The Associate Degree Nursing-LPN-RN curriculum provides knowledge, skills, and strategies to integrate safety and quality into nursing care, to practice in a dynamic environment, and to meet individual needs which impact health, quality of life, and achievement of potential.
Coursework includes and builds upon the domains of healthcare, nursing practice, and the holistic individual. Content emphasizes the nurse as a member of the interdisciplinary team providing safe, individualized care while employing evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics.
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Employment opportunities are vast within the global healthcare system and may include positions within acute, chronic, extended, industrial, and community healthcare facilities.
The bridging option offers credentialed Licensed Practical Nurses 42 hours of credit for Prior Learning credit. The remaining coursework to complete the AAS in Nursing requires an additional 35 semester hours of course-work as outlined.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
The associate degree nursing program at Cleveland Community College located in Shelby, North Carolina is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate degree nursing program is initial accreditation.
Associate Degree Nursing Program Outcomes
Licensure Pass Rate
| Year | NCLEX-RN Pass Rate |
| 2024 | 93% |
Program Completion
| Admit Year | Graduation Year | Admitted Students | Graduated with Cohort | Completion Rate % |
| 2022 | 2024 | 77 | 60 | 78% |
Job Placement Rates
| Graduation Year | Employment Rate Within Six Months of Graduation |
| 2024 | 100% |
Admission and Selection Criteria
CCC has established admissions and selection procedures to ensure students are admitted and selected in a consistent and equitable manner. Completion of these requirements will not guarantee admission to the program. All applicants are encouraged to attend a Health Sciences Symposium, which is held in June and November, to learn more information about the program.
All admissions criteria must be completed and submitted to the Admissions Office prior to the program deadline. The deadline is August 25 for the LPN to ADN Pathway.
Admission Requirements - LPN to ADN Pathway
The LPN to ADN Pathway is an option designed for students who have already met the requirements to be a Licensed Practical Nurse and wish to further their education to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing. This pathway has a spring semester entry. Upon successful completion of the LPN Licensure issued by the Board of Nursing the student will receive credit by credential for NUR 111 (Intro to Health Concepts), NUR 112 (Health-Illness Concepts), NUR 113 (Family Health Concepts), NUR 114 (Holistic Health Concepts) and NUR 211 (Healthcare Concepts).
- Application to the College and NC Residency
- Reading/English: Meet one of the following to demonstrate proficiency:
- Completion of prerequisites to be eligible to register for ENG 111 without corequisite
- Completion of ENG 111 or equivalent with a minimum of "C"
- Have a 2.8 or higher unweighted high school GPA
- Provide satisfactory placement test scores
- Provide proof of completion of an associate or bachelor's degree (if applicable)
- LPN Licensure with no substantiated findings
- Complete the following required courses:
- BIO 168
- BIO 169
- PSY 150
- Meet one of the following criteria:
- TEAS Score of 65 or higher
- Cleveland Community College PN graduate with LPN licensure*
- Currently employed with 5 consecutive verifiable years as an LPN (verified by Human Resources)*
*Students meeting one of the two LPN licensure criteria will automatically receive 75 points for their TEAS score. Students with a valid TEAS score higher than 75 may submit the TEAS score to be calculated in the ranking score.
| Program | Total Number of Academic Terms to Complete Program | Total Credit/Clock Hours Required to Complete Program | Total Nursing Credit/Clock Hours Required to Complete Program | Total Credit/Clock Hours Awarded for Prior Learning (if applicable) |
| LPN to ADN | 3 Semesters | 77 Credit Hours Other Remaining General Education Courses: BIO 275 (4) ENG 112 (3) PSY 241 (3) Humanities (3) Total 13 Credit Hours |
22 Credit Hours NUR 214 (4) NUR 221 (9) NUR 223 (9) Total 22 Credit Hours |
NUR Courses General Education Courses Grand Total 42 Credit Hours |
Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Testing Information
The TEAS is designed specifically to assess the preparedness of students applying to a health sciences program. TEAS scores are good for 5 years and must have a minimum of 30 days between each test. Students must register for the test through ATI at www.atitesting.com.
TEAS testing information:
- Paper and pencil will be provided
- No smartwatches or any other programmable devices are allowed
- Cell phones must be turned off
- No food or drink allowed, unless medically necessary
- Photo ID required
- ATI login information
Post-Provisional Acceptance Requirements
An email notification of provisional acceptance will be sent by September 20. The following must be completed to satisfy acceptance requirements:
- Attend nursing orientation
- Complete CCC Health Sciences Medical Form
- Criminal background check and 12-panel drug screen obtained through a secure compliance tracking database
- The following immunizations are required (more information will be provided during orientation):
- Complete 2-Step TB Test or IGRA
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza (required between 9/1 - 10/31) or of current Influenza Season
- Varicella
- Td or TDaP
- MMR
- CPR Certification
- Verification of current PN licensure with no substantiated findings is required for entry in program. Once admitted, students are required to maintain their PN licensure through the duration of the program.
