Why Nursing?


The program, offered at four college sites, prepares students to apply for the NCLEX-RN examination and to assume an entry-level position as a registered nurse. Program learning experiences prepare graduates for professional nursing practices as defined and delineated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The program consists of courses in liberal arts and selected sciences, as well as nursing.

The CCAC Associate Degree Nursing program prepares graduates for entry-level practice in the current and emerging global health care delivery workforce. The program creates a dynamic, diverse and supportive student-centered environment for learning. The concept-based curriculum, along with the active engagement of the student in the learning process, provides quality preparation for academic, professional and personal success.

 

Admission to Nursing

Every Nursing and Health Sciences program at CCAC has specific admissions requirements and career accreditation.

For Nursing, there are specific course requirements and academic thresholds that must be met before a potential applicant can be considered for the program. To view all admission requirements, visit our Nursing Admissions page.

Nursing Admissions

 

The 2025 Sping Nursing Application is Closed

The Nursing Application for Fall 2025 will be available beginning Wednesday January 15, 2025.

 

Accreditation

Number of Programs Offered: 1

Program Type: Associate

Date of Last Review: October 5–8, 2020. The approval decision was rendered March 2021.

Statement on Accreditation

Date of Next Review: Fall 2028

The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

The Associate nursing program at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326, (404) 975-5000.

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation.

View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/acen-programs-05202024/community-college-of-allegheny-county.

The program is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

 

Middle States Accreditation

In addition to the accreditation by ACEN, CCAC's Nursing program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Status: Accreditation Reaffirmed
Last Reaffirmation: 2018
Next Self-Study Evaluation: 2025–2026

For more information, visit CCAC's institutional page.

Middle States Action Letter, June 2017

Middle States Action Letter, June 2018

Middle States Action Letter, June 2019

 

Scholarships for Nursing

CCAC offers access to a variety of scholarships specifically for Nursing students through The Pittsburgh Foundation. In addition to these external scholarships, CCAC Foundation scholarships are also available for Nursing students. For more information regarding each of these scholarships, visit our Nursing Scholarships page.

Nursing Scholarships

Nursing Program Student Manual

Information in this Nursing Program Student Manual will be reviewed periodically by the Nursing faculty. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of policy changes, additions or deletions. All students enrolled in the Nursing program are expected to adhere to the policies, procedures, and guidelines in effect for the current semester. This Nursing Program Student Manual and the CCAC Student Handbook should be read carefully as the information they contain is essential for your success at the college.

View 2024 Nursing Program Student Manual

What Type of Program Are You Looking For?

Nursing, A.S. (575.2)

The CCAC Associate Degree Nursing program prepares graduates for entry-level practice in the current and emerging global health care delivery workforce. The program creates a dynamic, diverse and supportive student-centered environment for learning. The concept-based curriculum, along with the active engagement of the student in the learning process, provides quality preparation for academic, professional and personal success.

Take the Next Step

 

CCAC Nursing Program Outcomes

To view the End of Program Student Learning Outcomes, click here.

For data on the NCLEX-RN pass rates, completion rates and job placement rates, view the tables below. 

Class Year Pass Rate
2022–2023 89.21%
2021–2022 85.44%
2020–2021 88.92%
2019–2020 95.41%
2018–2019 94.69%
2017–2018 95.16%
2016–2017 92.03%
2015–2016 90.74%
2014–2015 88.56%
2013–2014 71.97%
2012–2013 82.25%

Class Year Completion Rate
2022–2023 54.20%
2021–2022 52.40%
2020–2021 70.79%
2019–2020 73.31%
2018–2019 72.73%
2017–2018 62.30%
2016–2017 56.64%
2015–2016 59.80%
2013–2014 52.54%
2012–2013 50.19%
2011–2012 79.49%
2010–2011 70.79%
2009–2010 70.17%

Class Year Placement Rate
2022–2023 94%
2021–2022 94%
2020–2021 90%
2019–2020 82.52%
2018–2019 90.18%
2017–2018 87.73%
2016–2017 85.63%
2015–2016 70% Fall 2015 Graduates
2014–2015 70.1%
2013–2014 78.64%
2012–2013 73.35%
2011–2012 77.88%

Nursing at CCAC Campuses

This campus is conveniently located on Pittsburgh's North Shore. It is easily accessible by public transportation and is close to many of the city's attractions, such as Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, the National Aviary and the Andy Warhol Museum. Allegheny Campus accepts Nursing admissions in the fall and spring semesters.

