Nursing Program Admissions
Admission credit is awarded for each of the following components:
- Metrics (53%): Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) total score, completed course grades from the 9 general education courses, and resident credit. A minimum HSRT score of 74, which must be taken at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, is required for application.
- Experience (33%): Work and volunteer experience, military status, education (any college degree), and Nursing Information Session attendance.
- Attributes (14%): Two essays, each 250 words or less.
How to Apply
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1
Review Admissions Criteria and Apply to Anoka-Ramsey
- Review Admissions Criteria
- Notice Regarding LPN Mobility Track Enrollment: Please be advised that the LPN Mobility Track requires a minimum cohort size to operate. If fewer than 10 qualified applicants are admitted for the upcoming term, there is a risk that the track may not be offered as scheduled. Applicants will be notified as early as possible should enrollment numbers affect the program's ability to run the LPN Mobility Track with information regarding available options.
- Complete your free online application to Anoka-Ramsey.
- Save your StarID and password. You'll use these for student email and college services, and must be included in your Nursing program application.
- Watch your email for your next steps and updates on enrollment.
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2
Nursing Assistant Certification
You will need one of the following electronically attached to your nursing application: CNA certification (current or expired) OR proof of completion of a CNA training program (certificate of CNA completion/transcript) OR that a Nursing Program Exception Request form was submitted for a CNA substitution consideration.
If you are requesting consideration for CNA substitution, check that you submitted the Nursing Program Exception Request form. Examples of trainings or certifications that will NOT be considered for CNA substitution include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Home Health Aide (HHA), Medical Assistant (MA), Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Surgical Technician, etc. The reason being students need to have had CNA training is that the nursing program curriculum builds from the expectation that students already have those specific skills in clinicals and lab and build onto them as a Professional Nursing student. If you have proof of additional education and training of CNA skills for your position or certification is provided, please use the following form: Nursing Program Exception Request. -
3
Submit HSRT Scores
The Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) taken at Anoka-Ramsey is required for all applicants. TEAS
is no longer accepted. The HSRT can only be taken once per application cycle, regardless of program. A minimum score of 74 is required.
HSRT Testing Availability
Test windows are as follows for each application cycle:
- June 2 – Feb. 1 for the Fall application cycle
- Feb. 2 – June 1 for the Spring application cycle
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4
Review General Education Requirements and Curriculum Plans
General education courses are not required before applying or before the nursing program begins, but admission credit is given for any of the nine general education courses that are finished with a grade of C or higher when you apply.
Traditional RN Track
- Nursing Holistic Admissions Criteria, Traditional RN Track
- Fall 2026 Nursing Curriculum Plan - Traditional RN (PDF)
LPN Mobility Track
- Nursing Program Holistic Admissions Criteria, LPN Mobility Track
- Fall 2026 Nursing Curriculum Plan - LPN (PDF)
If you complete at least four of the nine general education courses through Anoka-Ramsey or Anoka Technical College, you can receive additional resident credit.
Official transcripts are needed to verify transfer courses from colleges outside the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. -
5
Apply to the Program
The link to the online nursing application form will only be available during the respective fall and spring application cycles.
Please note: Students must be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED prior to starting the Nursing program.
Fall Cohorts
- Application opens Jan. 1 through Feb. 1
- Submission deadline is Feb. 1 at 11:59 pm
- Decision notifications are emailed April 1
- Day 1 Nursing Orientation: 3rd week of May (Accepted and Waitlisted students required)
- Day 2 Nursing Orientation: 3rd week of June (Accepted students only required)
- Campus Bootcamp: 1 week prior to Fall semester start (Accepted students only required
- Application opens May 1 through June 1
- Submission deadline is June 1 at 11:59 pm
- Decision notifications are emailed Aug. 1
- Day 1 Nursing Orientation: 1st week of October (Accepted and Waitlisted students required)
- Day 2 Nursing Orientation: 1st week of November (Accepted students only required)
- Campus Bootcamp: 1 week prior to Spring semester start (Accepted students only required)
Before you begin the application, have the following prepared:
- Anoka-Ramsey Student Tech ID number
- The date you took the HSRT and your score
- College name(s) and grades for any completed general education courses
- Names and dates for employment and volunteering
- Essay responses ready to cut and paste
- CNA or LPN verification ready to attach
Nursing Program Application FAQs
Prior to being formally accepted into the nursing program, but being accepted at the college, students can declare Pre-Nursing as a major at Anoka-Ramsey. For students that plan to apply to the nursing program it is vitally important to work with your Academic Advisor to prepare a competitive application. Academic advisors help ensure that students register for the correct general education courses and understand the application process.
