Nursing
San Diego City College Nursing Program Ranks No. 2 in California and No. 3 Nationally
San Diego City College Nursing Program named one of the best in the US
The San Diego City College Nursing Education Program is approved by:
The California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Any questions regarding accreditation status may be addressed to the BRN: PO Box 944210, Sacramento, CA 94244 Phone: 916-322-3335 or ACEN 33343 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326
Mission: The San Diego City College Nursing Education Program supports the mission and values of San Diego City College, providing excellence in education that leads to an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) and contributes to meeting the region's healthcare needs.
Vision: The San Diego City College Nursing Education Department is committed to advancing the art and science of nursing by challenging a diverse population to develop sound clinical judgment, leadership skills, and lifelong learning for employment in a dynamic healthcare environment.
Admission into the Nursing Education Program is based on the Multicriteria Point System from the California Community College Chancellor's office in coordination with the Nursing Advisory Committee(3Nac).
It is the student's responsibility to visit the website frequently for any updates in policy or regulation change
San Diego City College Nursing Education Program General Information Packet RN and LVN-RN
LVNs who wish to pursue the 30-unit option must carefully read this packet, including the accompanying forms, and then schedule an appointment with the Associate Dean of Nursing before submitting their application. LVN-RN 30 Unit Option-Non-Degree Packet
LVN-RN 30 unit option informational packet
Please email [email protected] to schedule an appointment with the Student Success Advisor before meeting with the Associate Dean of Nursing.
Transfer Students: At this time, we are not accepting any transfer students due to
limited clinical placements.
Challenge /Advanced Placement for Military Personnel, see the Nursing Student Handbook
The San Diego City College Nursing Education Program offers free informational workshops to review program requirements, the application process, and admission criteria. Prior to attending a workshop, applicants should carefully review the General Information Packet and Application Instructions. Doing so will help you gain the most benefit from the session and allow time for specific question.
There is no registration needed for the workshops
Nursing Informational and Application Combined Workshop Dates
All workshops are held in V-101
V Building/Career Technology Center (CTC)
located at 1081 16th Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Parking is located in the structure behind the building or in the building across the street, parking permit required. There is paid parking on the street.
August 26, 2026 4-6pm
Ausgust 28,2026 10am-12 pm
September 4,2026 10am-12pm
September 8, 2026 2-4pm
September 22,2026 4-6pm
October 6, 2026 4-6pm
October 7,2026 2-4pm
No registration is required
If you have questions, please send them to the [email protected]
Emails will be answered within 96 hours. Summer hours varies.
Application Dates:
Applications for Fall 2027
RN applications:
August 31,2026 8am- September 14, 2026 closes at 12 noon.
LVN to RN applications:
September 28,2026 8am- October 12, 2026 closes at 12 noon
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Admission ProcessAll applicants will be entered into a lottery-based admission process and must earn a minimum of 75 points on the multi-criteria point system to be eligible for consideration and admission into the Nursing Education Program. The point system aligns with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) revisions to the multi-criteria screening process, as outlined in AB 1891 and SB 1183.Students must have an active San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) student ID number and student email account to apply to the Registered Nursing (RN) Program. Please note that the student will lose access three semesters after the student stops attending.Student Email ExpectationsThe student.sdccd.edu email account is the official form of communication for all college and Nursing Education Program business.Students are expected to check their school email frequently and consistently to stay informed about important communications from the College and Nursing Education Department. The Nursing Department strongly recommends checking email 2–3 times per day, as some communications may be time sensitive.Transcript Review and Evaluation ProcessUnofficial transcripts will be reviewed during the application process as part of an informal evaluation. The SDCCD Evaluations Office conducts the official review of transcripts to determine eligibility for graduation requirements.After acceptance into the Nursing Education Program, students are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended to the district for formal evaluation prior to the start of the first semester in the program.
- Please read the TEAS policy in the general information packet.
- All TEAS 7 reports must be sent to the college.
- All TEAS reports must be sent to San Diego City College directly form ATI and the receipt of the transcripts being sent will be uploaded to the application.
