Page updated:  August 4, 2008

To be eligible for the Columbia Basin College Nursing program, each of the following requirements must be met:

• Completed application to Columbia Basin College. Have all previous college transcripts transferred to CBC.
• Demonstrate completion of high school with a GPA of atleast 2.0 or GED certificate.
• Eligible to enter English 101 (English Composition) based on COMPASS exam scores.
• Qualify for a five-credit mathematics class above 100 level based on COMPASS exam score.
• Completed one year of high school chemistry within the past five years or a five-credit college level introductory chemistry course with a grade of 2.0 or better. Students must be able to demonstrate proof of high school course with submitted high school transcript. 
• Eligible to enter BIO 241/BIO 242, Anatomy/Physiology I and II, or BIO 260 (Microbiology).
• Submit Nursing program application to Admissions by March of each year for the fall class.
• Students are admitted using an admissions index system, which includes the GPA of four selected courses, the TEAS examination score and course completion scores from all pre-nursing courses. All applications are reviewed at the close of winter quarter. Students with the highest admissions index score will be admitted first. Admission to the Nursing program is limited, and completion of entrance requirements does not ensure admission to the program. For additional information and the admissions index system, please see below. 

The Columbia Basin College Nursing program utilizes three elements within the entrance requirements for program admission. Those elements include (A) cumulative grade point average among selected prerequisite courses, (B) pre-nursing assessment score, and (C) departmental course completion score index. Each of these elements is outlined further below. These three elements will be combined for a total Nursing program Admissions Index Score based on a total point value of 30 total points.

A. Cumulative Grade Point

The cumulative grade point of the following courses will be calculated for the entrance index score.

1. Chemistry (high school Chemistry within the past five years or college level introductory Chemistry course) - 5 Credits*
2. Biology 241 and 241L (Anatomy and Physiology I) - 6 Credits
3. College Math Over 100 - 5 Credits*
4. English 101 (English Composition) - 5 Credits*

* If more than one 5 credit college Chemistry or Math above 100 is taken, the Nursing program will choose the highest grade to use within the Admissions Index Score. 

The cumulative GPA (from a total possible cumulative score of 4.0) will be multiplied by a factor of 2.5 for 10 total possible points.

Letter grades (including those received from transferring colleges or universities) will be assigned the following decimal scores according to our campus policy:

A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- + 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- + 1.7, D+ =1.3, D= 1.0, D- = 0.7

B. Pre-Nursing Assessment Score

The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) pre-nursing assessment score will be utilized to assess math, English, and science comprehension at the time of application. The assessment will be provided through the Columbia Basin College Assessment Center based on student demand and independent scheduling. Results will be forwarded to the Admissions' office for placement of score results within respective student files. The test will be provided at specific times throughout the academic year, primarily during fall quarter. Please contact either the Nursing program or the Assessment Center for test availability dates.

The TEAS exam needs to be completed within two years prior to application due date.  Students may take the exam a maximum of two times per academic year.  The highest test score will be used in determining the admission index. 

The total pre-nursing assessment score (from a total possible score of 100) will be divided by a factor of 10 for 10 total possible points.

C. Departmental Course Completion Score

The departmental course completion score is a cumulative score based on the total number of non-nursing courses completed for an individual student. This score is calculated to include winter quarter classes (or fall semester classes where appropriate). The courses and their score are provided below: (Please note: for transfer courses, a transcript evaluation must be completed by the Registrar’s office at Columbia Basin College prior to the calculation of the Departmental Course Completion Score. Transfer courses will not be assigned a point value until the official transcript evaluation has been completed.)

Course Number	Subject	Points
Biology-BIO 241/241L	Anatomy & Physiology I	5
Biology 242/242L	Anatomy and Physiology II	5
Biology 260/260L	Microbiology	5
English 101	English Composition	1
Psychology 100	General Psychology	1
Psychology 200	Lifespan Psychology	1
Communication Studies 101	Speech Essentials	1
Math over 100	College Math	2
Pre-Nursing Program	Tri-Tech Skills Center	2

The departmental course completion score (from a total possible score of 23) will be divided by a factor of 2.3 for 10 total possible points.

The total Nursing program Admissions Index Score, including the three elements outlined above will total no more than 30 points. When the student makes application to the department, the Admissions Index Score will be computed and recorded for class cohort comparison. Those students with the top Admissions Index Scores (based on the total number of new admissions allowed in a given year) will be admitted to the Nursing program.

Example Computation

Element	Raw	Function	Factor	Total
GPA	4.0	Multiply	2.5	10
Assessment Score	100	Divide	10	10
Course Score	23	Divide	2.3	10

Example Student 1

Element	Raw	Factor	Total
GPA	3.76	2.5	9.400
Assessment Score	93	10	9.300
Course Score	20	2.3	8.696
Total Admissions Index Score			27.396

Example Student 2

Element	Raw	Factor	Total
GPA	3.99	2.5	9.975
Assessment Score	75	10	7.500
Course Score	22	2.3	9.565
Total Admissions Index Score			27.040

Example Student 3

Element	Raw	Factor	Total
GPA	2.79	2.5	6.975
Assessment Score	90	10	9.000
Course Score	22	2.3	9.565
Total Admissions Index Score			25.540

The Nursing program Admissions Index Score helps to provide equity among student applicants. Overall, the Nursing program Admissions Index Score computation provides a dynamic index of comparison for students applying to the Columbia Basin College Nursing program.