• Introduction & Application Procedure
• Academic Placement
• Transfer Credit & Acceptance Criteria
• Tuition, Fees & Other Expenses
• Program-Specific Information
• Nursing
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Radiography
• Physical Therapist Assistant

Introduction

This document covers admission to the professional phases of four health professions programs: Nursing (A.S.), Radiography (A.A.S.), Medical Laboratory Technology (A.A.S.), and Physical Therapist Assistant (A.A.S.). Contact the college's Admissions Office for information about the two cooperative programs in nursing conducted jointly with Capital Health System School of Nursing and St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing, and for details on MCCC courses that cover the first year of Brookdale Community College's Respiratory Therapy program.

General Application Procedures

Mercer is an open-door institution which welcomes applications from students 18 years or older who possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. Adult applicants are admitted without regard to race, gender, or national origin. However, admission to the college does not guarantee acceptance into a degree program. Students seeking admission to one of the four programs in the health professions should complete the college’s general application and take the appropriate academic placement test to determine their first courses in English and mathematics. Initially, students will be accepted into the access program corresponding to their intended degree program (Nursing Science, Radiography Science, Medical Laboratory Technology Science, or Physical Therapist Assistant Science). The criteria for earning a seat in the technical and professional courses are summarized below.

Academic Placement and Preparatory Courses

The results of the placement test will help identify any need for developmental coursework in reading, composition, basic mathematics, or elementary algebra. These courses must be completed before a student will be considered for admission to the professional phase of a health program. Students whose native language is not English should complete the English as a second language (ESL) placement test and complete all requirements indicated by the test results. Students who did not complete at least one year of high school laboratory science and students whose background in the sciences is old or weak may be expected to complete one or more courses as follows:

Your advisor may recommend other courses for you during your preparatory period. These include:

Transfer Credits

In general, you can expect to receive credit for any college courses in which you earned a grade of “C” or higher if it is comparable to a course required in the program. Science courses generally are not accepted if the credits are more than five years old. Credits for professional courses are sharply limited. It is your responsibility to ensure that Mercer receives transcript evidence of work from other colleges and that the corresponding Mercer course is entered on your transcript. Normally, transfer credits will be entered on your transcript after your first semester is underway. You may be asked to provide copies of course descriptions or other information to assist with transfer credit evaluations.

Criteria for Acceptance into the Professional Phase

In order to be considered for admission to the professional phase of your program, you must have completed all basic skills and ESL courses and be eligible to enroll in college-level English and mathematics. The following general principles are applied to ensure fairness and objectivity in the acceptance process if the number of candidates exceeds the number of available seats:

1. Students who have completed all mathematics and science courses required in the program will be accepted first. Only courses with grades of “C” or higher will be considered, and candidates must have an overall GPA above 2.0. Students will be accepted in the order of their first matriculation into the corresponding “access” program, with acceptance going first to those who have been waiting longest. Overall GPA rank will be the final determinant if the number of students in this category exceeds the number of available seats.
2. Students who have completed some but not all of the required science and mathematics courses will be considered next. Selection will be made using the same criteria as above. First consideration will be extended to those who have completed all but one of the required science and math courses; second consideration will go to those who have completed all but two of these courses; etc. Higher priority will go to those who have plan for completing the remaining required courses on a timely schedule.

The following science and mathematics courses are used in the above selection process:

NOTE: The college reserves the right to restrict applications to Mercer County residents during periods of high demand.  Readmission to the professional phase is on a space-available basis after all qualified new and continuing students are accommodated.  Candidates for readmission must meet the same GPA and course criteria as new students.

Costs

In addition to the tuition and fees established by the college, students in health profession programs can expect higher than average textbook costs and fees ($100-125) for each clinical course. Students also should be prepared for the cost to meet the health requirement (estimated at $200.00); this expense may be covered by some health care policies or by employers of students who currently work in the healthcare industry. Other costs include uniforms, lab coats, name tags, and minor equipment purchases such as goggles and stethoscopes. These expenses are estimated at $100.00 for a two-year program. Finally, students are required to provide their own transportation to the clinical sites to which they are assigned. (Students should not expect that the college will be able to accommodate their geographic preferences for clinical assignments.)

Program-Specific Information

All candidates must fulfill a health requirement consisting of a comprehensive physical examination that includes specific vaccinations and laboratory tests. In addition, each program has specific policies and procedures affecting enrollment and graduation. A summary of this information appears below. For details beyond what is covered here, consult the current MCCC catalog, the coordinator/director of the program, or the Science and Allied Health Division office. Candidates are reminded that the national or state agency responsible for licensure in the profession applies its own criteria to determine eligibility to practice. For example, these agencies reserve the right to deny a license to a candidate who was previously convicted of a felony. Finally, all students must comply with the rules, regulations, and access privileges determined by the clinical agencies to which they are assigned during their program.

Summary of Program-Specific Policies and Procedures

Programs in the health professions must conform to licensure and accreditation requirements defined by external agencies. If you are considering one of these programs, we want you to be fully informed about what you can expect. The summaries below provide information specific to each program. For clarification or additional details, contact the coordinator of the program or the Science and Allied Health division office.

