This document provides information about applying to the Practical Nursing Diploma program at HGTC, which is a 3 semester program. There are two application periods each year, with deadlines of January 31st and May 31st. Applicants must meet admission requirements by completing prerequisite courses and have a minimum GPA, or by achieving a minimum score on the TEAS entrance exam. Acceptance is competitive based on a points system. The document outlines the application process and requirements, program expenses, and additional resources for applicants.

1. Practical Nursing Diploma
3 semester program
Admission is based on weighted criteria.
Accelerated Program – most courses are accelerated and
are completed in 8 weeks.
Applications Due:
January 1st-31st for a seat in the Summer semester class
(May) on the Grand Strand campus.
May 1st – 31st for a seat in the Fall semester class
(August) on the Georgetown Campus.
Early, late or incomplete applications will not be
reviewed for admission.

2. To Apply for the Practical Nursing
program you must:
1. Apply to and be accepted at HGTC, which
includes paying the $30 application fee,
submitting official high school and college
transcripts and submitting the “Additional
Admission/Placement Requirements
Affidavit.”( The Affidavit is viewable on the
next slide and may be printed from the
“Forms” box on the Libguides page.)
2. Complete the requirements for one of the
two options.
3. Have a 2.00 GPA in all prerequisite/core
courses completed with C’s or higher and all
courses within the required time limits.

3. Additional Admission
Placement Affidavit

4. Practical Nursing Core Courses
ENG 101* – English Composition
PSY 201 – General Psychology
MAT 155 - Contemporary Mathematics(10 year time limit)
BIO 210 ***– Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 211 – Anatomy and Physiology II(5 year time limit)
*English Progression/dependent on test scores: ENG 032-ENG 100-ENG 101
**Math Progression/dependent on test scores: MAT 032-MAT 155
***BIO 210 has a prerequisite of BIO 101, BIO 112 or CHM 110 or the required
placement test scores:
Compass: Reading – 85, Writing – 78, Algebra – 46
SAT: Verbal - 480, Math – 440
ACT: Reading -19, English – 19, Math-21

5. Option B: Must complete
all 5 core courses with a
2.00 GPA and minimum
grades of C. Completion of
BIO 211 must be within the
last 5 years and MAT 155
within the last 10 years.
Option A: Must have a
2.00 GPA on any core
courses completed with
minimum grades of C, be
eligible for ENG 101, MAT
155 and BIO 210 and
score a 60+ on the TEAS.
Time limits on math and
BIO courses will apply.
Two options
for applying
for Practical
Nursing

6. Option A: Taking the Test of Essential
Academic Skills -TEAS V
Students with a score of 60 or higher on
the TEAS may apply to the Practical
Nursing program before completing the
core courses. To do so students must have
a 2.00 GPA, minimum grade of C in any
core course completed, and be eligible
for BIO 210, ENG 101 and MAT 155.
Courses not within the required time
limits will have to be taken while in the
PRN program.

7. TEAS TEST INFORMATION
Pre - registration is required at www.atitesting.com
Cost : $71.00
Version: 5
170-question, multiple-choice test with a time limit of 209 minutes.
Reading Section is 58 minutes with 48 questions
Science Section is 66 minutes with 54 questions
English and Language Usage Section is 34 minutes with 34 questions
Mathematics Section is 51 minutes with 34 questions (calculators are not permitted)
May retest every 3 months – retesting without waiting 3 months will make
new score invalid.
Scores are valid for 2 years.
Your test is given on a computer and you receive your results immediately.
You may test at other colleges/locations and have your scores sent to HGTC.
Time: Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Place: Bldg. 1000, Speir Building, Grand Strand Campus
Dates: Please check www.atitesting.com for test dates.

8. TEAS Test Preparation Resources from HGTC Library
Print Books:
Visit www.hgtc.edu/library and click on the Catalog tab. Conduct a Keyword search
for TEAS. Print books may be checked out using your student ID for a 3-week time
period with one renewal. Items can be transferred between campuses in 1-2 days.
PASCAL Delivers:
When all print TEAS books are checked out from the library, please use PASCAL
Delivers to obtain print books free of charge from other SC colleges/universities. To
access, when searching the HGTC Library catalog for TEAS titles, click the PASCAL
Delivers icon and select Request under any desired items. Items arrive in 5-7 days.
eBooks:
Visit www.hgtc.edu/library and click on the eReading tab. TEAS preparation eBooks
are available for a free three-week download through EBSCO eBook Collection and
Axis 360. Choose either of these resources and search for TEAS.
PrepSTEP from Learning Express Library:
Visit www.hgtc.edu/library and click on the PrepSTEP link. This free online resource
available through the library contains practice tests and study materials for nursing
and health science entrance exams in addition to the ACCUPLACER exam.
TEAS Test Preparation LibGuide: http://libguides.hgtc.edu/testprep/teas
Questions?: http://libanswers.hgtc.edu/
Study guides are also available for purchase in the bookstore, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

9. Option B: Must have a 2.00 GPA after
completing the following prerequisites
with grades of C or higher and within the
required time limits.
 BIO 210 BIO 112, BIO 101, or CHM 110 – BIO 210
 BIO 211 (5 yr. time limit)
 ENG 101 ENG 032 – ENG 100 – ENG 101
 PSY 201
 MAT 155 (10 yr. time limit)
Math Progression: MAT 032– MAT 155

10. AHS 126 Health Calculations
(also referred to as Dimensional Analysis)
Students may take AHS 126 (Health Calculations) prior to
Admission to receive extra points on their application. It is
not a required class but highly recommended. Must have an
A or B in the first attempt (excluding withdrawals) in the
class to receive points. MAT 155, 101, or the appropriate
test score is a prereq for AHS 126.
Accurately calculating drug dosages and droplets is a major
component of Nursing classes. Course specific math tests
are given in PNR 110 and throughout your semesters in the
Nursing program to assess your critical thinking skills and
ability to calculate medication dosages safely. If the
medication dosage calculation test is not passed within
three attempts, the results may include removal from the
program. A thorough understanding of the material taught
in AHS 126 is important for success in your PN courses.

