Enrollment in the clinical component is limited, and admission is selective and competitive. Selection criteria will include Kaplan scores, academic performance in pre-clinical courses, and related work experience. Admission preference is given to residents within BRCC’s service area.
Clinical Admissions
Clinical Admission Requirements
Students who have met the following minimum requirements may submit a clinical application:
- Sent official high-school transcripts or equivalent documents and transcripts of all coursework taken at non-VCCS colleges attempted or completed (including LPN transcripts for students who completed LPN training) to BRCC for review.
- Earned a curricular GPA of at least 2.50 in all program-related pre-requisite/general education courses taken prior to, or concurrent with, application to the clinical component. Required pre-clinical courses that have been attempted must be passed with a “C” or better before entering an NSG course. Pre-requisite courses that must be completed prior to, or concurrent with application submission include: SDV 100/101, BIO 141, ENG 111, PSY 230, ENG 112. Anatomy & Physiology courses (BIO 141 & BIO 142) must have been taken within the past 7 years (not before Fall 2020 for August 2027 admissions) to be considered.
- Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test must be completed with the student earning a score of 45 or higher on each of the sections. Note that successful applicants usually score >60. If seeking traditional decision admission, the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test may be completed after application submission, and prior to the deadline identified on the Nursing Clinical Component Webpage. If seeking early program admission, the Kaplan must be completed during the time the application is submitted. Kaplan scores must be no older than 24 months from the start of the program. Please refer to the tables below for Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test due dates.
- You may only take the Kaplan exam ONCE per testing cycle (November – April). Kaplan scores may not be older than two years from the start date of the program. If you are a Traditional student applicant, you may use Kaplan scores up to 2 years back from the August you will begin the program (ex: If starting August 2027, Kaplan results back to August 2025 may be used). If you are an LPN-RN Bridge applicant, you may use Kaplan scores up to 2 years back from the May you will begin the program (ex: If starting May 2027, Kaplan results back to May 2025 may be used).The most recent set of Kaplan admission test results will be considered, unless the student informs the nursing program director otherwise, via email.
- Please bring your Kaplan registration receipt with you to the testing center. If taking the entrance test more than one year, you must register with Kaplan for the test annually. Previous Kaplan registrations are not acknowledged by the system.
Clinical Admissions Cycle for Fall 2027 Traditional Students
There are two options in applying for admission to the clinical component. The early admissions option is for students who have:
- Completed BIO 142 by December 2026
- Have the majority of nursing general education requirements completed
- Are prepared to take the Kaplan entrance exam prior to February 1, 2027
Early admission decisions are released by February 28. Please note that if you are not accepted in the early admissions process your application will automatically rollover into the traditional admissions. The early admissions process allows for early notification of admission. These applicants will start the clinical component the same time as traditional students, in August 2027.
The traditional admission process allows for more general education courses to be completed during the spring semester of 2027. The more courses that you have completed, the stronger your application will be. This also allows for completion of BIO 142 in the spring semester and extension to take the Kaplan entrance exam by April 16. Traditional admission applicants are notified of acceptance by May 1.
Admission Information and Links
- DO NOT wait until the last minute to take the Kaplan Nursing Exam. The BRCC Testing Center has limited space available, and can only offer the Kaplan Nursing Exam as space and time allow.
- Testing Center Students are eligible to take the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam on a walk-in basis anytime the Testing Center is open (no appointment necessary). Please arrive 3 hours before close to allow adequate time.
- Non-VCCS college transcripts received by Admissions & Records: February 1, 2027
- Transcript Evaluation Form (Google form) (non-BRCC college credits) submitted: February 1, 2027
Traditional Nursing Program
| Early Admission Decision | Traditional Admission Decision | |
| Application Opens | November 1, 2026 | November 1, 2026 |
| Kaplan Exam Opens | December 1, 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
| Transcripts Due | February 1, 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| Application Due | February 1, 2027 at 3 p.m. | February 1, 2027 at 3 p.m. |
| Kaplan Closes | January 29, 2027 at 5 p.m. | April 16, 2027 at 5 p.m. |
| Notification to Applicants | February 27, 2027 | May 1, 2027 |
| Classes Start | August 2027 | August 2027 |
Clinical Admission Cycle for Summer 2027 LPN to RN Bridge Program
BRCC is excited to announce revisions to the LPN-RN Bridge Program! The clinical component of this program now starts in May, allowing students to finish within 12 months.
