Rappahannock Community College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX Snapshots & Requirements (2026)
RCC serves the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck from Glenns, Warsaw, and Kilmarnock with a Board-approved, ACEN-accredited Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN), a Practical Nursing certificate on an ACEN candidacy timeline, Kaplan-based entrance testing, and stackable pre-nursing certificates. Figures below cite RCC’s public catalog (2025–2026), nursing application statistics page, and Virginia Department of Health Professions resources—confirm every requirement before you apply.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
RCC pairs Virginia Community College System affordability with Health Sciences Navigator support (Jessica Coates), a published Kaplan entrance pathway, and transparent catalog cost tables for the 67-credit ADN. Whether you start in the 14-credit Pre-Nursing certificate, move through the three-semester PN track, or pursue the LPN-to-ADN transition after licensure, every pathway funnels through the same Board-approved standards outlined in the public Nursing Student Handbook.
Overview & Why Students Choose Rappahannock Community College
Stretching from the Middle Peninsula to the Northern Neck, RCC keeps tuition within standard Virginia Community College System bands while training nurses close to waterfront communities, rural health departments, and regional hospitals such as Riverside Health System affiliates serving the Gloucester–Warsaw corridor—clinical assignments ultimately follow RCC’s partner roster in the student handbook.
RCC’s catalog outlines a 67-credit, five-semester minimum ADN, a Kaplan-aligned selective admission process, G3 tuition assistance for eligible Virginia residents, and an LPN-to-ADN transition that accelerates licensed practical nurses into the final two semesters after NSG 115 and co-requisites.
RCC’s Nursing Program Application and Statistics page reports that 46 of 51 first-time NCLEX-RN testers passed following the May 2025 administration, with RCC noting failures tied to specific cohorts. Cohort-level tables change each cycle; for aggregate Board reporting, use the Virginia Board of Nursing Testing Pass Rates index and confirm the latest testers with RCC nursing leadership.
Reasons students choose RCC
Multi-site delivery across RCC centers
Instruction radiates from Glenns and Warsaw campuses plus the Kilmarnock center so students can pursue nursing without relocating to a distant metro.
Published ADN cost modeling
The 2025–2026 catalog breaks out $170.05 per credit tuition and fees plus uniforms, books, Kaplan integrated testing, and compliance costs—giving families a worksheet beyond generic “contact the bursar” messaging.
Transparent Kaplan benchmarks
RCC publishes target Kaplan scores (60% overall and 45% per section per catalog) alongside attempt limits so you can study with clear cutoffs before submitting a restricted program application.
LPN advancement without leaving the college
Licensed practical nurses who meet GPA and licensure timelines can apply for the NSG 115 transition semester instead of repeating early ADN clinical courses.
Stackable pre-nursing certificates
Pre-Nursing and Pre-Practical Nursing career studies packages organize prerequisites for competitive or guaranteed admission tracks spelled out on RCC’s public program pages.
Nursing Programs Offered
Details below summarize RCC’s 2025–2026 catalog and public “Healthcare — Nursing” pathways. Download the Nursing Student Handbook, Google Form applications, and accreditation letters linked from RCC before relying on any deadline.
Preparatory (non-licensure) certificates
Pre-Nursing Career Studies Certificate
14-credit bundle designed so students complete the general education blocks used to rank ADN or PN applicants; RCC notes first-semester courses carry curricular credits counted in competitive admission.
Pre-Practical Nursing Career Studies Certificate
RCC markets this pathway to dual-enrolled high school students, pairing PN prerequisites with Nurse Aide content that feeds the Kaplan readiness expectations for the PN program.
Pre-licensure (entry-level nursing)
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (traditional RN)
Minimum 67 credits across five semesters after prerequisite completion; integrates NSG courses from introduction through capstone. RCC states graduates qualify for NCLEX-RN and lists the program as Virginia Board-approved and ACEN-accredited.
Practical Nursing certificate
44 credit hours across three semesters ending in NCLEX-PN eligibility per RCC’s nursing landing page. Kaplan entrance exams align with the same testing center policies as ADN applicants.
