Complete Selective Admissions Courses

FCC nursing programs have prerequisite courses for all students. New FCC Students should apply to the College by completing all admissions steps, and then complete all prerequisite courses. For more information or assistance, email or call the Admissions Office at 301.629.7896, or stop by the Admissions Office in the Student Center (H-106). Recommended course pathways are listed under the curriculum for each program. 

Pre-Health Professions: Associate Degree in Nursing Information Sheet and Point Scale


Pre-Health Professions: Practical Nursing Certificate Information Sheet and Point Scale

The application period for each program will open for a pre-determined amount of time. The deadlines for each program are listed below. During the open application period, a link will be available on this page. Please review the Nursing Requirements page for additional information about the nursing application process.

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Daytime Program: February 1st
LPN Program: February 1st
Transition to RN program: May 1st
RN Evening & Weekend Program:  September 15th

*Nursing Program Financial Information, Fees & Expenses

TEAS

The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) measures basic essential skills in the academic content areas of reading, mathematics, science, and English. The TEAS is used as a part of the admissions process in most Nursing programs across the nation. The minimum qualifying scores to be considered for admission to FCC’s Nursing Program have been determined by a committee of Nursing educators and assessment specialists and supported by peer‐reviewed evidence.

Students who wish to apply for admission to FCC's Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program (including Transition-to-RN applicants)  or FCC’s Practical Nursing (LPN) Certificate program must complete the TEAS and earn minimum qualifying TEAS scores before the application deadline for the respective program. If a student does not complete the TEAS and earn qualifying TEAS scores to submit with their application to the Nursing Program, their application will not be evaluated.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TEAS

WHEN SHOULD I TAKE THE TEAS?

• Students must register for and take the TEAS prior to their appropriate application deadline. Applicants must complete the TEAS prior to submitting their application to the program, and applicants must earn a score that qualifies their application for consideration by the nursing program (see “SCORE” information below).
• It is recommended that students take the TEAS 2-to-3 months prior to the application deadline. The TEAS must be completed and qualifying TEAS scores earned prior to the application deadline.

WHEN IS THE TEAS OFFERED?

• Please refer to the ATI website for TEAS testing information, or contact FCC’s Testing Center ([email protected]) or FCC’s Advising Office ([email protected]).
• Students must complete the TEAS and earn qualifying TEAS scores before the application deadline of February 1st for the daytime cohort of the Associate Degree in Nursing or the Practical Nursing Certificate program, or by the September 15th application deadline for the evening and weekend cohort of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE TEAS?

• Students will need their FCC ID number, a credit card, internet‐access, and an e‐mail address to complete the online registration.
• TEAS registration information can be found online the ATI website.  The applicant will need to create an account. It is important to remember the username and password, as it is needed to access the TEAS on test day.

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TEAS:

• Register and pay for the TEAS on the ATI website.
• On the right, above the log‐in fields, click on the link and follow the instructions to “Create an Account with ATI.”
• Continue on the website for choosing the institution where the exam will be taken.
• Drop down menus will appear. Select "Maryland" in the state field and "Frederick" in the city field and click the "NEXT" button.
• You should then see the upcoming dates the TEAS will be offered here at FCC. Click the "Register" link next to the date on which you wish to take the TEAS.
• A summary will appear and the applicant can verify the order is correct, then continue and pay for the TEAS appointment with a credit card.
• When prompted, choose "ADN" for the Associate’s Degree in Nursing or RN program or “PN” for the Practical Nursing Certificate program.  Ignore any other option that may appear.

WHERE SHOULD I GO ON MY SCHEDULED TEST DATE?
Review information on the ATI website regarding accessing the TEAS on test day.  Contact FCC’s Testing Center ([email protected]) with any questions.

HOW LONG DOES THE TEST TAKE?
Nursing applicants should allow four (4) hours to take the test. Please arrive or log in early, as testing will start promptly at the scheduled times. Nursing applicants will not be allowed to test upon late arrival or login, and will forfeit testing fees. Nursing applicants are able to reschedule by following the Registration Instructions listed above.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO THE TEST?
Review information on the ATI website regarding required and allowable materials for testing.  Contact FCC’s Testing Center ([email protected]) with any questions.

HOW MUCH DOES THE TEST COST?
For cost of taking ATI TEAS, see current cost information at www.atitesting.com. Non‐FCC students applying to other programs must pay an additional $30 testing fee. The FCC Testing Center accepts cash, check made payable to FCC, and credit or bank cards.

WHAT IF I'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE TEAS AT ANOTHER SCHOOL?

• TEAS scores that qualify an application for review (see “SCORE” FAQs) and that will be less than two years old at the application deadline are valid and can be submitted with the application to the Nursing Program. Nursing applicants must log into the ATI website and request that a copy of previous scores be sent to the FCC Testing Center. FCC Testing Center contact information is available on the ATI website.  Nursing applicants must upload a copy of their qualifying TEAS scores, which shows scores for all areas of the TEAS, with their online application to FCC’s Nursing Program.
• Only ATI TEAS scores are accepted for application to FCC’s Nursing Program. 
• If TEAS scores will be older than 2 years at the application deadline, the TEAS must be taken again and qualifying TEAS scores must be earned for an applicant to be considered for admission.

HOW CAN I STUDY FOR THE TEAS?

• ATI offers a study manual and two practice assessments for the TEAS. These study materials can be found on the ATI website. For information about study materials, click on "ATI Product Solutions" and "Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)."
• Students may also purchase TEAS study materials from FCC’s Bookstore.
• Copies of the ATI Official study manual are available on reserve in FCC’s Gladhill Learning Commons (Linganore Hall).   These copies cannot be checked out of the library and students should refrain from marking up the manuals.
• There are other websites that offer TEAS prep material. (Simply search online for "TEAS test prep" or "TEAS practice questions"), and there are apps than can be downloaded to smartphones.
• In general, first‐year level classes at FCC should also be good preparation for the TEAS. The Science portion of the TEAS does require some knowledge of general cell biology, basic chemistry, and topics covered in Anatomy & Physiology.

