Practical Nursing

Terms of Admittance

Every Summer Semester – Cohort of 24 students

Every Fall Semester - Cohort of 24 students

Program Length

The PN program begins every summer and fall semester and will take 3 semesters to complete.

Interest Form

All Applicants must submit the appropriate program-specific online Interest Form for Competitive Admissions.
Please be sure to list the correct Term of Admittance you wish to be evaluated for.

Attend a Competitive Admissions Workshop

Applicants for Practical Nursing must attend a Competitive Admissions Workshop. The required workshop session dates are listed below. Students will select the link on the day and time of the event for virtual sessions. No registration is required.

February 3, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. | ASN/PN Competitive Admissions Workshop | JEK Student Success Lab
March 26, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. | ASN/PN Competitive Admissions Workshop | JEK Student Success Lab
April 15, 2025 | 4:30 p.m. | ASN/PN Competitive Admissions Workshop | JEK Student Success Lab
May 6, 2025 | 4:30 p.m. | ASN/PN Competitive Admissions Workshop | VIRTUAL
June 25, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. | ASN/PN Competitive Admissions Workshop | JEK Student Success Lab

Selection Process

Ogeechee Technical College sets a specific number of admission slots for each competitive admissions program. All students who meet the minimum requirements for competitive admissions programs by the posted deadlines are entered into the selection process. Students are selected for available slots using the following criteria:

For the Practical Nursing program:

The highest total based upon the score on the HESI (A2) Exam plus up to 5 points for select certificate, degree, or diploma. (See Pre-Requisite Coursework area for more details)
If a tie exists, the highest score from the Anatomy & Physiology section of the HESI exam will determine ranking.

Required Prerequisite Coursework

THERE ARE NO PRE-REQUISITE COURSES FOR PRACTICAL NURSING
Students with any of the below can receive a maximum of 5 points in their calculation. 5 points awarded for ONLY ONE certificate, degree, or diploma.
LICENSURE: In order to receive credit, the student must upload official documentation showing their licensure. Licensure must be active in the state of Georgia and verified through the state registry.
- Certified Paramedic - 5 points
- CMA through AAMA - 5 points
- Certified Nursing Assistant - 5 points
- Certified EMT/AEMT - 5 points
- AMT/ASCP Certification - Phlebotomy - 5 points
- DEGREE/DIPLOMA – 5 points
  - In order to receive credit, the student must upload an official transcript showing completion of a Degree or Diploma program. The transcript must be an official transcript showing the institution attended, Degree or Diploma earned, as well as a completion date.

Aptitude Examinations

Applicants must complete the required aptitude exam and achieve the required minimum scores. More information on the required aptitude exam and helpful study information can be found on the Assessment Center webpage.

Students must take their aptitude examination in the OTC Assessment Center. Scores cannot be transferred in from external sources.

The HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) test is a standardized and proctored exam that assesses the academic readiness and cognitive skills of prospective and current nursing and healthcare students. It is also known as the HESI A2, the HESI Admission Assessment Exam. It consists of academic tests and covers core subjects such as math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology.

A student's $65 fee is required for each attempt. Students will be administered the entire exam each exam attempt. All testing fees are non-refundable.
A student may schedule, find out when the test is administered, and find helpful study resources by visiting the Assessment Center online at www.ogeecheetech.edu/testing. Study guides are also available in the Library.

For the Practical Nursing program:

Applicants for the Practical Nursing program must complete the HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) exam. Applicants must have taken the HESI exam within the last 5 years.
A student will be allowed six (6) testing attempts on the HESI; the exams are given several times each semester. A student is required to wait a minimum of 30 calendar days between attempts. If a student chooses to take the exam more than two times, he/she will be required to wait a minimum of six months between each additional attempt.

Deadlines

The required steps above must be completed before the competitive admission selection deadlines:

Practical Nursing
Summer 2025: April 1, 2025
Fall 2025: June 1, 2025

Selections will be made as quickly as possible from the deadline. All applicants will be notified by text and email of their acceptance or denial for admission into a competitive program.

For information about the competitive selection process, please contact Shannon Mitchell, Executive Director of Enrollment Services, at smitchell@ogeecheetech.edu.