Health Careers Requirements
Health career programs have an additional, separate admission process.
Note: Clinical learning experiences are part of all Health Careers programs. Students must follow their clinical site’s policies, which include COVID-19 vaccination.
The health careers programs listed below have a competitive entry application process. Applicants must complete HESI A2 testing prior to the testing deadline.
To be considered for selection, students must complete testing and reach the minimum passing score prior to the testing deadline.
2024 A2 Test Dates.pdf (updated March 8, 2023)
| Program | HESI A2 Testing Deadline | Email sent the week of: | Mandatory Orientation Start | First Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiography | 4/1/24 | 4/8/24 | 4/25/24 | Summer 2024 |
| Practical Nursing | 6/27/24 | 7/8/24 | 8/1/24 | Fall 2024 |
| Registered Nursing | 6/27/24 | 7/8/24 | 8/1/24 | Fall 2024 |
| Registered Nursing Adv. Placement | 6/27/24 | 7/8/24 | 8/1/24 | Fall 2024 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 7/1/24 | 7/8/24 | 7/22/24 | Fall 2024 |
| Medical Lab Technology | 7/1/24 | 7/8/24 | 7/18/24 | Fall 2024 |
| Paramedic | 7/18/24 | 7/22/24 | 7/25/24 | Fall 2024 |
| Registered Nursing | 11/1/24 | 11/11/24 | 12/5/24 | Spring 2025 |
| Registered Nursing Adv. Placement | 11/1/24 | 11/11/24 | 12/5/24 | Spring 2025 |
| Respiratory Therapist | 11/1/24 | 11/11/24 | 12/10/24 | Spring 2025 |
| Medical Lab Technology Adv. Placement | 11/1/24 | 11/11/24 | 12/9/24 | Spring 2025 |
Most KCC health career programs use a competitive-entry admission process. To be considered for a competitive entry program:
- Complete all steps for admission to KCC.
- Meet the program’s minimum records, residency, and academic eligibility requirements. PDFs of program eligibility worksheets are below. Students living outside of KCC’s district should closely review the KCC’s health career residency policy for possible additional steps.
- Receive clearance from a health career advisor to take the HESI A2 exam. To make an appointment, please call Student Affairs at 815-802-8500.
- Prior to the HESI A2 testing deadline, complete the HESI A2 exam with a comprehensive score of 75% or higher for RN and RN Option 1; 70% or higher for all other applicants. This is effective for Fall 2018 applicants.
Deadlines and requirements
Note: Learning at an off-site clinical facility is part of all Health Careers programs. Students must follow their clinical site’s policies, which include COVID-19 vaccination.
Information on Health Career programs 2021-22 (PDF, rev. 9-7-2021)
Eligibility worksheets
Essential physical capabilities and functions
| Medical Laboratory Technician | Radiography |
| Nursing | Respiratory |
| Physical Therapist Assistant |
For more information, visit the Health Careers Division or contact a health careers advisor.
This examination is utilized to test retention of knowledge of pre-requisite course work to determine which students are best prepared to be successful in a health career program.
HESI A2 testing areas
1. Math:
- 55-item exam: Focuses on math skills needed for health care fields, including basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion, household measures, and general math facts that are useful, for example, when calculating drug dosages and solutions. Personal calculators are not permitted, but a basic calculator is available within the software. Scratch paper will be provided. (Recommended Time: 50 minutes)
2. Science:
- Biology: 30 item exam. (Recommended Time: 25 minutes)
- Physics: Not included in KCC’s A2 Test
3. English Language Composite:
- Reading Comprehension: 55-item exam. Reading scenarios that are health related. Provides reading scenarios in order to measure reading comprehension, including: identifying the main idea, finding meaning of words in context, passage comprehension, making logical inferences, etc. (Recommended Time: 60 minutes)
- Vocabulary and General Knowledge: 55-item exam. Contains basic vocabulary that is often used in health care fields. (Recommended Time: 50 minutes)
- Grammar: 55-item exam. Contains basic grammar, including: parts of speech, important terms and their uses in grammar, and commonly occurring grammatical errors. (Recommended Time: 50 minutes)
4. Learning Styles:
- 14-item assessment of preferred learning style. Not included in minimum score requirements.(Recommended Time: 15 minutes).
