Admission Requirements

Riggs College Admission Requirements for the Practical Nursing (PN), Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) LPN to RN:

• Students must be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen. Parental consent is required for students under the age of 18.
• Valid government issued photo identification
• Evidence of the completion of a high school education (using one of the following):
• Copy of your high school diploma.
• Copy of your GED (General Equivalency Diploma)
• Official high school transcripts.
• Official transcript documenting 2 years/60 credits obtained through a college or university.
• Signed High School Completion Attestation Form.
• Background check.
• May opt for Level 1 for admission but will require a clear Level 2 background check with electronic fingerprints prior to being cleared for clinical.
• The student may opt to receive a Level 2 background check with electronic fingerprints for admission which will be valid for 5 years and can be used for clinical clearance. If the result of your background check is flagged, it is through the discretion of the academic committee to grant an exception and offer admittance.
• Completed online application with a one time, non-refundable payment of $50.00 for submission.
• Valid Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license (if applicable).

*The RN to BSN program does not require an entrance exam. The entrance exam will be automatically waived for RN to BSN program enrollees with a valid, unencumbered RN license. For other conditions for entrance exam exemptions, please view the section titled "Entrance Examination".

Riggs College Admission Requirements for the Criminal Justice, Business Administration and RN to BSN programs:

• Students must be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen. Parental consent is required for students under the age of 18.
• Valid government issued photo identification.
• Evidence of the completion of a high school education (using one of the following):
• Copy of your high school diploma.
• Copy of your GED (General Equivalency Diploma).
• Official high school transcripts.
• Official transcript documenting 2 years/60 credits obtained through a college or university.
• Signed High School Completion Attestation Form.
• Clear level 1 background check.
• Completed online application with a one time, non-refundable payment of $50.00 for submission.

Note that each prospective student will be provided with an electronic copy of the institution’s catalog prior to enrollment or the collection of any tuition, fees, or other charges outside of the application fee. Additional admission requirements are listed below per program. All requirements must be met to be granted admission to any program at Riggs College.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION - PN, ASN, LPN to RN, RN to BSN PROGRAMS ONLY

All prospective students must complete an entrance exam provided through HESI, ATI, or Riggs College if they do not have an active LPN or RN license or currently hold an associates degree or higher. A passing score of 75 must be obtained to be admitted to the program. The cost of the entrance exam is $75.00 which will be deducted from the student’s initial deposit to the program. Students will be provided approximately 2 hours to complete the exam. The maximum number of attempts for the exam is 2 with an additional $50.00 charge deducted from the student’s down payment. Applicants who obtained low scores for both tests may retake the exam after six months.

Students will also be asked to draft a four paragraph essay regarding a topic of choice determined by the admissions department. Upon review of the submitted essay, the essay will be 30% for points towards their entrance exam score.

A student who has earned 60 credits from an accredited education institution within the last 10 years, or has a valid, unencumbered Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Registered Nurse (RN) license, is eligible for exemption from taking the entrance exam. Any exemptions that occur outside of the aforementioned qualifications are at the discretion of the Dean of Academics.

For more information about the exam, please contact Riggs College at (321) 972-1741.

LIFE EXPERIENCE CREDIT

• Life Experience Credit (LEC) is awarded only by degree-granting departments and is considered transfer credit. It will not be awarded if the transfer credit maximum has already been accepted from previous colleges and/or universities.
• LEC is defined as credit hours awarded for learning experiences that have taken place in non-traditional settings, especially knowledge and skills learned in the workplace.
• A maximum of 15 credit hours in credit equivalency can be earned toward graduation requirements.
• LEC is not awarded for unaccredited instruction, lessons, or degrees in an unaccredited school.
• An Application for Life Experience Credit must be filled out for each department in which credit is being sought.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• Fill out the application completely.
• Pay a non-refundable fee of $50.00 for each application via our online form at this address: Apply Here.
• Email all supporting documents to the appropriate department chairperson for evaluation. Keep copies of your documentation, as it has become part of your permanent record and will not be returned.
• Describe the experiences for which you are seeking credit; these experiences must be equivalent to coursework offered at Riggs College. Be specific and include the names and addresses of the people or agencies involved. Include dates and attach any relevant documentation, e.g., résumés, certificates, letters of recommendation. Indicate, if applicable, how samples of your work can be seen. An interview may be required.
• Once the Office of the Registrar receives this application—completed and approved by the college campus manager or assistant campus manager—along with the Cashier receipt, the credit awarded will be posted to the student’s record. A confirmation will be mailed.

