The following corequisites are required for completion of the ADN program.
- AL101 Basic Nutrition (3)
- AL102 Medical Terminology (1)
- BI278 Anatomy & Physiology (5)
- PS276 Developmental Psychology (3)
- AL136 Pharmacology (1)
- BI280 Principles of Microbiology (4-5)
- PS176 General Psychology (3)
- EN176 English Composition I (3)
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Certificate
If applying to the PN program, you must hold a current certified nurse aide (CNA)
certificate, but it does not have to be a Kansas CNA certificate. Points will be
awarded in the PN program admission requirements based on experience. For more information
about the Certified Nurse Aide certificate offered at CCC, call (785) 460-4797 or email healthassistant@colbycc.edu
.
TEAS Admission Test
The ATI TEAS test is required for admission to the nursing program. If you have taken the TEAS test previously, your score is valid for two years. Schedule the ATI TEAS test by emailing Michaelle Bliss at michaelle.bliss@colbycc.edu . Specific information about the exam is available at www.atitesting.com, including an ATI TEAS Study Guide that can be purchased for approximately $25 on the ATI website.
Currently, CCC offers the ATI TEAS test both online through the Proctorio proctoring service or in person on campus. Please email for more information. The exam fee is $70. The ATI TEAS takes approximately three to four hours to complete, so please have your calendar ready when you schedule. You may take the exam two (2) times per academic school year. For the PN program, a minimum score of 56.1% is required. For the ADN program, a minimum score of 66.1% is required.
Exam times are at 9 a.m. CST on the following dates in 2026-2027:
October
12th and 23rd
November
6th, 16th, and 30th
December
2nd, 10th, and 18th
January 2027
8th, 21st, and 25th
February
1st, 9th, 19th, 22nd, and 26th
Any test taken after the March 1 deadline will be by appointment only, if available, or can be taken through ATI for $120.
Submission
PN, RRT/MICT, and ADN applicants should send a complete application packet to:
CCC Department of Nursing
1255 S. Range
Colby, KS 67701
English Proficiency
The Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) requires the following minimum scores. Each area must meet the minimum requirement.
| Test | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 6.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | C+ (300-349) | C+ (300-349) | B (350+) | C+ (300-349) |
Students who do not meet these requirements must follow the Colby Community College English Proficiency policy found on the International Students page. Meeting the College's general admission English proficiency requirements does not establish that a student has met the nursing requirements listed above.
College Admission English Proficiency
Colby Community College does not have an intensive English language program. All students must provide proof of English Proficiency. International students must also take a placement exam to determine their class level, unless they have submitted ACT or SAT scores.
Options to provide proof of English Proficiency:
- Duolingo English Test
- Minimum score of 75
- The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online, on-demand, in under an hour for only $49. The test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample which are shared with Colby Community College when you send your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of the test session.
- International TOEFL score (school code: 6129)
- Internet-based: minimum score of 44
- Computer-based: minimum score of 130
- Paper-based: minimum score of 447
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum of 5.
Students from countries with English as their primary language are not required to provide proof of English proficiency.
The TOEFL test is given on demand at TOEFL testing sites. Students must take this test before admission to Colby Community College and before applying to the nursing program. The school code number is 6129.
Criminal Background Check
All students accepted into the nursing program must submit to a criminal background check. This is required to become a licensed healthcare provider.
The student must complete the background check no more than 30 days before beginning nursing courses each year. The student must complete the background check online. Information on completing the process for background checks will be provided to the student.
The director of the nursing program will evaluate all students' background checks according to the exclusionary criteria of the clinical facilities and the state licensing boards.
Failure to comply with the criminal background check disqualifies the student from the nursing program.
A violation found in accordance with Kansas Statute 65-1120 does not necessarily disqualify the student from admission to the nursing program.
Financial Aid
There is money available for a college education in the form of scholarships, grants (which are not paid back), and loans. Much of the money available is based on need; however, some scholarships are based on need and merit.
It is recommended that students contact the Financial Aid Office at Colby Community College to receive specific information regarding grants and loans. To arrange for an appointment with the Financial Aid Office, write (in care of the college) or call 785.460.5497.
Student Rights
Colby Community College complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and all the requirements imposed or pursuant to the regulations of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the end that no person shall, on the grounds of race, sex, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity at Colby Community College.
COVID Vaccinations
Colby Community College does not require individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to be admitted to the Nursing program. Some clinical locations require COVID-19 vaccination; however, students may qualify for a religious or medical exemption. Additionally, upon request, Colby Community College can try to find an alternative clinical site if a location requires a COVID-19 vaccine.
Questions? Contact Us.
Nursing Department
1255 S Range Ave
Colby KS 67701
healthassistant@colbycc.edu
nursing@colby.edu
(785) 460-4797