HOW OFTEN CAN I TAKE THE TEAS?

• Students can take the TEAS twice during each application and admissions cycle. There are application and admission cycles in the fall semester and in the spring/summer semester each academic year. Please consult the Nursing Department website for application due dates.. 
• The TEAS must be paid for each time it is taken. It is possible for a nursing applicant to take the TEAS twice in each testing (admission and application) window, as long as the applicant schedules an appointment for one of the days offered in the beginning of the testing window dates.
• Students can take the TEAS one time only during any 30‐day period. Students who wish to take the TEAS a second time must wait a minimum of 30 days in between attempts.

SCORES
An applicant must submit qualifying TEAS scores with their application to the Nursing Program to be considered for admission.
Minimum qualifying TEAS Score – all scores must be achieved on the same test:

• Overall score in the proficient range or above (minimum 58.7% overall) and
• Minimum math score of 69% and
• Minimum reading score of 69%

 A qualifying TEAS score cannot be older than 2 years at the application deadline.

WHAT DO I DO ONCE I HAVE MY TEAS SCORES?

• When scores meet the minimum qualifying requirements: A copy of the results must be submitted to the FCC Testing Center if taken through another testing location. When taking the TEAS through the FCC Testing Center, students will receive a printed copy of their scores soon after completion of the test. Nursing applicants may request a personal copy of the results. These scores will be verified with ATI once your scores becomes official. If the TEAS was taken somewhere other than FCC, students must request an official copy of their scores from ATI. ATI charges for a transcript request, and this can be paid by credit or bank card. Visit the ATI website and log in. Students need to upload TEAS exam results showing all qualifying scores for all sections of the TEAS with the online Nursing Program application.
• When scores DO NOT meet the minimum requirements: Nursing applicants will not be considered for admission to any of the three nursing programs. Review materials are available for studying and applicants may retake the TEAS at least 30 days after their previous attempt. Applicant must earn qualifying TEAS scores prior to the application deadline.  .
• How do I report my score? If the TEAS exam is taken through the Testing Center at FCC, the student will print out 2 copies of the results. One copy is for the student, the other copy is for the Testing Center.  Each applicant must upload a copy of their qualifying TEAS scores with their application to FCC’s Nursing Program regardless of whether they completed the TEAS through FCC’s Testing Center or through another Testing Location. The uploaded TEAS scores must show scores for all sections of the TEAS exam.

Math for Medication Safety For Clinical Students

• Practice Test 
  • On the Blackboard website, click “Community Resources” tab after log in
    • Current FCC students log in with username and password
    • Non-FCC students log in with generic username: nursingstudent1 and password: fcc1234
  • Continue to “Organizational Catalog” and click “Nursing Program”
  • Select “Nursing Program Math for Medication Safety Test for Clinical Students” and click the drop-down box (“˅”) located to the left
  • Click “Enroll”
  • Click “Submit” to complete the self-enrollment, then click “OK”
  • Click “Practice Test” to begin
• Test Schedule (see below)
• Free Internet Links for Dosage Calculation Practice (see below)

All clinical nursing students enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester are required to pass the Math for Medication Safety Test with a 95% on or before February 3, 2020. If a student is unable to meet this expectation, the student will be unable to attend clinical and will receive an Unsatisfactory in Professional Behaviors and will meet with the Director of Nursing Education. It is in the student's best interest to take the test as soon as possible (avoid waiting until the last moment).

The Math for Medication Safety Test is a proctored online format. Only approved nursing calculators can be used during the test. Blank paper will be provided. If a student is unsuccessful on the first attempt, the online program will provide feedback for any missed questions. Clinical nursing students that did not receive a 95% or better on the first proctored attempt, will complete the practice test again for remediation, using their own Blackboard log in (do not use the generic account) In order to proceed with the second attempt, the student will obtain a score of 100% on the practice test, and email John Tuskan to indicate the remediation has occurred. The Testing Center will then be notified that you can take the 2nd attempt. There will no longer be a need to print and have the remediation signed by the nursing office. After two unsuccessful attempts, the student must complete a remediation packet. Students needing remediation should email John Tuskan for further information. Failure to succeed on the third attempt will result in the student's withdrawal from the program. Readmission to the program in a future semester is on a space available basis.

To prepare for this format, a practice test is available for your review. It is extremely important that you visit this site PRIOR to taking the Math for Medication Safety Test to gain familiarity with the format. 

There will be 20 dosage calculation problems on each test. Content review should include:
 

1. Conversion between units of measure (metric and household)
2. IV flow rates and infusion times (including international time)
3. Interpreting drug labels and calculating dosage from the label information
4. Reconstitution of drugs from a powder including calculation of dose
5. Weight based dosage calculation

Any questions or concerns, please contact John Tuskan.

Downloads and Links
Free Internet Links for Dosage Calculation Practice

DosageHelp.com

Test and Calc

Students can review content pertaining to the Math for Medication Safety test prior to attempting the test. A review of dosage calculations is available free on the intranet at the above sites. In addition, students should be able to calculate infusion times in hours/minutes and answer questions in international/military time.

There are two ways to register for classes:

1. Register online for credit courses using Campus Solutions
2. Register in-person via the Enrollment Center (Jefferson Hall Suite 101).

In addition to registering for classes, Campus Solutions allows you to make a payment, see your grades, obtain unofficial transcripts, print class schedules, and update your personal information.