To be considered for the LPN-RN Bridge Program, you must follow all deadlines outlined in the table below. If accepted into the LPN-RN Bridge Program, you will be notified by the end of February 2027 to start classes in May 2027. This program runs for three clinical semesters, Summer 2027, Fall 2027, Spring 2028.
BRCC must receive a minimum number of applicants for this program to be offered. If the decision is made not to offer the Bridge program, students may be given an option to enter the Traditional program as a Traditional student, completing all required courses.
| Admission Decision | |
| Application Opens | November 1, 2026 |
| Kaplan Exam Opens | December 1, 2026 |
| Kaplan Due | January 29, 2027, at 5 p.m. |
| Transcripts Due (Including LPN & High School Transcripts) | February 1, 2027 |
| Application Due | February 1, 2027, at 3 p.m. |
| Notification to Applicants | February 27, 2027 |
| Classes Start | May 2027 |
Accepted Clinical Student Requirements
New Nursing Student Orientation
New nursing clinical students will attend a student orientation in the summer before their enrollment begins.
Post-Acceptance Forms
Before beginning clinical coursework, accepted applicants will need to submit additional paperwork/documentation to the nursing department by the published deadlines (no exceptions for late documents). Documents and deadlines will be e-mailed to accepted students after program admittance. Please note, the below immunizations are required by our clinical admission.
- Physical & Health Insurance Forms
- Proof of Immunizations to include: MMR, Varicella, Tdap, influenza, Hep B, and a 2-step PPD
- CPR/BLS through the American Heart Association, and have an in-person component
- Criminal Background Check Documentation & Completed Drug Screen
Clinical Handbook
Nursing students accepted to the clinical portion of the program should read and understand the requirements and policies outlined in the Clinical Nursing Student Handbook. Information on admissions, progression, graduation, formal complaints and grievance procedures, and technology requirements can be found in the Clinical Nursing Student Handbook linked below. This handbook will also be provided to you upon acceptance into the program.
18VAC90-27-80 – Resources, facilities, publications, and services
Program Readmission
- Students who receive a final course grade or theory grade lower than 80% (C) in any of the courses will not be allowed to progress in the program. Students may 1) be eligible to be readmitted into the program and repeat the failed course and earn a final grade of 80% or higher before taking the next course in the sequence or 2) reapply to the nursing program to start at the first semester, if accepted.
- Two NSG course failures, in two separate academic semesters, make the student ineligible for readmission and the student must start over with an initial application to the program, restarting all NSG courses from the first semester.
- Students who seek readmission into the program, not repeating all first-semester courses, must: 1) submit their intent to be readmitted in writing to the program director, 2) complete another program application, 3) submit an appropriate success plan to the program head who will share with the readmission committee, by the identified deadline, determined by the program head,and 4) meet current admission requirements. This success plan should outline how the student’s circumstances have changed to allow them to be successful in the program if they were to be admitted again. If reapplying to the program to repeat all first-semester courses, all admission steps must be completed.
- Readmission to the clinical component is NOT guaranteed and will be determined on an individual basis.
- Students being considered for readmission will need to pass a readmission written test, as determined by nursing faculty, with a grade of 80% or higher. The student will also need to pass a skills test, with success defined by the faculty. These tests will determine that the student has retained the necessary knowledge previously learned in the program, to start back where they left off. If a student does not meet the minimum threshold on the readmission written test or successfully pass the skills test, they must reapply to the program to start over in the first semester, repeating all first-semester courses.
- Any first-semester NSG course failure results in reapplication to the nursing program. The student must complete all program admission/application requirements. Readmission testing (#5) will apply to any courses the student successfully passed, but chooses not to repeat.
- A student must have successfully completed an NSG course within the last 12 months to be eligible for readmission into the program as a second, third, or fourth semester student. Students who leave the program for additional reasons are also subject to the readmission policy and will be considered for readmission by the nursing admissions committee. Readmission must be achieved within 12 months of initial program failure or departure. If not accepted under the readmission policy, a student must reapply to the program and begin the program of study from the first semester if accepted for a second attempt.
- A student is eligible to reapply to the program only once.
* Students may be granted medical or personal leave from the program for extenuating circumstances. Leave may not be extended beyond 12 months. The nursing program director will communicate requirements surrounding program leave to the student. Leave approval is not guaranteed, and return to the program through readmission is not guaranteed.