View Campus Maps

This campus is located in suburban Monroeville and can be accessed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Routes 48 and Business 22. Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) also serves the school.

Boyce offers day and evening courses. All of the nursing courses at the Boyce Campus are web-enhanced. Boyce Campus accepts Nursing admissions in the fall and spring semesters.

Example clinical sites include Allegheny Valley Hospital, UPMC Magee Womens Hospital, Forbes Hospital, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC St. Margaret, Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, LifeCare Hospitals, and the Veterans Administration Hospital. 

View Campus Maps

Located in the North Hills on Route 19 near Camp Horne Road in an all-inclusive campus building, North offers day and web-enhanced courses and accepts Nursing admissions in the fall semester only.

Examples of clinical sites for clinical experience include UPMC Passavant–McCandless, UPMC Passavant–Cranberry, UPMC Mercy, UPMC Children's Hospital of PIttsburgh, and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

View Campus Maps

Located in West Mifflin on Route 885, not far from the former Century III Mall, South is served by several Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) bus routes. South offers day and evening courses and accepts Nursing admissions in the fall semester only. Some courses are web-enhanced.

Examples of clinical sites include Jefferson Hospital, UPMC McKeesport, UPMC Mercy, St. Clair Hospital, Penn Highlands Mon Valley, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and The Children's Institute.

View Campus Maps

Nursing Graduate Information

You will receive a detailed letter and packet of information by mid to late March for May graduates and by late October/early November for December graduates. This will explain the process for applying for your RN licensure exam and temporary practice permit (TPP).

This is how it works:

  • If you haven't applied for graduation, go to your Registration office to complete your application. The Registration office will hold these applications until final grades are posted.
  • Final grades are posted for the semester.
  • The Registration offices will evaluate all graduation applications and post degrees on our student system for those applicants meeting all the graduation criteria. Nursing students are not the only students graduating. This process involves students graduating from all disciplines. It takes at least four to six weeks from the date final grades are posted.
  • The Dean of Nursing's office will be notified when all nursing students who have applied and met the criteria have been certified.
  • The information is sent to the State Board of Nursing electronically. This is about a two-to-three-day process.
  • You can apply for a TPP early; however, the state board will put your application in a pending file until they receive the information we supply electronically.
  • Once we give them this information, they will process your application(s) for the exam/TPP.

Please be patient: We do everything possible to expedite this process.

Please refer to the State Board of Nursing's Letter to the Student for more information regarding the NCLEX procedure.

Preceptor Orientation and CEUs

Interested in becoming an instructor in nursing and earning continuing education units (CEUs)? Unsure where to begin? Consider signing up for the NUR 250–Leadership and Management Concepts training course below!

Register Here

Nursing Essential Functions

In order to meet the program competencies—and for successful completion of the objectives for each nursing course—a student
must be able to:

  • Move freely to observe and assess patients and perform emergency patient care, which includes having full manual dexterity of the upper extremities, including neck and shoulders; unrestricted movement of both lower extremities, back and hips in order to assist in all aspects of patient care; and the ability to touch the floor to remove environmental hazards (i.e., patient hygiene, application of restraints, and nursing procedures such as urinary bladder catheterization and parenteral injections)
  • Lift and/or support at least 50 pounds in order to reposition, transfer and ambulate patients safely
  • Demonstrate tactile ability sufficient to assess a patient's pulses as well as changes in a patient's physiological status (i.e., changes in skin temperature, edema, etc.)

If a student should present with any physical limitation, each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. Reasonable accommodations will be made if possible. 

  • Visually observe changes in a patient's status, as well as unsafe environmental conditions, and have visual acuity with near clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and with far clarity of vision at 20 feet or more
  • Hear the sounds of spoken verbal communication, as well as the sounds that indicate changes in the patient's physiological condition (i.e., breath sounds, blood pressure, apical pulse), and speak to focal clients and members of the health team utilizing effective verbal communication skills
  • Smell odors that indicate changes in the physiological status of the patient or unsafe environmental conditions
  • Read and cognitively comprehend written course materials, patient care documents, and health care institution policies and procedures
  • Write utilizing a legible and concise documentation style that is readable and in the English language
  • Calculate accurately in order to administer correct medication dosages, count a pulse, count respirations, and determine intake and output
  • Demonstrate cognitive learning in relation to new procedures through clinical application
  • Interpret physician orders accurately through verbal and written communication, and carry through with appropriate psychomotor clinical application

Contact Information

Kathy Hacker