The prerequisites for nursing schools are similar throughout the 50 states but, in the case of California, there are several key differences worth mentioning. Before beginning a review of these differences, however, it must be pointed out that most nursing schools in California have their own unique set of prerequisites in addition to those mentioned herein. Therefore, in this article, we offer an overview of universal nursing school requirements as well as those more-often found in the Golden State.
Standard Prerequisites for Nursing Schools
Regardless of whether you are talking about vocational nursing or registered nursing programs, schools in every state have a consistent set of basic requirements that every applicant must meet. This standard group of nursing school prerequisites varies somewhat by program, but always includes a high school diploma and some amount of previous schooling in the sciences.
High School Diploma
Without exception, colleges for nursing in every state require program applicants to have either a high school diploma or GED (General Education Development certificate) in order to be eligible for admission.
Previous Credits in the Sciences
While the exact prerequisites for nursing schools vary from state to state, it is universally required that applicants have previously completed some transferable units in the sciences. Whether high school biology, nutrition, etc. fulfills this requirement, or some higher level prerequisite is preferred (e.g. science units from a community college) will usually vary by school and location.
California Nursing School Prerequisites
Like every other state, nursing programs in California generally require applicants to have completed a series of preparatory classes. Unlike some states, however, the extremely competitive nature of nursing school admissions in the Golden State has resulted in many programs placing great emphasis on additional factors when determining who to admit.
GPA (Grade Point Average)
High competition for admission to California nursing schools means that the colleges can afford to be selective. For example, California community college nursing programs have become so impacted in recent years that they now conduct a lottery drawing to determine who gets in each semester. In order to be entered into this drawing, a student must have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. In other words, if you are still in high school and want to become a nurse, make sure to keep your grades up.
Class Prerequisites
As mentioned in the preceding section, schools in every state require prospective students to have successfully completed some number of science units in either high school or a community college prior to granting admission. In California, these prerequisites for nursing schools usually include at least two semesters of Anatomy, Chemistry and English, as well as a minimum of one semester of Algebra, Nutrition, Microbiology, Psychology (both Developmental and General), Public Speaking and Sociology. A large number of schools also look for a particularly strong score on the standardized Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
Do You Meet the Prerequisites for Nursing Schools in California?
If you are interested in becoming a nurse in California, but are not sure if you meet the requirements, you can always speak to someone at the admissions office at one of the accredited schools near you. Please refer to our directory of fully-accredited nursing programs in California for contact information and to find out if you meet the prerequisites for nursing schools in your area.