ADN Programs in Arizona
There are 30 colleges or universities in Arizona that offer an associates degree in nursing.
What kind of nursing will an ADN from Arizona allow me to do?
An Associate Degree in Nursing will allow you to fulfill all of the other requirements for obtaining a registered nursing license in Arizona. Without an ADN, or a four year bachelors degree, an individual will not be allowed to take the national licensing exam for Registered Nurses, or apply for licensing from the state of Arizona.
Why Complete an Arizona ADN program in Order to Become an RN?
Nurses of all forms are in short supply, but in the field of nursing in Arizona, registered nurses are particularly in demand. As the baby boomer generation enters its golden years and Arizona continues to be a desirable retirement location, the demand is expected to further increase. One effect of this shortage is the evolution of the two year AND (Associate Degree Nursing) programs in Arizona which will equip you to take the national licensing exam and become a registered nurse in Arizona.
What Licensing Exam is Required in Arizona After I Obtain my ADN?
To become a registered nurse, Arizona and most other states require you to take the NCLEX-RN examination. Don’t let the initials intimidate you. NCLEX-RN simply stands for the National Council (of State Boards of Nursing) Licensure Examination for RN’s. (There is a similar exam, the NCLEX-PN for licensed practical nurses.) The examination is a comprehensive, six-hour test. In order to be eligible for the test to receive an Arizona license, you must first have completed an ADN program approved by the State Nursing Board of Arizona or otherwise authorized by Arizona statutes, and then have submitted an application packet both to the State Nursing Board of Arizona and Pearson Vue, the company that designs and administers the test. Once your application is accepted, then you will be assigned a testing spot and date for your examination.
How Do I Choose an ADN Program in Arizona That Will Give Me the Best Possible Chance to Pass the Exam?
There is no magic bullet available to predict with certainty which Associates Degree Nursing program in Arizona will give you the best chance for success, but there are some factors that can help you decide which ADN school to choose. First, the school must be accredited by the Arizona Board of Nursing. The Arizona Board of Nursing lists the schools with ADN degrees that it recognizes on its web site. Any legitimate nursing school to which you are applying should also be able to tell you if they are accredited in Arizona. The school also should be able to give you statistics on the pass rates for its nursing program on the national licensing exam for registered nurses. If the school does not keep track of its pass rate, that probably should be a red flag that you might consider another school.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Training Schools: 2 Year Nursing Programs in Arizona
Arizona Western College
Post Office Box 929
Yuma, Arizona 85364
(928) 317-6049
The Associate of Applied Science Degree program at this school has been fully accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission since 1970. The features of the AAS nursing program at this school include a10:1 student /faculty ratio, and a 12-bed nursing skills laboratory that allows students to practice their nursing skills in a controlled environment before testing those skills in a clinical setting.
Carrington College
2701 West Bethany Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
(602) 433-1333
This school characterizes its Associates Degree in Nursing program as demanding and challenging. Instruction is provided through a combination of detailed clinical exercises as well as class room lectures. In Arizona, the registered nursing program is available on Carrington Colleges Westside, Arizona campus, which is on the west side of the larger Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.
Central Arizona College
8470 North Overfield Road
Coolidge, Arizona 85228
(520) 494-5330
The AAS nursing program at this college is designed to provide nurses with opportunities throughout the program to obtain different levels of certifications so that they can continue to work as they earn the AAS degree in nursing that will allow them to become a registered nurse. After two semesters and the completion of one nursing course, a student can, if he or she chooses, take the NCLEX for practical nursing and obtain their practical nurse license. After four semesters, the student is eligible to take the NCLEX-RN and apply to become a registered nurse at any state that accepts NLNAC accredited programs in addition to Arizona.
Cochise College
901 North Colombo
Sierra Vista, Arizona
(520) 364-7943
In the southern part of Arizona, close to the border with Mexico and only 20 minutes away from the fabled town of Tombstone, Sierra Vista, Arizona is a town with a population of approximately 44,000, and is nicknamed as the Hummingbird Capital of the United States. Cochise College has been an integral part of the Sierra Vista community since 1964, when it opened its doors as one of the first community colleges in Arizona. The Cochise ADN RN program is a standard two year, four semester program which will prepare the student for a career as a registered nurse.