Application is an online application only. No paper applications will be accepted. The application link will open on the first day of the application period. The application must be complete at time of submission, no documents will be accepted at a later date. Documents within the application must be in pdf form. No screenshots or zip files are accepted. If document is unreadable it will be disqualified. Applications are strictly based on the Multi-Criteria Point System, not on a first come, first serve basis.
How to Apply
1.Review the Application Information and Application Checklist in the General Information Packet to ensure you have all required documents prepared and ready to upload with your application.
- Students must have an SDCCD Student ID number and an active SDCCD student email address to apply to the Nursing Education Program. Applications submitted with personal email addresses will not be accepted. Please ensure your SDCCD student email account is activated and regularly monitored, as all program communications will be sent to that address.
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Upload unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended, including San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges. Unofficial transcripts must clearly display both the student's name and the institution's name. If this information is not visible, an official transcript must be uploaded instead.
Each college transcript must be uploaded as a separate PDF file. For example, if you have attended five different colleges, you must upload five separate PDF documents—one for each institution.
- Supporting documents for any points attempting to receive on the Multi-Criteria Point System.
- The application is an online portal, the link will be posted on the website, and the link will open on the first day of the application. The application portal is not a first come, first serve. Applicants is based on the Multi Criteria Point System. Please see the general information packet.
- The application will be a drag and drop of files.
- All documents submitted must be in PDF format.
- Language certification must be on the language certification form.Language Certification Form
- Volunteer/Work Certification. Must be at least 100 hours over the past three years.Work Certification Form ( Multiple forms will be accepted)
1. ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSE (GENERIC) Upon successful completion of the two-year nursing curriculum, all Nursing admission requirements, and college graduation requirements, the student is awarded an Associate of Science Degree and is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX RN).
2. ASSOCIATES DEGREE NURSE (LVN-RN)- Licensed Vocational Nurses who have graduated from an accredited schools of vocational nursing may apply for this option which requires a " transition course, in the semester before beginning all second-year nursing courses, and college graduation requirements. The student is awarded an Associate of Science Degree and is eligible to take the NCLEX RN. Students must have a current California LVN license to apply for this program.
3. LVN THIRTY UNIT OPTION-Licensed Vocational Nurses who desire to complete the minimum number of units (30) required to take the licensure examination may apply for this option. Students who complete this option (30/45 units)will take the NCLEX-RN as a non-graduate. This status will not change even if a student goes on to obtain a degree. There is a restriction to practice within California. the student may also have difficulty transferring to another state or territory. The student may also have difficulty applying to a college/university for an advanced degree. You must contact the Director of Nursing Education for more information regarding this option.
COURSES: Please see the sequence of program courses in the student handbook.
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619-388-3441 Email is preferred communication |
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Counseling is available for assistance with educational plans and course sequence of prerequisites. https://www.sdcity.edu/students/counseling/meet-counselor.aspx
Transcripts must be sent for evaluation after acceptance to the nursing program program. Please follow the instructions on the attached link. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluator. International students must make an appointment with counseling prior to submitting transcripts.
Here is the list of current RN-BSN academic partners. There is a link to each academic partners. Please contact the academic partners for information regarding each individual program.
Point Loma Nazarene University
Clinical Practice Requirements
Students accepted into this program will be required to successfully complete clinically-based courses held in health care facilities. These facilities require immunizations, background checks, and urine drug screening as a condition of placement.
Refusal of immunizations, refusal to submit to a background check, and/or failure to meet clearance criteria established by the healthcare facility may prevent placement in the clinical setting, and thus affect progress in the program.