- Comply with the Technical Standards outlined for the program
- Highly recommended for all students to have health insurance
Clinical facilities require criminal background checks, drug screenings, and/or proof of US citizenship prior to or during participation in the clinical portion of the program. A student who is unable to complete the clinical portion of the program will not be able to graduate. Criminal background checks, drug screenings, credit checks, and/or proof of US citizenship may also be required after graduation by examination boards, state licensing boards, and employing agencies.
Essential Functions and Technical Standards
Purpose Statement
The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of students. In adopting these standards, the program is mindful of the patient’s right to safe and high-quality healthcare by students. The student must be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a broad variety of clinical situations while providing high-quality patient care. These standards reflect what may be required for employment of the entry-level professional.
It is important that students who are admitted possess cognitive and critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, behavioral skills, physical skills, and communication skills necessary to practice in the field. Reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but each student must be able to independently perform all performance standards demanded by the clinical site and the College. Accommodations will be provided in accordance with Disabilities Services at Cleveland Community College. The following abilities/skills are required, with or without accommodations. Students must meet the following technical standards and maintain satisfactory demonstration of these standards for progression throughout the program. Students unable to meet these technical standards will not be able to complete the program. The examples used are not all-inclusive.
| Capability | Standard | Examples of Technical Standard Found in the Program and Related to Industry |
| Cognitive Ability/Critical Thinking Skills | Nursing students will be involved in acquiring knowledge, processing information, and making decisions. They include analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing data to solve problems, form judgments, and create solutions. | Gather information, analyze cause-effect relationships, monitor health changes, and set goals with interventions. |
| Tactile Skills | Sense of touch sufficient to discern information. |
Perform a physical assessment, palpation, monitor skin temperature. |
| Mobility/Motor Skills | Demonstrate dexterity, coordination, and strength to perform nursing tasks safely, including handling up to 50 pounds. | Ability to lift, transfer, or adjust patients safely—the ability to walk, bend, stretch, and stand for extended periods. |
| Auditory Skills | Hearing ability to monitor and assess health needs. | Hear equipment/emergency alarms and calls for assistance. Listen to heart, lung, and blood pressure sounds. |
| Visual Skills | Visual ability to monitor and assess patient care needs. | Observe patient responses to treatment. Detect changes in skin color. Read sphygmomanometer. |
| Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills | Interact effectively with diverse groups, maintain emotional stability under stress, adapt to change, and build professional relationships. | Demonstrate sound judgment, timely care, accountability, adaptability to feedback, respect for patients, teamwork, and professionalism. |
| Communication Skills | Communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal, and written formats with others. |
Answer questions, document patient data accurately, use proper terminology, interpret orders, record responses, and practice active listening. |
| Occupational Exposure | Manage multiple roles under stress while ensuring safety through proper precautions against hazards and infectious materials. | To encounter harmful substances -bloodborne pathogens, infectious diseases, hazardous chemicals. Potentially harmful needlestick injuries, exposure to bodily fluids, and exposure to airborne contaminants while caring for patients. Legal/ethical dilemmas. Liability issues. |
LPN to ADN Pathway Fees - Estimated Total Cost for Program
| Fee Description | Year 2 |
| Tuition (NUR Courses Only) | $2204.00 |
| Program Fee (ATI Fee) | $1150.00 |
| Lab Fees | $36.00 |
| Background, Drug Screen, & Immunization Tracker | $144.00 |
| Clinical Tracker | $40.00 |
| Health Science Fee (Uniforms Included) | $200.00 |
| Malpractice Insurance | $16.00 |
| Pinning Fee | $75.00 |
| Textbooks (NUR Courses Only) | $400.00-$800.00 |
| Estimated Total | $4265.00-$4665.00 |
Understanding the Ranking Process
When all admissions requirements have been met, qualified applicants are ranked using a point system. Enrollment in related courses is not required for acceptance; however, extra points will be awarded for each related course, completed by the deadline, based on the grade earned in the course. If the course is repeated, the highest grade earned will be used in the ranking.
- A = 4 points
- B = 3 points
- C = 2 points (no points are awarded for grades lower than C)
AP credit is based on the individual scores:
- 5 = 4 points
- 4 = 3 points
- 3 = 2 points (no points are awarded for scores lower than 3)
Related course points will be added to the total TEAS score for the ranking. Applicants with the highest ranked scores will be accepted. In the event of a tie, a Traditional Pathway applicant with the highest science score on the TEAS will be ranked higher, and the GPA will be used for LPN to ADN Pathway applicants. An alternate list will be maintained in ranking order. Alternates will only be accepted if a space becomes available. Applicants not admitted to the program must reapply. The below charts can be used to track related course points based on pathway.
Related courses for LPN to ADN Pathway:
| Course | Grade | Points Earned |
| BIO 275 | ||
| ENG 112 | ||
| HUM 115 | ||
| PSY 241 |
Reentry Process
For students seeking reentry to the Associate Degree Nursing program:
- All requests for reentry into the nursing program must be approved by the Admissions Office and the Nursing Director prior to implementation.
- Only one reentry will be considered for the nursing program.
Applied and Not Accepted to Program
Students not selected to the program may reapply for the next year by completing a new health sciences application. All applications for admission must be updated annually.
Grading Policy
All NUR Courses must receive a grade of B or higher, and all other courses in the program must receive a grade of C or higher.