Licensed LPN progression
LPN-to-ADN advanced placement
For unencumbered Virginia LPNs who complete six prerequisite courses (including BIO 142) with a 2.5 curricular GPA, RCC adds NSG 200 and NSG 115 — Healthcare Concepts for Transition, then merges students into the traditional cohort for the final two clinical semesters. Recent PN graduates must be licensed at least six months before applying.
Effective July 22, 2025, RCC states its Practical Nursing program is a candidate for initial accreditation by ACEN with candidacy expiring Fall 2027. Candidacy is not accreditation; RCC instructs readers to review ACEN’s candidate disclosures. Confirm status with RCC nursing and ACEN before enrolling.
We use Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) as the generic label for RN preparation; RCC’s credential title is Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
RCC publishes rolling cohort tables on its Nursing Program Application and Statistics page (ADN) and Practical Nursing Program Overview (PN). Those disclosures are school-reported snapshots, not substitutes for the aggregate tables maintained by the Virginia Department of Health Professions—open the RN/PN “current year” PDFs linked from the Board index when you need statewide context.
NCLEX-RN highlights (school-reported)
For the May 2025 administration RCC states 46 of 51 first-time testers passed, with footnotes describing failures attributed to specific cohorts. The same RCC page lists May 2024 at 98% and December 2023 at 100% within its summary row—always read the footnotes beside each cell because mixed cohorts can be grouped in one reporting period.
NCLEX-PN highlights (school-reported)
RCC’s Practical Nursing statistics table shows 14 of 14 first-time testers passing in May 2025 alongside historical rows (for example May 2024 at 92% (24/26)). December 2025 data were still pending on the public page at the time of this review—reload RCC for finalized counts.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time passers (May 2025, RCC disclosure) | 46 passed / 51 testers — per RCC Nursing Program Application and Statistics (confirm RCC notes on cohort attribution) |
| NCLEX-PN first-time passers (May 2025, RCC disclosure) | 14 passed / 14 testers — per RCC Practical Nursing Program Overview table |
| Three-year NCLEX-RN institutional benchmark | RCC states three-year aggregate data reflect planning for 80% of graduates passing NCLEX-RN on the first attempt within 12 months—see RCC page for methodology context and confirm with the college |
| Official Virginia Board RN tables | DHP — Nursing Testing Pass Rates (current-year RN PDF) |
| Official Virginia Board PN tables | Same Testing Pass Rates index (current-year PN PDF) |
| Source | RCC nursing statistics pages linked in References plus Virginia Board publications; confirm every figure with those sources before making enrollment decisions. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort, campus cohort (Glenns vs Warsaw), and pathway (traditional vs LPN-ADN). Reconcile RCC’s PDFs and web tables with Virginia Board publications and ask program leadership how pending December cohorts were finalized.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Community college nursing seats remain competitive, and RCC’s catalog explicitly requires international transcripts to be evaluated or translated before health sciences admission. Treat the bullets below as a planning checklist, then verify each item with RCC Admissions, the international office (if applicable), and the Virginia Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: Ask RCC which exams (TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Duolingo, etc.) satisfy Health Sciences admission and whether minimum scores differ for nursing.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: Follow RCC catalog language for evaluated transcripts and regionally accredited transfer credit; map coursework into SDV 101, BIO 141/142, ENG 111, PSY 230, and math options spelled out on the ADN/PN checklist.
- Virginia Board of Nursing: Internationally educated nurses seeking licensure through examination or endorsement must satisfy Board documentation independent of RCC admission.
- Immigration & clinical clearance: Confirm visa status, clinical agency background checks, and drug screening timelines in the Nursing Student Handbook prior to paying seat deposits.
This guidance is not legal advice; policies change. Work directly with RCC and the Board before paying application or evaluation fees.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
RCC treats ADN and PN as restricted programs: complete general college admission, finish prerequisite coursework with the grades listed below, sit for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test through RCC’s testing center, file the correct Google Form during the published Monday deadlines, and be prepared for conditional acceptance pending background checks and drug screens described in the Nursing Student Handbook.
