Associate Degree Nursing (Generic)

Apply for a Río Hondo Student ID. Apply to Río Hondo College Now.

This can take up to two weeks to process. You need a Río Hondo College ID number in order to apply to the ADN program.

Update contact information through Admission and Records prior to starting the application.

• All communication with the Nursing Division will be via the email address you list on your application.
• New Students – Río Hondo College student email accounts will be inactive for any student who has not previously registered for courses at RHC.

Update: Beginning with prerequisite science courses taken after 3/1/25, Río Hondo College Nursing programs will no longer accept online science courses to meet the prerequisites.

Prerequisites and general education requirements (PDF) – Prerequisites (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, English 101 and Proficiencies) must be completed prior to applying to the Associate Degree Nursing Program.

Due to the intensity of the Nursing Program, it is highly recommended that all general education requirements be completed prior to entry.

ADN Program – Generic Option (Option #1 – Registered Nursing)

Enrollment in the Río Hondo College Registered Nursing Program – Generic Option – is open to persons regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, ethnic group, religion or national origin.

Students seeking admission to the Registered Nursing Program – (Generic Option) – must meet or exceed all of the following criteria:

• An overall grade point average of 2.5 for the science prerequisites. Includes Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Microbiology with no grade less than a “C” for each course.  Please note that a “C” in all course work will not earn a GPA of 2.5.
• Science Course Recency: Prerequisite science courses completed within seven years. No more than one repetition of any one of the science courses for an improved grade.
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 for all college coursework completed.
• Completion of English 101 with a grade of “C” or better
• High school education or equivalent
  * See High School Education below for full description of acceptable high school verification.

• Applicants must successfully pass the ATI TEAS Exam prior to applying and submit official electronic TEAS Scores to the Health Science and Nursing Division at Rio Hondo College.
  * See ATI TEAS section below for full TEAS requirement description.

• Submit Official Transcripts
  * See Submit Official Transcripts below for complete instructions.
  (Transcripts from all other Colleges/Universities and AP College Board must be sent to Río Hondo College Admissions and Records.)

• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) – Provide a Copy with Application.

Generic (Registered Nursing) Option Prerequisite Requirement

The following prerequisites must be completed with a minimum of “C” or better prior to entering the ADN option. Science Course Recency: Prerequisite science courses completed within seven years. These courses cannot be in progress.

Course and Title	UNITS
BIOL 125 – Human Anatomy w/ Lab (or equivalent, minimum of 4.0 units)	4.0
BIOL 222 – Microbiology w/ Lab (or equivalent, minimum of 4.0 units)	5.0 (4.0)
BIOL 226 – Human Physiology w/ Lab (or equivalent, minimum of 4.0 units)	4.0
ENGL 101 – College Composition and Research (or equivalent, minimum of 3.0 units)	3.5 (3.0)
MATH – Please see a counselor for the math course appropriate for your path/goal. (Note: Math 130 – Statistics, is recommended.)	(4.0)

ADN General Education Requirements

All courses below must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Due to the intensity of the program, students are highly encouraged to complete general education requirements prior to admission into the program.

ADN General Education Required Courses

Course and Title	UNITS
CHEM 110 – Chemistry for Allied Health Majors ** CHEM 110 is a prerequisite to BIOL 222 and BIOL 226. CHEM 110 meets the AS degree requirement for a Natural Science with a Lab.	5.0
SOC 101 or 101H – Introduction to Sociology/Honors (or equivalent)	3.0
SPCH 101 or 101H – Public Speaking/Honors or equivalent (or equivalent)	3.0
PSY 101 or 101H – Introduction to Psychology / Honors (or equivalent)	3.0
Remainder of GE courses based on path / goal. Please see a counselor

*See Río Hondo College Catalog for applicable courses

After applying:

Required – by permission from the Health Science and Nursing Division only. Students who are accepted to the program will be admitted to ADN 151 and ADN 151L.

Successful completion of this course is a prerequisite for admission to the Associate Degree Nursing Program 1st semester.

Course and Title UNITS ADN 151 – Clinical Nursing Concepts 2.0 ADN 151 L – Clinical Nursing Concepts Lab 2.0

Determining Course Equivalency

Determining course equivalency: Courses must meet or exceed the unit minimum with a laboratory component (science courses), 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 Río Hondo College course, please contact the Counseling Department.

International Course Work

Course work completed in another country may be accepted to satisfy requirements for graduation. International transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized foreign evaluation service (PDF) and sent directly to Río Hondo College’s Admissions and Records department by the company.

High School Education or Equivalent

Applicants must provide proof of graduation from any the following:

• An accredited high school in the United States by official transcripts or copy of diploma or;
• Documentation of a passing score on the General Education Development (GED) exam or;
• Associate degree, or Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or;
• Official evaluation of international diploma/degree.

Official Transcripts must be received by the RHC Admissions and Records prior to application deadline. All other Transcripts (College, GED, AP exam results from the College Board) must be sent from that institution to to the RHC Admissions & Records.

ATI TEAS

• Complete version 6 or 7 of the TEAS exam prior to applying.
• Students must complete version 6 or 7 of the ATI TEAS test with a score of 62% or higher on the first attempt, or wait 365 days from the 1st attempt and retest earning a score of 62% or higher, or
• May retest in less than 365 days with evidence of completed remediation plan approved by the Dean of Health Science and Nursing. Must earn a score of 62% or higher on retest to be eligible for application.
• Students who have completed the ATI TEAS exam at Río Hondo College and scored below 62% are eligible for a remediation plan at Río Hondo College. Please see the Dean of Health Science and Nursing for remediation plan development.
• Students who meet the passing score of 62% or higher, but wish to retest for a better score, must wait 365 days between attempts.
• Students MUST send ATI TEAS Transcript electronically to the RHC Health Science and Nursing Division through atitesting.com.
• For ATI TEAS Exam Schedule, please visit the ATI TEAS website at atitesting.com.
• The RHC Health Science and Nursing Division offers limited ATI TEAS testing dates prior to the upcoming ADN application period. Registration for ATI TEAS can be made through the Health Science and Nursing Division office by contacting (562) 463-3758.

