Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Associate of Applied Science in Health Science - Practical Nursing Specialization

Associate of Applied Science
Danville Community College

The Associate of Applied Science in Health Science - Practical Nursing Specialization is designed to prepare students for career as licensed practical nurses. This program requires students to develop a firmer foundation in positive practices, anatomy and physiology, and applied mathematics than is required in typical practical nursing certificates. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination, leading to licensure as a Licensed Pra


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree This AAS degree in Practical Nursing is for students who wish to develop professionally in the areas of health care education, community health, or more advanced nursing training and supervision. Certain criminal convictions may prevent licensure as a nurse in Virginia and may also prohibit employment in certain health care settings. Students convicted of any felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude/barrier crimes do not qualify for the DCC Nursing programs. Clinical facilities will not allow students to complete clinical hours, meaning that students will not be able to meet the Virginia Board of Nursing requirements, nor meet the credit requirement for graduation. Any student who has committed illegal offenses other than minor traffic violations should discuss with the program head.
Considerations When Selecting Courses

DCC's practical nursing program is academically rigorous, with more applicants than available seats. Admission is on a selective (not first-come, first-served) basis, focusing on the student's past academic performance and results of the entrance exam. In order to advance to the next semester, students must earn a grade of "C" or better in all course work. Students must also demonstrate satisfactory attendance and performance in nursing clinical areas.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Danville Community College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree Upon completion, graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN).
Program Successes & Highlights The Virginia Board of Nursing and the State Council for Higher Education have approved and/or accredited the development, implementation, and continuation of this program. DCC's program requires students to develop a firmer foundation in positive practices, anatomy and physiology, and applied mathematics than is required in typical practical nursing programs.
Program Credit Requirements
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Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. lf you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.

The program map provided below is an estimate based on courses identified as a result of reviewing your portfolio and the requirements for the selected program.

A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Requirements
Required Credits
Associate of Applied Science in Health Science - Practical Nursing Specialization
66
Associate of Applied Science in Health Science - Practical Nursing Specialization
66
Course Grad Req-195-01
66
First Semester
19
NUR 100
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
ENG 111: College Composition I
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 161: Nursing in Health Cha
6
Earn 6 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT 141: Terminology
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 173: Pharmacology I
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
BIO 141: Human Anat & Phys I
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Second Semester
16
PNE 162
10
Earn 10 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 174
2
Earn 2 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
BIO 142
4
Earn 4 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Third Semester
19
PNE 163: Nursing Health Change
9
Earn 9 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 135: Maternal and Child He
5
Earn 5 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
PNE 145: Trends in Practical N
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Practical Nursing Elective
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
PNE 158: Mental Health & Psych
1
Earn 1 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
Fourth Semester
11
Humanities Elective I
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course list:
PSY 230: Developmental Psychol
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
HLT 230
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
MTH 133
3
Earn 3 credits by completing courses from the following Course:
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion A minimum of 25% of the credit required for graduation in the curriculum must be earned at DCC.The program administrator responsible for evaluating a student’s previous coursework shall determine the acceptability of each course the student wishes to transfer or apply toward the program requirements based upon his/her knowledge of any changes that have occurred since the course(s) was completed; Give particular attention to courses in areas that have had significant technological changes in recent years (e.g., electronics, automotive, graphic imaging, information systems, administrative support technology, etc.); As deemed appropriate, seek the input of faculty or other administrators regarding the proper course of action.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Academically accelerated program for students planning to enter a four-year college. Qualified juniors complete the last two years of high school at DCC. Students earn an Advanced Studies high school diploma and a two-year Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in Liberal Arts at the same time.
Credit for Prior Learning Credit may be granted for prior learning for non-collegiate education, training, and/or occupational experiences as recommended by college faculty, ACE, the National College Credit Recommendation Service, or another college-approved organization. Students may be awarded college credit if they can demonstrate previous educational study or training/work experience that entitles them to credit for specific courses applicable to their program of study. Documentation for special training or experience must be submitted with the request for credit and will be retained in the student’s file. The supporting documentation must include samples of work or projects completed. Students wishing to be awarded previous completion credit for a specific course should contact the appropriate division office in which the course is taught. DCC reserves the right to place a time limit on prior learning experiences for which advanced standing may be granted. The division dean, in consultation with the admissions coordinator, will determine if courses taken more than five years previously can be used in the student’s current program of study.
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Danville Community College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Danville Community College offers small class sizes and affordable tuition. The college offers several student clubs including the African American Culture Club, the Cyber Knights, and more.
Transfer Student Catalog Year A catalog year is based on the time a student was formally admitted to a program of study.
First Year Student Catalog Year All students who are initially placed in a program (including Developmental Studies) are placed in a catalog year at the same time.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions Danville Community College has Guaranteed Admissions Agreements with many public and private four-year institutions in the commonwealth. These transfer partnerships assist students in making a smooth transition from one institution to the next by maximizing community college credits. It’s never too early to begin planning for a smooth transfer to another institution. Your decisions and commitment to a specific program and university directly impact the success of transferring credits. The longer you wait to make a decision, the more you risk delaying degree completion. We recommend the following: 1) By the time you have earned 15 credits, declare your intent to transfer. 2) By the time you are mid-way through your academic program, declare your major and university.
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1071.00Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
29-2099.00Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherAll health technologists and technicians not listed separately.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099.01Neurodiagnostic TechnologistsConduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099.05Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistsAssist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099.08Patient RepresentativesAssist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 66 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Associate of Applied Science in Health Science - Practical Nursing Specialization at Danville Community College
These costs are based on an estimated 4 semesters or 2 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $159 Per Credit $10,494 $0 $10,494
Fees
Student Activity Fee $2 Per Credit $132 0 $132
Maintenance Fee $1 Per Credit $66 0 $66
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.