Health care facilities also require adherence to strict standards of conduct. Facilities may refuse educational access to any person who does not adhere to the facility's standards of safety, health, and ethical behavior. Failure to adhere to standards may be cause for dismissal from the program.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, the graduate will:
1. Apply concepts and skills to successfully pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
2. Make clinical judgements and management decisions to ensure accurate and safe client care.
3. Practice within the ethical, legal, and regulatory frameworks of the professional nursing practice.
4. Use standards of nursing practice to perform and evaluate client care in entry-level practice.Participate in life-long learning.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The following student learning outcomes have been identified as a requirement for students completing the Associate of Science Degree in Nursing (ADN) Generic-RN and the LVN-RN Curriculum. The graduate will: 1. Communication Skills- Utilize appropriate communication styles and basic leadership skills in patient care management.
- Use therapeutic communication techniques to establish a therapeutic environment.
- Communicate relevant, accurate and complete information in a concise and clear manner.
2. Critical Thinking
- Utilize nursing process to develop and implement an individualized plan of care for assigned patients.
- Make clinical judgments and management decisions to ensure accurate and safe care.
- Use evidenced based data to support clinical decision making.
Program Emphasis
Curriculum and course sequence progress from simple to complex knowledge and skills with emphasis on nursing process, caring, problem solving and critical thinking. The Nursing Program graduate is prepared as a clinician to think critically using the nursing process, safely perform nursing care, teach individuals, families, communities and members of the health care team, function as a client advocate, provide leadership, manage resources, delegate tasks, and supervise unlicensed personnel within the legal scope of practice of the Registered Nurse. The student who completes the Nursing Education program will meet the standards of competency delineated by the Board of Registered Nursing for the State of California.
Curriculum Thread
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Program Outcomes Data
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) Policy #29 Advertising
and Recruitment of Students requires that student achievement outcome data be publicly
accessible. The following student achievement data from the SD City College Nursing
Program are as follows:
NCLEX-RN First Attempt Pass-Rates
| Graduation Year | Passed on the First Attempt | Passed Nationally | 3-Year Mean SDCC Program | 3-Year Mean of all Programs Nationally |
| 2025 | 100 % | 86.6% | 100% | 84.76% |
| 2024 | No graduates∗ | ---------- | ------------- | --------------- |
| 2023 | 100% | 87.8% | 99.4% | 80% |
| 2022 | 100% | 79.9% | 99.4% | 82.48% |
∗2024 was a gap year due to CoVID-19 Pandemic
Program Completion Rate-RN Student (Traditional)
| Graduation Year | # Started | # Completion | Completion Rate | Attrition Rate |
| 2025 | 36 | 30 | 83% | 16% |
| 2024 | No graduates∗ | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2023 | 51 | 39 | 76% | 23.5% |
| 2022 | 48 | 40 | 83% | 14% |
*2024 was a gap year due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Program Completion Rates-LVN-RN Program
| Graduation Year | #Started | # Completion | Completion Rate | Attrition Rate |
| 2025 | 20 | 17 | 85% | 15% |
| 2024 | No graduates | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2023 | 9 | 4 | 44% | 56% |
| 2022 | 8 | 7 | 87% | 12% |
*2024 was a gap year due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Program Completion Rates -Overall RN+LVN-RN
| Graduation Year | #Started | # Completion | Completion Rate | Attrition Rate |
| 2025 | 56 | 47 | 83% | 16% |
| 2024 | No graduates∗ | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2023 | 67 | 49 | 71.6% | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 56 | 47 | 83.3% | 16% |
*2024 was a gap year due to COVID-19
Graduate Employment Rates
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Graduation Year |
Six-Month Survey Response/# Graduates | Percentage |
| 2025 | 22/57 | 38% |
| 2024 | No graduates | n/a |
| 2023 | 18/49 | 36% |
| 2022 | 16/47 | 34% |
*2024 was a gap year due to COVID-19
Associate Of Science Degree In Nursing
The Associate of Science Degree in Nursing requires completion of the nursing courses. Additional general education and graduation requirements for the associate degree are listed in the SDCC catalog.
Career and Education Options
The Registered Nurse cares for clients of all ages and may be employed at the entry level in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and home health and hospice agencies. Many careers in nursing require education beyond the associate degree, and graduates of the SDCC Nursing Education Program will generally meet all requirements for RN to BSN and graduate level nursing programs.