Coconino Community College
3000 N. 4th Street
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004-1825
928-526-7665
This two year AAS nursing program has a number of criteria before you will be admitted to the nursing program, including completion of the prerequisite courses with a total GPA of 2.75 and a GPA in the science classes, including prerequisite biology and chemistry, of 3.0. An applicant must also provide official transcript copies from all other schools as well as a copy of the applicant’s certified nursing assistant license (CNA). The applicant must also obtain two recommendation forms – one from a science instructor and one from the CNA Instructor. Another requirement is the completion of the HESI test with a score of 80% or greater. The final requirement is the applicant’s personal interview with faculty members.
Eastern Arizona College
615 N. Stadium Avenue
Thatcher, Arizona 85552
928-428-8396
Eastern Arizona College is the oldest community college in Arizona, founded in 1888 prior to Arizona achieving statehood. Its ADN nursing program is designed to allow students to enter or exit from the program based on their specific needs, space availability and time restraints. Like most nursing programs, students are required to apply for admission. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply for a nursing license in Arizona and to take the NCLEX-RN certification test.
Everest College
10400 North 25th Avenue, Suite 190
Phoenix, Arizona 85021
602-942-4141 ext. 2715
The two year program at the Everest College Phoenix campus, as with most nursing programs, requires a great deal of dedication. The student nursing handbook suggests that a student plan on spending anywhere between 2 to 3 hours studying per hour spent in class, which equates to about 30 to 40 hours per week. Because of this Everest College strongly recommends that its students, whenever possible, make their studies their full-time job.
Maricopa Nursing at Chandler-Gilbert Community College
2626 E. Pecos Road
Chandler, Arizona 85225
480-732-7000
This college is part of the Maricopa Nursing Consortium, which is a group of eight community colleges that share a common curriculum, admission policies and resources. In addition, however, each school is responsible for its own program and issues its own nursing degrees. During the course of the two year program, the student will obtain education in both classroom and clinical settings.
MaricopaNursing at Estrella Mountain Community College
3000 N. Dysart Rd
Avondale AZ 85023
(623) 535-2700
Part of the eight community college Maricopa nursing consortium, this college offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in nursing that will equip its graduates to pass the NCLEX-RN licensing program, become licensed as a nurse in Arizona and to practice as a registered nurse. As with most nursing programs, an application process for admission must be completed.
MaricopaNursing at
GateWay Community College
108 N. 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
602-286-8531
This college offers an AAS degree in nursing as part of the Maricopa nursing consortium, although Gateway is responsible for the success and the results of its own program. In order to obtain admission to a Maricopa school, including Gateway, a student must have a high school degree or a GED, complete a formal application, and make a passing score on the nursing program admission test. The final decision for admission is made by the nursing program chair at GateWay.
MaricopaNursing at
Glendale Community College
6000 W. Olive Avenue
Glendale, Arizona 85302
623-845-3000
To gain admission into a Maricopa consortium nursing school such as Glendale, an applicant must first have successfully completed 18-20 credits of program prerequisites, including introductory biology, general biology, human anatomy and physiology, functional chemistry and functional chemistry laboratory, at least one higher level math course, and one of two psychology courses: introduction to psychology and developmental psychology.
Maricopa Nursing at
Mesa Community College
1833 W. Southern Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85202
480 461-7821
The Mesa Community College ADN program is designed with a variety of course schedules with include both on-site and on-line options as well as clinical experiences If you are interested in attending the Mesa nursing program, Mesa requires potential applicants to attend an informational advisory session, after which the potential student also has the option of meeting one on one with a nursing advisor to help plan for entry into the program.