Prerequisites before you apply (traditional ADN)
RCC’s public application page states applicants should complete or be enrolled in SDV 101, BIO 141 or BIO 145, ENG 111, HLT 230 or MTH 154, and PSY 230 prior to submission. Applicants who already earned HLT 230 are exempt from MTH 154 through Spring 2028 per RCC’s disclosure (RCC still encourages MTH 154 when HLT 230 was never taken). The 2025–2026 catalog adds ranking rules: cumulative GPA 2.0+, curricular GPA 2.5+ across the first-semester nursing prerequisite bundle and Kaplan scores of 60% overall with 45% in each category within the past three years.
LPN-to-ADN applicants
RCC expects the same Kaplan targets plus completion of six courses including BIO 142. Licensed practical nurses need an unencumbered Virginia license; those who graduate from PN programs elsewhere must practice at least six months before applying if they are recent PN completers.
Application timeline
| Start cycle | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January nursing start | First Monday in October | Published on RCC Nursing Program Application and Statistics page; PN page cites the same October deadline for January PN entry. |
| August nursing start | First Monday in March | Use the Google Form links RCC publishes for Traditional ADN vs LPN-to-ADN transition. |
| Kaplan testing | Schedule via RCC Testing Center | Application page: two attempts per calendar year; catalog: two attempts per academic year—confirm which rule your cohort follows. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | Not publicly disclosed on RCC’s condensed statistics pages. |
| Minimum GPA (catalog) | Cumulative 2.0; curricular 2.5 in prerequisite blocks defined for each pathway. |
| Entrance exam | Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test scheduled through RCC; target 60% overall / 45% per category per 2025–2026 catalog. |
| Background clearance | Seat offers remain conditional until third-party background, drug screen, and document tracker steps clear per handbook. |
| Navigator contact | Jessica Coates — jcoates@rappahannock.edu |
Because RCC admits separate Glenns and Warsaw cohorts, ask how campus assignment works after acceptance and whether satellite clinical sites require additional travel during capstone rotations.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
RCC’s 2025–2026 catalog includes a line-item “Student Estimated Costs” table for the ADN that multiplies 67 credits × $170.05 for tuition and fees, then adds uniforms, books, Kaplan integrated testing, malpractice insurance, clinical supplies, background checks, medical clearance, graduation, and licensure estimates.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees (catalog worksheet) | $11,393.35 — 67 credits × $170.05 (RCC 2025–2026 ADN catalog table; subject to change) |
| Total estimated program expenses (before travel) | $15,701.35+ — sum of catalog line items through graduation/licensure; travel is variable |
| Practical nursing / other pathways | Use RCC’s PN catalog page or financial aid office for credit loads that differ from the 67-credit ADN plan. |
| Financial aid programs | RCC advertises FAFSA, FastForward, and G3 tuition assistance for eligible high-demand fields. |
| Source | RCC Catalog — Nursing AAS; VCCS Tuition & Fees; RCC Student Services for updated fee schedules. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
ADN graduates qualify for NCLEX-RN; PN graduates pursue NCLEX-PN. RCC publishes completion-rate tables alongside NCLEX statistics—read those rows carefully because RCC discloses separate Glenns and Warsaw cohorts plus LPN-ADN tracks with different on-time graduation expectations.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN (May 2025, school-reported) | 46 of 51 first-time testers passed — RCC Nursing Program Application and Statistics page; confirm cohort footnotes |
| NCLEX-PN (May 2025, school-reported) | 14 of 14 first-time testers passed — RCC Practical Nursing statistics table |
| Employment (PN mentorship data) | RCC lists Kaplan mentorship outcomes such as 14 employed as PN (at least PRN) out of 14 Spring 2025 grads with methodology spelled out beside the table—confirm current reporting with RCC |
| Salary | Not published on the nursing statistics pages reviewed; consult RCC Career Services or regional workforce data. |
| Source | RCC ADN application & statistics; RCC Practical Nursing overview; Virginia Board pass-rate publications. |
Is Rappahannock Community College the Right Fit for You?
RCC fits applicants who value small-college support on the Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck and can commit to Kaplan prep, split-campus logistics, and clinical travel. It is a weaker match if you need immediate ACEN-accreditation certainty for the PN track or a guaranteed university BSN bundled into the same program.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Want VCCS tuition with documented 2025–2026 ADN cost estimates and G3 eligibility messaging.