NURSING
Linda Martin, Director
(609) 586-4800 x3526 (martinl@mccc.edu)

** NOTICE **
At the present time, due to the overwhelming increase in applications, the RN Nursing Program at Mercer County Community College is currently open only to Mercer County residents and those out-of-county students matriculated into the Nursing Science major (22790) prior to May 15, 2003.

• Two different cycles are available: a daytime program which starts in late August of each academic year and an evening/weekend option which starts in January of each year. The evening/weekend option is intended for part-time students who cannot attend during the daytime. When they are ready to commence the professional phase of the program, candidates should complete a Petition to Commence Nursing I by February 15 (for the fall term) and by October 1 (for the evening/weekend program starting in January). Copies of the form for this purpose are available from the Nursing Department office.
• Licensed practical nurses who meet both the admissions and program requirements may earn up to nine advanced placement credits in nursing by successful achievement on selected proficiency examinations. Consult the college catalog for details.
• Nursing courses may be attempted only twice. Students who wish to repeat a course must meet the admissions requirements of all other students (grades of “C” or higher in science and math courses;GPA above 2.0). Readmission is on a space-available basis after all newly qualified and continuing students are registered. Applicants for readmission should meet the same deadlines noted above for new applicants. Some students may find it necessary or helpful to repeat other courses or enroll in general education courses to improve their academic standing and eligibility for readmission to the nursing program.
• If you find it necessary to suspend participation for one or more semesters and intend to return to the program in the future, you should inform the director of the nursing program in writing at the time of your departure. You are also expected to submit a letter indicating your interest in returning as follows: by October 1 for readmission for the spring term, and by February 15 for return in the fall.

MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
Prof. Jane O'Reilly, Coordinator
(609) 586-4800 x3387 (oreillyj@mccc.edu)

• Full-time, daytime attendance is required for the technical/professional phase of the program. Clinical activities in the final term span 18 weeks, commencing in early January (before the college’s spring term begins) and ending in June.
• MLT students must be able to perform specific physical tasks and meet specific performance standards before graduation. A description of these tasks and performance standards is available from the MLT office.
• Immunization for Hepatitis B is required at the time of admission to the professional phase of the program.

RADIOGRAPHY
Prof. Sandra Kerr, Coordinator,
(609) 586-4800 x3337 (kerrs@mccc.edu)

The Mission of Mercer County Community College's Radiography Program:

To offer the best college based training and learning experience possible to qualified men and women in order to prepare and graduate caring, professional, knowledgeable and technologically competent practitioners of medical radiography.

In order to accomplish its mission, the program has the following goals:

• To offer a curriculum that prepares graduates to be technologically competent, knowledgeable, and compassionate to practice in an entry-level radiography position.
• To develop critical thinking and effective communication skills necessary to perform a wide variety of radiographic procedures.
• To encourage fervor for life-long learning while demonstrating professional commitment, and identifying resources available to graduates.

• Candidates should complete a Petition to Commence the Professional Phase of the Radiography Program by February 28. The Petition is available in the Science and Allied Health Division.
• Full-time, daytime attendance is required for the technical/professional phase of the program. Clinical activities extend beyond the end of the college’s conventional spring calendar. Consult the program coordinator for specific scheduling information.
• Radiography courses may be attempted only twice. Students wishing to repeat a course must wait at least one semester before seeking readmission and must submit a letter to the program coordinator by February 1 requesting consideration for the ensuing fall term. Students seeking readmission to first-semester radiography courses must satisfy the same eligibility requirements of all other students (grade of “C” or higher in science and mathematics courses; overall GPA above 2.0). Some students may find it necessary to repeat one or more science, mathematics, or general education courses to improve their qualifications for readmission.
• Radiography students must be able to perform specific tasks and are required to meet explicit technical standards each semester. These requirements will be provided to candidates during their first advisement session with program faculty. Applicants may obtain a copy of the standards in advance by submitting a request to the Radiography department.
• The program’s pregnancy policy is based on the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recommendations. This policy has two primary goals: (1) To minimize the potential for exposure to ionizing radiation; and (2) to assure that the student is able to complete all program courses. The pregnancy policy will be provided to candidates during their first advisement session with program faculty. Applicants may obtain a copy of the policy in advance by submitting a request to the Radiography department.

Physical Therapist Assistant
Prof. Barbara Behrens, Coordinator
(609) 586-4800 x3385 (behrensb@mccc.edu)

• Full-time, daytime attendance is required for the technical/professional phase of the program, and all technical/professional courses must be completed within a three-year time frame.
• Courses may be attempted only twice. Students wishing to repeat a course must satisfy the same eligibility requirements of all new candidates (“C” or higher in mathematics and science courses; overall GPA above 2.0). Readmission is on a space available basis after all newly qualified and continuing students are accommodated. Some students may find it necessary to improve their academic standing by repeating one or more courses in science or mathematics.
• Students who are admitted to the technical/professional phase will be expected to perform specific physical tasks each semester and to meet certain performance criteria (known as essential functions) before graduation. A list of these essential functions will be provided to candidates during their first advisement session with program faculty. Applicants may obtain a copy in advance by submitting a request to the PTA department.