MaricopaNursing at
Paradise Valley Community College
18401 North 32nd Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85032
602-787-6500
As with every other school in the Maricopa Nursing Consortium, entry into the ADN nursing program requires students to meet certain health requirements. This is because of the physical exertion nursing requires, which includes being able to lift patients, stand for hours at a time, and bend, as well as handling the emotional and mental stress involved in dealing with patients. Because of these needs specific to the nursing professional, each Mesa student must complete a health and safety checklist certifying that he or she is meets the health requirements for the nursing program.
MaricopaNursing at
Phoenix College
1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013
602-285-7133
Phoenix is the flagship college of the Maricopa County Community College system. Together, the community colleges of Maricopa County make the largest community college system in the country. Eight of the schools in Maricopa County have combined to form the Maricopa Nursing Consortium, in which the schools share a common curriculum and admission process while sharing resources, providing a more well-rounded experience to the nursing students in every college. Phoenix College is one of the largest community colleges in the system, with over 30,000 students speaking over 50 different languages from over 100 different countries.
Maricopa Nursing at
Scottsdale Community College
9000 East Chaparral Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256
480-423-6000
Currently, Scottsdale, part of the Maricopa Nursing Consortium, offers a traditional four semester program, with both fall and spring admissions. Nursing students must be in excellent health, both physical and mental, and be able to spend the majority of their time on their nursing studies, which will include reading textbooks, attending lectures, participating in skills labs and participating in clinical experiences.
Mohave Community College
1977 W. Acoma
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
928-505-3378
The AAS nursing program at Mohave has three separate tracks – a traditional nursing track, an accelerated nursing track for practicing paramedics and an accelerated nursing track for licensed practical nurses. All three tracks can expect to receive instruction in both classroom and clinical settings. Upon completion of the program from any of the three tracks, students will be eligible to take the registered nursing licensing examination and apply for their registered nursing license from the state of Arizona.
Northland Pioneer College
PO Box 610
Holbrook, AZ 86025-0610
928-532-6136
Northland Pioneer College serves both Navajo and Apache counties, which together are approximately the size of West Virginia. Its ADN nursing program is offered at two of its campuses, the White Mountain campus in Show Low and the Little Colorado campus in Winslow. One of the advantages of attending Northland is the privilege of attending a school with NCLEX-RN pass rates of over 90%, which exceeds both national and state averages, at a cost that is comparably lower than most other similar programs in Arizona.
Pima Community College
2202 W. Anklam Road
Tucson, AZ 85709-0150
520-206-6661
The Pima AAS nursing program offers classes on weekdays, evenings and weekends to provide greater scheduling flexibility for its students. The Pima program is accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission. Graduates of the Pima program can choose to pursue the career option of obtaining a registered nurses license upon the completion of the NCLEX-RN, or to continue their education at a university to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Pima Medical Institute Mesa Campus
941 S. Dobson Road
Mesa, Arizona 85202
480-644-0267, ext. 6230
Pima Medical Institute’s AAS nursing degree is offered at two campuses, one of which is the Mesa campus. Pima’s nursing program is 96 weeks long, with a total of 1792 course hours. The Mesa campus is the older of the two Arizona nursing programs run by Pima. Even though the program is a traditional program, nursing students are still recommended to have a computer with high-speed internet access.
Pima Medical Institute Tucson
Campus
40 N. Swan Road, Suite 200
Tucson, Arizona 85711
520-318-2214 or 520-318-2212
The newest nursing program offered by Pima, the Tucson campus received provisional approval in September of 2008. Under the rules of the Arizona Board of Nursing, provisional approval will be rescinded if the program does not apply for permanent approval within two years of graduating its first class, and the program will receive a notice of deficiency if its student’s average score on the NCLEX-RN exam falls below 75%.
Yavapai College
1100 E. Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-776-2255
Prescott, Arizona is located on the edge of the Prescott National Forest in Arizona. Yavapai College has over 53 programs, degrees and certificates, one of which is its AAS in nursing program. As with most nursing programs, special admission requirements must be met. Yavapai College offers a pre-nursing workshop to aid those students interested in applying for admission to its RN program.