- Can reach Glenns, Warsaw, or Kilmarnock reliably for skills labs and assigned clinicals.
- Plan to take the Kaplan exam on schedule (two attempts per calendar year per RCC application page).
- Need stackable certificates before entering a competitive ADN or PN cohort.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Require a four-year BSN without transferring after earning the AAS.
- Cannot handle long rural commutes to partner hospitals or intermittent weekend clinical rotations.
- Expect ACEN full accreditation for Practical Nursing immediately—RCC currently lists PN as a candidate program.
- Want open enrollment; RCC nursing remains restricted admission.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
RCC’s service area stretches along the Chesapeake Bay side of Virginia, connecting students with community hospitals, federally qualified health centers, rural health departments, and long-term care networks from Gloucester through the Northern Neck. Employers such as Riverside Health System operate hospitals and clinics within an hour of RCC campuses, while smaller critical-access facilities offer high-touch med-surg experiences.
| Setting | Why it matters for RCC students |
|---|---|
| Community hospitals & EDs | Provide acute experiences without relying solely on large academic medical centers hours away. |
| Skilled nursing & assisted living | Align with PN scope and RN fundamentals rotations common in workforce demand data for eastern Virginia. |
| Public health & schools | Support RCC’s emphasis on health promotion competencies in early NSG coursework. |
Clinical partners rotate; rely on the confidential affiliation list inside the Nursing Student Handbook rather than a static marketing list.
Student Experience & Campus Life
RCC’s Glenns campus includes the Health Sciences Building highlighted in college news for emergency preparedness upgrades, while Warsaw offers a full-campus experience on Route 360 with library and testing resources embedded in the main instructional wing. Nursing students should expect online or blended coursework paired with intensive on-site labs—especially as RCC continues expanding simulation capacity tied to new health sciences facilities.
Student life mirrors most commuter colleges: strong TRIO and career-services programming, nurse pinning ceremonies each spring, and statewide transfer marketing. Investigate RN-to-BSN articulation with your target senior institution early because RCC awards the AAS, not the bachelor’s.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Primary campus
- Glenns, VA (Warsaw & Kilmarnock sites also support nursing instruction)
- Address
- 12745 College Drive, Glenns, VA 23149, US
- Telephone
- Main: (804) 758-6730
- Navigator
- Jessica Coates — jcoates@rappahannock.edu
- Program head
- Rebecca White, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE — rwhite@rappahannock.edu
- Website
- rappahannock.edu
Official links
Your first-week action checklist
- Open RCC’s nursing pathway hub plus the Google-linked Nursing Student Handbook.
- Compare your transcripts to the prerequisite list on the ADN catalog page (SDV 101, ENG 111, BIO sequence, PSY 230, math options).
- Schedule the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test through the RCC Testing Center; track calendar-year vs academic-year attempt rules.
- Email jcoates@rappahannock.edu if you need help ranking courses or confirming HLT 230/MTH 154 flexibility through Spring 2028.
- Bookmark the Virginia Board Testing Pass Rates index for RN/PN PDF updates.
- Build a budget from the catalog’s $15,701.35+ ADN worksheet (tuition line uses $170.05/credit in 2025–2026).
- If you choose PN, read RCC’s ACEN candidacy disclosure and confirm the program’s regulatory standing.
- Submit the correct Google Form (Traditional ADN vs LPN-to-ADN) before the first Monday in October or March deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does Rappahannock Community College offer in 2026?
RCC lists an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN) with traditional and LPN-to-ADN transition options, a 44-credit Practical Nursing certificate leading to NCLEX-PN, plus Pre-Nursing and Pre-Practical Nursing career studies certificates. The ADN program is Board-approved and ACEN-accredited; the PN program is an ACEN candidate effective July 22, 2025—candidacy is not accreditation—and candidacy expires Fall 2027 per RCC’s disclosure.
Does Rappahannock Community College nursing use the TEAS or Kaplan exam?
