Niagara County Community College Nursing Program Review

Niagara County Community College (NCCC) is northeast of the City of Niagara Falls in Sanborn, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network and offers two year associate degree programs. The college offers dual admissions programs that also admit students to a four year college in the SUNY group of schools once the student graduates from Niagara County Community College. Over 6,000 students attend this college.

Nursing Programs

Practical Nursing Certificate

Niagara County Community College offers a Practical Nursing Certificate that leads to a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license. Practical nurses are in demand in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. Many students elect to begin their nursing career with this LPN certificate, knowing that they can begin working and earn money in their career and return to further their studies at a later time. Many Registered Nurse (RN) programs allow LPNs to take challenge tests that can permit them to opt out of beginning RN courses if they decide to return to school. Candidates who want to enter the program must be high school graduates or have a GED. They must also have an average grade point average of at least 80 percent in high school classes.

Candidates must also have a high school biology or chemistry course or a college level biology or chemistry course with a C or better. Placement tests for reading, writing, and math are required, and students must meet the minimum grades set forth by the college. When the courses are completed, graduates qualify to take the NCLEX-PN. After gaining their license, nurses will be able to find employment in hospitals and other healthcare facilities as LPNs.

Nursing AAS

Niagara County Community College also offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in nursing. This program is designed for students who want to become Registered Nurses (RNs) and enter the workforce after graduation. The graduate may later decide to pursue higher education by completing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at a four year college or university. This associate degree program takes two or so and four or five semesters to complete. When students graduate, they are eligible to take the NCLEX to be licensed as Registered Nurses. RNs often supervise LPNs and nurse aides who work under their direction. RNs work under an RN who has earned a bachelor’s degree or under an RN with a master’s degree and even more education.

Candidates must be high school graduates or have a GED and a high school average of 80 percent. They must have completed high school biology or chemistry or college level biology or chemistry with at least a grade of a C. They also need to meet the minimum standards in reading, writing, and math when they take the Niagara County Community College entrance test. Upon completion of the program, graduates take the NCLEX-RN, the national exam that provides licensure to them. They may then work in healthcare facilities as Registered Nurses.

There are numerous nursing scholarships available for nursing students who enter the nursing program at Niagara County Community College. Some scholarships are based on grade point averages from the prerequisite courses taken before entering the nursing program or from the first year of nursing courses. Other scholarships are based on student financial need. There is also financial aid available from the federal government and from other sources.

Contact:
Niagara County Community College
3111 Saunders Settlement Road
Sanborn, New York 14132
(716) 614-6222