Paradise Valley Community College
Paradise Valley Community College is a two-year college founded in 1985 in northeastern Phoenix, Arizona. PVCC was established by the Maricopa County Community College District and was initially named the Northeast Valley Education Center. The present name was adopted the following year. PVCC became an independent college in 1990 and was previously an extension of Scottsdale Community College. PVCC continues to expand, with over 14,000 students and a new building for the study of life sciences. The number of employees has also grown, from 62 total employees in 1987 to over 695 employees today.
Paradise Valley Community College provides multiple pathways to starting a career in the nursing field. This includes a Nurse Assisting Certificate of Completion (CCL) and an Associates in Applied Sciences degree in nursing. The CCL is designed to prepare nursing students for entry-level jobs in the healthcare field. Students receive classroom instruction and clinical labs. After completing the course, students may take a written and practical certification examination to begin working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS) degree is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and is available through eight of the Maricopa Community Colleges. Students require a GED or high school diploma and are welcome to apply with a formal application.
Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing as part of the MaricopaNursing program. This program is designed to prepare students for a career as a Registered Nurse (RN) and provides various pathways to achieve this goal, including the Traditional Program and the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP), which allows students to simultaneously earn their AAS and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Admission Requirements
To apply to the nursing program, students must meet the following prerequisites:
- Courses:
- BIO201: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- ENG101 or ENG107: First-Year Composition
- MAT140 or higher: College Mathematics
- CHM130: Fundamental Chemistry (with lab), or equivalent high school chemistry.
- Certification: Completion of a Nurse Assistant (NA) course or holding a current Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) certification.
- Fingerprint Clearance: An unrestricted Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
- Entrance Exam: Passing scores on the HESI A2 exam, with at least 80% in English Composition and 75% in Math.
Additional Options and Pathways
Students can also participate in the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP), where they can work towards both their AAS and BSN concurrently in partnership with several universities. For those already holding an LPN or paramedic certification, there are advanced placement options available.
Waitlist and Advisement
The program is competitive, and applicants may be placed on a waitlist. During this time, PVCC encourages students to complete co-requisite courses such as BIO202 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II), BIO205 (Microbiology), and ENG102 (First-Year Composition II), which can enhance their readiness for the program and future BSN pursuits.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
NCLEX-PN Pass Rates
Accreditations
Nursing Programs Accreditations
- Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission)
Institutional Accreditations
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Nearby Nursing Schools