Submit Official Transcripts

Official transcripts must be received prior to application deadline:

• Official transcripts from ALL colleges attended, educational institutions, NACES approved evaluation agencies, GED, or College Board, are to be sent directly sent from the previous college or institutions to Río Hondo’s Admission and Records office. Transcripts will only be accepted when sent by educational institutions or NACES approved evaluation agencies. High School transcripts may be carried in by the student into the RHC Admissions & Records office.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact Admission and Records to confirm receipt of transcripts (562) 908-3415.
• Institutions and other colleges may submit transcripts electronically, and may also mail official transcripts to:

Río Hondo College
Attn: Admissions and Records
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601

International Transcripts:

• Río Hondo College Admissions and Records International Office.
• International transcripts must be evaluated by a recognized foreign evaluation service (PDF) and sent directly to Río Hondo College’s Admissions and Records department by the company.

Río Hondo College Admissions and Records – Transcript Information. Please contact Admissions and Records directly (562) 908-3415 for questions regarding submitting electronic transcripts (PDF Electronic Delivery: For participating schools and by Third-Party Recipient).

Other Program Requirements

• Meet the minimum physical and mental qualifications to perform essential nursing functions.
• Criminal background check and drug screening must be completed prior to any patient contact.
• A physical examination, including specific immunizations, is required of all candidates prior to the beginning of nursing classes.
• Current American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR certification.

Board of Registered Nursing Requirements:

The California Board of Registered Nursing requires a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for an RN license. Disclosure of your U.S. Social Security Number/ITIN is mandatory. Pursuant to the California Business and Professions Code, General Provisions, Section 30 (c), “… the board may not process any applicant for licensure unless the applicant provides a U.S. social security number.” (California BPC).

The Nurse Practice Act provides for a unified examination and licensing application. Once an applicant passes the examination, a license is automatically issued. Under these circumstances the BRN cannot accept applications for the examination and licensure without a U.S. social security number. The California Board of Registered Nursing can be reached at https://www.rn.ca.gov/ or (916) 322-3350.

Program Facility Requirements:

95% of the clinical facilities utilized by Río Hondo College nursing programs require students to have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to participate in clinical rotations scheduled in their facilities. It is not possible to progress through the nursing program if the student does not have a SSN or ITIN.

The nursing program must meet these facility requirements in order to be in compliance with contractual agreements with the clinical sites.

Determining Course Equivalency

Courses must meet or exceed the unit minimum with a laboratory component (science courses), as required by the California Community College Chancellor’s office.

International 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 (PDF) and sent directed to Río Hondo College’s Admissions and Records department by the company.

If you are uncertain whether a course taken inside or outside the California Community College system is equivalent to the Río Hondo College course, please contact the Counseling Department.

Office: (562) 908-3410 | Email: [email protected]

Students can schedule an appointment via telephone or by visiting the RHC counseling website.

Please see Section 2: Review Prerequisites and General Education Requirements for a full description of each of the following requirements.

The following are the minimum requirements for the ADN Program:

• Minimum Overall GPA of 2.5
• Minimum Science GPA of 2.5
• Río Hondo College ID Number
• Valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) will be required upon acceptance into the program.
• Completion of English 101 with a grade of “C” or better.
• Copy of active, unencumbered California LVN or PT  license (when applicable)
• ATI TEAS – Complete version 6 or 7 of the TEAS exam prior to applying with a minimum score of 62%.
  • Students MUST send ATI TEAS Transcript electronically to the RHC Health Science and Nursing Division through atitesting.com.
• Official transcripts must be received by the Río Hondo College Admissions and Records’ office prior to application deadline.
  • International Transcripts: must be evaluated and received by Admissions and Records prior to application deadline.
• Official High School Transcripts, copy of High School Diploma, or GED, or equivalent (AA/AS, BA/BS), or Official evaluation of international diploma/degree.
  • Official Transcripts must be received by Admissions and Records prior to application deadline.
• Multi Criteria Screening:
  • The Associate Degree Nursing Program uses a point system for all applicants meeting the requirements.
  • This will help you determine your eligibility to enter the Associates Degree Nursing Program at Río Hondo College.
  • Download the Multi Criteria Screening (PDF)

Using the Application Checklist and Multi Criteria Screening form (PDF) in Step 4 as a guide, compile all required supporting documentation.

Prior to submitting your application, you must review all documents to verify that the documents are legible and clear. Unreadable or inaccurate documents will result in the rejection of your application.

Applications will only be accepted during the open application filing period. Applications cannot be reopened/added to once submitted.

Complete official transcripts must be sent to Río Hondo’s Admission and Records. All official transcripts must be on file with Admissions and Records by the application deadline and will ONLY be accepted when sent by colleges or educational institutions.

Submitted application information must be complete, correct, and not withholding any facts or circumstances. All information given is subject to verification. At any time during the application process or during enrollment in the nursing program, discovery of falsification, misrepresentation, or omission of facts are sufficient reason for dismissal.

• Candidates selected will be notified by email.
• Nursing Advisement Meeting (Orientation) will occur after email notification of selected applicants.

Note: Dates may vary slightly with each application cycle.