RCC requires the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Test (Kaplan) for ADN and PN applicants, scheduled through the RCC testing center, with two attempts allowed per calendar year on the public application page. The 2025–2026 RCC catalog targets 60% overall and at least 45% in each category and allows up to two attempts per academic year for admission—confirm which timeline your cohort follows and current minimums with Pre-Health Sciences Navigator Jessica Coates.
What NCLEX-RN outcomes does Rappahannock Community College publish?
RCC’s Nursing Program Application and Statistics page states that for May 2025, 46 of 51 first-time NCLEX-RN testers passed (school-reported, with RCC noting cohort detail). For Board-level aggregates, use the Virginia Department of Health Professions Nursing Testing Pass Rates page (RN PDF). Confirm the latest cohort with RCC and the Board.
When are nursing applications due at Rappahannock Community College?
RCC states applications are due the first Monday in October for a January start and the first Monday in March for an August start for its restricted nursing programs. PN applications specifically reference the October deadline for January entry. Verify each cycle on RCC’s current nursing application materials before submitting.
How much does the Rappahannock Community College ADN cost?
The 2025–2026 RCC catalog lists a student-estimated total of $15,701.35+ for the 67-credit ADN, including 67 credits multiplied by $170.05 tuition and fees per credit plus uniforms, books, Kaplan integrated testing, insurance, clinical supplies, background checks, medical costs, graduation, and licensure line items; travel is variable. Tuition and fees are subject to change—confirm with RCC Student Services.
Where are Rappahannock Community College nursing classes held?
Accreditation disclosures list ADN instruction in Glenns, Warsaw, and Kilmarnock, Virginia. RCC operates main campuses in Glenns and Warsaw and a Kilmarnock center; clinical rotations occur with partner agencies across the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck—confirm assigned campuses when you receive an admissions offer.
Who should I contact about RCC nursing prerequisites?
RCC directs pre-health questions to Pre-Health Sciences Navigator Jessica Coates at jcoates@rappahannock.edu. Download the Nursing Student Handbook from RCC’s public ADN/PN application pages for prerequisite course lists, Kaplan policies, and background-check steps.
Does Rappahannock Community College offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
No. RCC is a Virginia Community College System school offering the AAS in Nursing and the Practical Nursing certificate. Students seeking a BSN typically transfer or enroll in an RN-to-BSN program after licensure; confirm articulation with RCC advising and your target university.
What should LPNs know about RCC’s LPN-to-ADN transition option?
Licensed practical nurses with unencumbered Virginia licenses can apply for advanced placement into the fourth semester after completing RCC’s published prerequisite block, NSG 200, NSG 115, and co-requisites such as microbiology. Recent PN graduates must hold an active license for at least six months before applying per the catalog.
What NCLEX-PN outcomes does RCC publish for the Practical Nursing program?
RCC’s Practical Nursing page lists May 2025 PN NCLEX-PN data as 14 of 14 first-time testers passing (school-reported) alongside other cohort tables. Compare against Virginia Board PN pass-rate publications linked from the DHP Testing Pass Rates page and confirm methodology with RCC nursing leadership.
References
- Rappahannock Community College — Nursing education pathwaysrappahannock.edu (Healthcare → Nursing)
- Rappahannock Community College — ADN application & statisticsapplication-stats-nursing.html
- Rappahannock Community College — Practical Nursing overviewpractical-nursing.html
- Rappahannock Community College — Practical Nursing ACEN candidacypn-candidacy.html
- Rappahannock Community College Catalog (2025–2026) — Nursing AAScatalog.rappahannock.edu — Nursing AAS
- Rappahannock Community College — Campuses & contactCampuses and Sites
- Virginia Board of Nursing — Testing Pass Ratesdhp.virginia.gov (Nursing Testing Pass Rates)
- Virginia’s Community Colleges — Tuition & feesvccs.edu/students/tuition-and-fees
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for RCC’s Kaplan entrance-exam policy, ACEN candidacy vs full accreditation language on the Practical Nursing track, 2025–2026 catalog tuition estimates, and alignment between school-reported NCLEX tables and Virginia Board pass-rate resources.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with Rappahannock Community College and the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy