Advanced Placement Programs
Students will be considered for advanced placement based on prior learning and experience. Students will be assessed cognitively, and psychomotor skills based on their knowledge and experience, or prior/current education and experience, and given credit for prior learning as appropriate.
Advanced Placement: Challenge Policy
Courses: N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric)
1. Notification of Challenge Exam Option:
LVN applicants will be informed of the challenge exam option for N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric) through:
o Information Workshops
o MSJC Nursing website
o Program brochures
o Counseling appointments
o College Catalog
o Meeting with the Program Director
2. Initial Eligibility Criteria to Challenge N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric):
To be considered, LVN students must:
a. Provide a current résumé and official transcripts for review.
b. Demonstrate education and/or experience recommended within the last ten (10) years prior to applying to the MSJC Nursing Program.
c. Meet basic education and experience requirements as defined by MSJC and Nursing Program guidelines.
d. Hold an active, unencumbered California LVN license (a copy from the Breeze system must be submitted with the evaluation request form).
e. Successfully complete the Role Transition and Skills Lab courses prior to challenging N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric).
3. Identification of LVN Students for Challenge Exams: During the admission/acceptance process:
o The Nursing Special Program Assistant will identify LVN students who may qualify to challenge both N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric).
o The Nursing Special Program Assistant will arrange a meeting for the LVN student with the Nursing Director/Chair, or designee, to review Challenge requirements.
o The student is responsible for bringing LVN transcripts and any relevant documentation regarding prior LVN experience to this meeting.
4. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Evaluation:
a. The LVN student submits a Request for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) form with supporting documentation.
b. The Nursing Director/Chair, or designee, reviews the CPL request and supporting materials to determine whether the student meets the criteria for:
o Advanced placement with challenge by examination,
o Acceptance of prior credit transfer as appropriate.
c. The decision is forwarded to Enrollment Services.
d. The Nursing Special Program Assistant communicates the decision and next steps to the student.
5. Eligibility to Challenge N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric):
a. If the student does not meet program recency expectations and competency cannot be verified per policy, the student will not be allowed to challenge N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric) and must enroll in and complete both courses.
b. If the student meets requirements and is approved for Challenge by Examination, the Nursing Director/Chair, or designee, will:
o Notify appropriate Nursing faculty, and assign a Content Expert, or designee, to coordinate and administer the challenge process.
6. Challenge by Examination: Structure and Benchmarks:
The challenge process for N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric) may include:
a. Written/Computer Examination: Kaplan or equivalent standardized exam meeting the program-established course benchmark.
b. Medication Calculation Examination
o Minimum score of 90%. One (1) additional attempt is allowed if the first attempt is unsuccessful.
c. Skills Competency Evaluation: Pass/Fail determination.
o One (1) additional attempt is allowed if the first attempt is unsuccessful.
7. Course Information and Preparation:
o The assigned Content Expert, or designee, will provide the LVN student with a course outline and any required preparatory resources before the scheduled challenge examinations and skills assessments.
8. Completion of Competency Testing and Reporting of Results:
a. The LVN student must complete the Challenging exam for both N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric).
b. Upon completion of all components (written, medication calculation, and skills), the Content Expert, or designee, will report the results to the Nursing Director/Chair, or designee.
9. Credit for Prior Learning Processing (CPL) (Upon Successful Challenge):
If the student successfully meets all benchmarks for challenge:
a. The Nursing Special Program Assistant notifies the student via email with instructions.
b. The student completes or updates the Request for Credit for Prior Learning form as needed.
c. The student submits the completed CPL form and supporting documentation to Enrollment Services via secure document upload.
d. Enrollment Services compiles the documentation and forwards it to the appropriate Department Chair/Director for final review.
e. If approved, Enrollment Services will:
o Notify the student via email, and
o Request written confirmation of the student’s decision to accept or decline the credit.
f. If the CPL request is denied, the student will be notified via email and
will be required to enroll in and complete N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric).
10. Completion Timeline:
All challenge examinations, skills competencies, and CPL processing for N507 (Maternity) and N509 (Pediatric) must be completed prior to the start of the student’s third semester in the ADN nursing curriculum sequence.
Advanced Placement: Challenge Policy – Military Applicants Courses: Designated ADN Nursing Courses Eligible for Military Advanced Placement
1. Notification of Challenge Exam Option:
Military applicants will be informed of the military advanced placement/challenge option for designated ADN nursing courses through:
o Information Workshops
o MSJC Nursing website
o Program brochures
o Counseling appointments
o College Catalog
o Meetings with the Program Director (mandatory)
2. Initial Eligibility Criteria for Military Advanced Placement:
To be considered for advanced placement and challenge by examination, students with qualifying military experience must:
a. Provide a current résumé and official academic and military transcripts (e.g., Joint Services Transcript, CCAF, or equivalent) for review.
b. Demonstrate education and/or experience recommended within the last ten (10) years prior to applying to the MSJC Nursing Program. Competency may be verified per program policy.
c. Meet basic education and experience requirements as defined by MSJC and Nursing Program guidelines.
d. Provide verification of honorable service, as evidenced by:
o DD214 showing Honorable Discharge, or
o For active-duty students, an official letter from the student’s military supervisor noting current honorable service.
e. Successfully complete the designated Transition and Skills Lab course(s) prior to challenging eligible nursing courses.
3. Identification of Students with Military Experience for Challenge Exams:
During the admission/acceptance process:
The Nursing Special Program Assistant will identify applicants and students with qualifying military experience based on information provided in the application and supporting documents.
The Nursing Special Program Assistant will arrange a meeting for the student with the Nursing Director/Chair, or designee, to review military advanced placement and challenge exam requirements for designated courses.
The student is responsible for bringing military transcripts and any relevant documentation regarding prior military clinical or medical experience to this meeting.
4. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Evaluation – Military:
a. The student with military experience submits a Military Request for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) (or designated CPL form) with supporting documentation, including:
o Official military transcripts, and
o Experiential verification as appropriate (e.g., training records, competency documents).
b. The Nursing Director/Chair, or designee, reviews the CPL request and supporting materials to determine whether the student meets criteria for:
o Advanced placement with challenge by examination,
o Required remedial coursework, and/or
o Acceptance of prior credit transfer as appropriate.
c. The decision is forwarded to Enrollment Services.
d. The Nursing Special Program Assistant communicates the decision and next steps to the student with military experience.
5. Eligibility to Challenge Designated Nursing Courses:
a. If the student with military experience does not meet program recency expectations and competency cannot be verified per policy, the student will not be allowed to challenge the designated nursing course(s) and must enroll in and complete those course(s) as part of the ADN curriculum.
b. If the student meets requirements and is approved for Challenge by Examination, the Nursing Director/Chair, or designee, will:
o Notify appropriate Nursing faculty, and
o Assign a Content Expert, or designee, to coordinate and administer the military challenge process for the approved course(s).
6. Challenge by Examination: Structure and Benchmarks – Military:
The challenge process for designated ADN nursing courses based on military experience may include:
a. Written/Computer Examination: Kaplan or equivalent standardized examination meeting the program-established course benchmark.
b. Medication Calculation Examination (if the challenged course includes clinical components with medication administration):
o Minimum score of 90%.
o One (1) additional attempt is allowed if the first attempt is unsuccessful.
c. Skills Competency Evaluation
o Pass/Fail determination based on program skills criteria.
o One (1) additional attempt is allowed if the first attempt is unsuccessful.
*All competency tests must be completed in person at the designated setting.
7. Course Information and Preparation:
The assigned Content Expert, or designee, will provide the student with military experience with:
o A course outline for each designated course being challenged, and Any required preparatory resources (e.g., reading lists, skills checklists, practice modules) prior to the scheduled written examinations, medication calculation tests, and skills assessments.
8. Completion of Competency Testing and Reporting of Results:
a. The student with military experience must complete all approved challenge components (written/computer exam, medication calculation exam if applicable, and skills competency evaluation if applicable) for each designated course identified in their advanced placement plan.
b. Upon completion of all components, the Content Expert, or designee, will report the challenge exam and skills results to the Nursing Director/Chair, or designee.
9. Credit for Prior Learning Processing (CPL) (Upon Successful Challenge – Military):
If the student with military experience successfully meets all benchmarks for challenge:
a. The Nursing Special Program Assistant notifies the student via email with instructions for the next steps.
b. The student completes or updates the Military Request for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) (or designated CPL form) as needed.
c. The student submits the completed CPL form and supporting documentation to Enrollment Services via secure document upload.
d. Enrollment Services compiles the documentation and forwards it to the appropriate Department Chair/Director for final review.
e. If approved, Enrollment Services will:
o Notify the student via email, and
o Request written confirmation of the student’s decision to accept or decline the awarded credit.
f. If the CPL request is denied for any designated course, the student will be notified via email and will be required to enroll in and complete that course as part of their ADN program plan.
10. Completion Timeline – Military Advanced Placement:
All challenge examinations, skills competencies, and related CPL processing for designated nursing courses approved for military advanced placement must be completed prior to the start of the student’s third semester in the ADN nursing curriculum sequence.