Students are not required to complete these courses prior to submitting their application or before beginning the nursing program. However, students may enroll in the following General Education courses (or equivalents), which are required during the program, if they have not been previously completed.
*Note:* It is strongly recommended to complete CHEM 1050 or CHEM 1061 and BIOL 2113 (or equivalents) before starting the program, as these courses, combined with the first semester nursing courses, represent a significant academic workload.
<1.) APA Documentation (ENGL 1130): 1 credit
2.) Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2113): 4 credits
3.) Fundamentals of General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry (CHEM 1050): 3 credits
-or-
Principles of Chemistry (CHEM 1061): 4 credits
4.) Cross-Current College Writing and Critical Reading (ENGL 0990/ 1120): 4 credits
-or-
College Writing & Critical Reading (ENGL 1121): 4 credits
5.) Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 2114): 4 credits
6.) General Psychology (PSYC 1110): 4 credits
-or-
Lifespan Development (PSYC 2235): 4 credits
7.) Intro to Microbiology (BIOL 1900): 4 credits
-or-
General Microbiology (BIOL 2201): 4 credits
8.) Introduction to Ethics (PHIL 1110): 3 credits
-or-
Medical Ethics (PHIL 1200): 3 credits
9.) Introduction to Communication (CMST 1110): 3 credits
-or-
Intercultural Communication (CMST 2210): 3 credits
-or-
Interpersonal Communication (CMST 2220): 3 credits
Courses from other colleges often transfer as equivalent to general education courses required in the nursing program, but do not assume that all courses, even those with the same course title or course number, are equivalent.
Connect with an advisor or use transferology.com to verify course equivalencies.
Unfortunately, nursing courses are non-transferable into the nursing program. Each nursing program is set up slightly different from each other, even if they have the same or similar course titles. The content covered in each course is set up specifically to compliment the other courses in each cohort. We encourage students to apply to the nursing program to start fresh with Anoka-Ramsey.
No, students who have their unencumbered LPN license, do not have to complete the CNA.
A confirmation email is sent to the email address you provided on your nursing application. Check Spam/Junk folders if you do not receive an email confirmation the same day you apply. If confirmation is not found, contact nursingadmissions@anokaramsey.edu.
Although being on the MN Department of Health CNA registry is strongly recommended, being on the registry is not required for application to the nursing program. However, proof of completion of CNA training/coursework is required at the time of application to the nursing program at Anoka-Ramsey. The certificate number (current or expired) or the name of school where the course was completed, and the year completed must be listed on the nursing application. CNA certifications or course completion from outside of MN are also considered.
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
Students who complete a Nursing Assistant course and pass a registry exam are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). CNAs work closely with patients and are responsible for various care services including bathing, grooming, feeding patients, assisting nurses and checking patient vital signs.
- Nursing Assistant programs in Minnesota are at least 75 hours in length and must be approved through the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Some programs combine NA/HHA (Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide) certification.
- Many employers in healthcare pay for CNA certification or offer reimbursement.
- Students must test within two years of course completion and may take the test up to three times.
Training Information
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College offers combined Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide courses through continuing education and customized training.
- Anoka Technical College offers the combined Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide (NA/HHA) as a 5 credit-based course that is also PSEO eligible for high school students. Learn more at anokatech.edu.
- Additional training options can be found through the state of Minnesota at health.mn.us.
CNA Registry Information
The CNA registry will provide your certification number for current or expired certifications.
It is highly recommended to meet with your Academic Advisor to determine if you would be eligible to submit an Academic Petition under Appeals, Petitions & Complaint Forms.
No, nursing courses are set up in 4 semester cohorts (Fall and Spring, no summer) and can only be taken as laid out in the Professional Nursing Program Sequence.
