Nursing

NURSING PROGRAM CHANGES

New application periods and admission criteria changes are outlined below.

Nursing (R.N.)

Begin Nursing in the Fall Semester (August 2025)
   Apply between May 15 - 31, 2025 (transcript must be submitted by March 1)

Begin Nursing in the Spring Semester (January 2026)
   Apply between October 15 - 31, 2025 (transcript must be submitted by August 1)

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (R.N.) Transition

Begin Nursing in the Spring Semester (January 2026)
   Apply between October 15 - 31, 2025 (transcript must be submitted by August 1)

NOTE: The LPN to Transition NURS 170 course will not run in the fall semester of 2025.

Nursing Admission Requirements

• All applicants must complete a CNA course at JJC or elsewhere, be eligible on the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry, and have passed the CNA certification exam. Students applying to the LPN to RN Transition pathway and are licensed LPN’s do not have to be a certified CNA.
• Completion of all general education courses with a grade "C" or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher required on courses specific to the required general education courses (listed below). GPA will be weighted at 60% for admission.
• ATI-TEAS Exam: Applicants must have a minimum of 60 on the composite section prior to the start of the application period. Guaranteed admission is a TEAS composite score of 82 or higher. TEAS will be weighted at 40% for admission. The ATI-TEAS exam must be taken in-person at Joliet Junior College. Can only be taken once per semester. Only three attempts allowed in a five-year period. More information can be found here: https://www.jjc.edu/student-resources/testing-services/tests-administered.

Required General Education Courses

The following general education courses MUST be completed with a grade “C” or better prior to application submission beginning with the May 15 - 31, 2025 application and all future applications.

•    BIO 250 (BIO 149 or 151 may be a prerequisite)
•    BIO 251
•    BIO 240
•    COMM 101 *
•    ENG 101 *
•    HEAL 109
•    NURS 100
•    PSYC 101 *

*Dual credit course offered at many high schools.

Elective Course Requirement

A 4-credit elective course completed with a grade "C" or better will be required prior to completion of the nursing program. This may be taken prior to or concurrently with the nursing program and can be any course the student selects.

Recommended:
BIO 149
MATH 128

Clinical Agency Policy Requirements

Students in the nursing program must follow each clinical agency’s policy regarding tattoos that are not hidden by clothing. All tattoos must be covered unless covering poses an infection control issue (i.e., hand tattoos).

Jewelry must reflect professionalism and asepsis and must be limited to a watch, a single pair of small post-type earrings and a plain wedding band. Students with ear gauges must wear a solid, skin-tone plug in the stretched lobe(s); gauges must be no larger than a nickel. Nothing can be dangling or hanging below the ear including, but not limited to, jewelry or ear tissue.

Vaccine Requirements

All nursing programs (CNA, LPN, RN, LPN to RN Transition) strongly recommend that all students be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 prior to entrance into the program in order to complete the clinical requirements of the program. Proof of other immunity and/or vaccination, a drug screen and criminal background check are also required and will be communicated to applicants when provisionally accepted into the program. If a student is accepted into the program and fails the criminal background check and drug screen and/or does not have the mandatory vaccinations, the student will be removed from the program.

Nursing Program at JJC

The nursing program of Joliet Junior College has a rich history, with the first nursing class of 11 having graduated in 1971. 

Today, more than 100 students graduate from both the practical nurse program and the registered nurse program annually. Our students have the benefit of a state-of-the-art simulation center in the Health Professions Center. High-fidelity simulation enhances our students' education and adds to the realism of the learning experience.

The 2024 figures from the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) show the rates for candidates who have completed the registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) tests for the past five years. It is based on their completion of the licensure examinations for the first time upon graduating from an Illinois-approved nursing education program.

JJC’s first-time pass rate in 2024 for the NCLEX-RN was 93%. That’s well above the national average of 91%. 

As for the NCLEX-PN, JJC’s first-time pass rate in 2024 was 99%. By comparison, the national rate was 88%.

Registered Nurse (R.N.)

The Associate Degree Nursing program is designed for persons who wish to become registered nurses (R.N.). The program combines classroom experience on main campus with clinical experience in community health facilities.

Practical Nurse (P.N.)

The Certificate of Achievement pathway will be earned after the first year of nursing courses and is designed for persons who wish to become Practical Nurses (P.N.). The program combines classroom experience on main campus with clinical experience in community health facilities.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (R.N.) Transition

This pathway is designed to assist the non-collegiate Licensed Practical Nurse in the role changes necessary for transition to the ADN (RN preparation) curriculum at JJC.

Certified Nurse Assistant Training Course

The Certified Nurse Assistant Training course (NA 101) prepares students to administer patient care as a member of a nursing team in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and other extended care facilities.

Free Kaplan Test Prep for JJC Students

Beginning in March 2025, JJC students will have access to free, comprehensive test prep courses designed to help them prepare for professional certifications and licensing exams in high-demand fields as well as skills development courses.

JJC is participating in the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program, a first-of-its-kind workforce development and education initiative. This program, administered through a partnership with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and Kaplan, provides students with access to more than 30 test prep courses at no cost. Such courses include those in allied health, business/ financial courses, cybersecurity, military, nursing, and professional skills.

To learn more and register for this free test prep, visit the Tutoring and Learning Center test preparation webpage.