12. The scoring criteria in the previous slide is used to determine
which applicants will be accepted into the Practical Nursing
program. The 40 students with the highest number of points
are accepted during the January application period to begin the
Summer semester(May) on the Grand Strand campus. The 40
students with the highest number of points are accepted during
the May application period to begin the following Fall
semester(August) on the Georgetown Campus.
Every year scores vary. Based on prior years students with 9
points or higher are most often admitted. Obtaining these
points does not guarantee acceptance. Acceptance depends on
your points vs. the points of the other applicants at that time.
Therefore admissible points may change each review period.
Acceptance into the PRN program is limited and competitive.
There is no guarantee of acceptance. Your grades are very
important. Even though the minimum GPA requirement is 2.00
you should strive for a much higher GPA.

13. Be the Best Applicant You Can Be!
Applying with the highest number of points you can obtain is important!!!
You may increase your points by:
Retaking the TEAS – Your score is not high enough for points or you want to obtain more
points for your score? You can retake it – just be sure to wait three months in between
each time you take it.
Taking 8 credit hours of your prerequisite/General Ed courses at HGTC or Coastal Carolina
University. This will give you two more points on Option B.
Obtaining an A in AHS 126 - Haven’t taken AHS 126? An A or B in the course will give you
extra points on your application. Please keep in mind that points will only be awarded for
the first attempt in the course (excluding withdrawals). Strive for an A for two extra points.
Applying for and obtaining residency status – go to
http://www.hgtc.edu/admissions/residency.html for a residency application. Obtaining a
South Carolina driver’s license and car registration (if the car is in your name) are normally
an important part of this process. Read the application and instructions carefully.
Applying with the best grades possible! Applying with the best grades possible! When
applying with “Option B” the grades in your prereq courses play a large part in acceptance.
Have a C in MAT 155? Strive for a higher grade. Since there are several options to fulfill the
math requirement you may retake MAT 155 or take one of the higher math options to
achieve a higher grade for the math prereq. Most prereqs do not have multiple options to
choose from, as math does, but may still be retaken for a higher grade. Achieving an A for a
prereq, where you previously had a lower grade, will increase your GPA and may increase
the points on your application. Always check with financial aid before retaking courses as it
may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress if you retake too many or already have W’s,
F’s or D’s in other courses.

14. These requirements must be completed AFTER being accepted
into the program. The college will provide you with the
instructions about when to complete these requirements in your
notification of initial acceptance into the program. Please plan
ahead to cover the costs of these items. Failure to complete
these requirements within the designated time frame will
prohibit your progression into the program.
• Submit $500.00 deposit to reserve your seat. This is an out of pocket expense
– not covered by financial aid.
• Pass Certified Background Check and Drug Screening – cost to you is $106.00.
The return of an unfavorable CBS and/or UDS may result in student being
removed from desired program. Clinical sites/facilities determine applicant’s
eligibility to participate in clinical studies based on their policies. If you
complete the background check before being instructed to do so you will have
to redo it and pay the $106 again. The Background Check and payment of $106
will be required every semester while in the program.
• Complete a Health Physical and submit proof of required immunizations.
(Physical cost is your responsibility so plan ahead financially.)
• Show proof of current Health Care Providers CPR. You may take a class through
HGTC’s Workforce Development Department. Register at
www.hgtc.edu/jobtraining. This course costs $69 and in addition will require
the purchase of a book and mask.

15. Other expenses for which you are responsible may
include, but are not limited to, the items listed here.
Costs are approximate and may vary slightly.

16. Practical Nursing is a 3 semester program which begins in the Summer semester
(May) on the Grand Strand Campus and in the Fall semester (August) on the
Georgetown campus.
Classes and clinicals associated with this program are during the day. Once
accepted into the program you will attend year round including summer. Please
plan ahead financially as you may not receive financial aid for the summer.
The 3 semester program curriculum may be viewed at
http://www.hgtc.edu/oudev_catalog/current/programs/Healthscience/diploma_
praticalnursing.pdf.
All of the core courses are listed in the curriculum. Of course, if you have
already completed the core courses such as PSY 201, MAT 155, etc. you do not
have to retake them while in the program.
Clinicals will vary by semester but may require 1-2 days a week. Students may
have to travel up to a 100 mile radius to fulfill clinical requirements.
Completion of the Associate in Science with Health Science Emphasis is
recommended if planning to obtain a BSN at CCU. MAT 120, PSY 203, and AHS
108 are required to obtain a BSN at CCU. For more information about Coastal
Carolina’s Nursing program go to
http://www.coastal.edu/healthsciences/nursing/

17. Thank you for completing the Power Point
STEPS session.
HGTC reserves the right to change the program
admission requirements at any time. You will
be required to adhere to any changes made at
the time you submit your application.
Please view the checklist underneath the
STEPS session on the Libguides page and
submit it to receive credit for the required
session.
Please include your H number (Student ID
number) when submitting the checklist.