5. Personality Style:
- 15-item assessment of personality related to preferred learning style. Students receive a printout with study tips based on their learning style and personality profile. Not included in minimum score requirements. (Recommended Time: 15 minutes).
Ranking of scores
You will be ranked for program acceptance based on your HESI A2 test score.
You are allowed two attempts at the HESI A2 (before the testing deadline) per testing cycle. The exceptions are Registered Nursing and Registered Nursing Advanced Placement applicants – where two attempts per application cycle (Spring and Fall semesters) are allowed.
The higher of the two attempts will be used for ranking.
Eligible applicants who are not offered a seat will be alternates. Students will be notified of their status in writing.
Tie-breaking rules
- If a choice must be made among a number of applicants with the same test score, selection for admission will be made on the basis of:
- Completion of the greatest number of non-MEDT, -PMED, -PHTA, -PNUR, -RESP, -RNUR or -XRAY courses in the curriculum. If a tie still occurs, then
- The highest comprehensive score(s) in the area of reading on the HESI A2 Exam
Schedule an exam
- You must receive clearance to take the HESI A2 exam by a health careers advisor. Review the Application Process for program eligibility requirements.
- Review the Important Dates and Deadlines. The health careers advisor will provide instructions on scheduling and paying for the exam.
As a student in one of KCC’s health career programs, there are physical requirements that must be completed to ensure you are able to perform the necessary functions to be able to fully participate and be successful in your program.
It is the policy of the Health Careers division that all students must meet the health physical requirements of all the clinical facilities in which he/she may have clinical education opportunities. Failure to comply with these established guidelines may result in being administratively withdrawn from the course or program.
You are encouraged to wait to start these requirements until your registration has been confirmed. You are financially responsible for the cost of these physical requirements, your tuition and fees.
Below is the listing of physical requirements with the referenced documents available in PDF format for you to print and complete.
Physical
Your physical and the requirements outlined on the back of the physical form may be completed at the location of your choice by the appropriate healthcare provider. Your physical exam cannot be completed more than four months prior to the start of your program or course.
- Physical Exam Form - All health careers except CNA
- Health Record Checklist - All health careers except CNA
- Physical Exam Form - CNA
- Health Record Checklist - CNA
Background check
Your background check is paid for and completed at KCC through their vendor. You do not need to go off-site to complete this requirement.
Health career students except CNA
- Print the Health Career Background Check Form. Complete it entirely.
- Pay the $34 fee at the payment counter in accounting in Student Affairs.
- Turn in your completed form and payment receipt in the Health Careers Division office, Room W102.
CNA students only
This requirement must be completed as soon as you register and at least two weeks before your class starts.
- Print the CNA Background Check Form. Complete it entirely.
- Pay the $30 fee at the payment counter in accounting in Student Affairs.
- Turn in your completed form and payment receipt in the Health Careers Division office, Room W102.
- Schedule your fingerprinting date and time with the staff in Room W102 when you submit your documentation.
Drug screen
Your drug screen must be completed at one of two facilities. No paperwork is needed to take with you to the facility to complete this requirement. The facility will send the results straight to KCC. This requirement must be completed within the four months prior to the start of your program or course.
Riverside Workforce Health
400 S Kennedy Dr., Suite 700
Bradley, IL 60915
815-935-7532
Physicians Immediate Care
350 N Kinzie Ave
Bradley, IL 60915
815-348-9320
These two locations can also complete your physical and its requirements. Locations and their associated costs are included in Physical and Immunization Cost Information.
CPR Certification
CPR certification is required at the point of registration for the following health career programs: EMT-Basic, Paramedic, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Radiography, Registered Nursing, Respiratory Therapist.
This certification must be from either the American Heart Association (BLS Provider) or American Red Cross (Professional Rescuer: adult, child, and infant or AED).
Discounted courses are offered for incoming health career students through the Health Careers Division. Phone 815-802-8800 or email healthcareers@kcc.edu for training dates and fee information.