NURSING PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• Practice personal and professional actions that are based on a set of shared core nursing values.
• Locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize information to communicate effectively.
• Develop the use of reflection, self-analysis and self-care to deliver culturally appropriate nursing care.
• Utilize techniques to foster therapeutic communication to practice relationship-centered nursing care.
• Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate, solve problems, foster evidence-based decision-making in an ethical manner.
• Collaborate as part of a health care team by demonstrating effective leadership in nursing and health care.
• Engage in intentional life-long learning.

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN NURSING - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admissions requirements:

• Score a 75 or higher on the entrance examination.
• Provide a Residential Florida address where you will be able to reside during clinical experiences.
• Pay the Enrollment fee is $150.00 (non-refundable).
• Sign an Enrollment Agreement drafted by the Finance Department and pay the $2,000.00 down payment (non-refundable) or have arrangements made through a loan company.

Registered nursing graduates are prepared to function in beginning staff-level registered nurse positions in institutions that will include hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and comparable health care facilities.

LPN TO RN - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• At the time of enrollment, present one of the following active unencumbered healthcare licenses:
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
• Paramedic.
• Provide a Residential Florida address where you will be able to reside during clinical experiences.
• Pay the Enrollment fee is $150.00 (non-refundable).
• Sign an Enrollment Agreement drafted by the Finance Department and pay the $2,000.00 down payment or have arrangements made through a loan company.

Registered nursing graduates are prepared to function in beginning staff-level registered nurse positions in institutions that will include hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and comparable health care facilities.

PRACTICAL NURSING - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• Score a 75 or higher on the entrance examination.
• Provide a Residential Florida address.
• Pay the Enrollment fee is $150.00 (non-refundable).
• Sign an Enrollment Agreement drafted by the Finance Department and pay the $2,000.00 down payment (non-refundable) or have arrangements made through a loan company.

PN graduates are qualified to provide basic care, under the direction of registered nurses and doctors, for patients in a variety of health care settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, home health care and physician offices.

RN TO BSN - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• Must possess a current/active United States R.N. License.
• Evidence of an Associate in Science Degree in Nursing with a minimum of 60 semester credits.

Completion of all A.S. General Education courses for transfer with a "C" (2.0) or higher on a 4.0 scale in all prerequisite coursework and confirmed on the official transcript(s). GPA is cumulative of all college transcripts.

ASSOCIATES IN SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• Provide any and all documentation necessary for Life Experience Credit (LEC) (if applicable).

BACHELORS IN SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• Provide any and all documentation necessary for Life Experience Credit (LEC) (if applicable).

ASSOCIATES IN SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• Provide any and all documentation necessary for Life Experience Credit (LEC) (if applicable).

BACHELORS IN SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this program must comply with the admissions requirements listed above as well as the following program specific admission requirements:

• Provide any and all documentation necessary for Life Experience Credit (LEC) (if applicable).

MASTERS IN SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY - ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submit an application and fee through Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) and satisfy all applicable Riggs College admissions requirements.

Click the logo to apply using OTCAS.
View the MSOT Program page for
the complete details on the Master
of Science in Occupational Therapy
Program.

Contact Us for more information on
the Master of Science in Occupational
Therapy program or Schedule An Interview
to schedule an in-person interview with an
Admissions Advisor.

ONLINE ORIENTATION – 101 ONLINE LEARNING

All students who are accepted at Riggs College are automatically enrolled in the online orientation course (101 Online Learning) before starting the program. The orientation gives students the opportunity to become comfortable with the online learning platform. Students can begin the online orientation course shortly after enrollment has been confirmed. Students are required to successfully complete the orientation course before starting the nursing program to confirm their ability to learn via online distance education modality.

EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS - NOTICE FOR STUDENTS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS

A criminal record may prevent a student from obtaining a license or certification in some medical programs. Therefore, a criminal record may also affect the student’s ability to gain employment in the field of training. Please visit the Florida Board of Nursing official website for current information regarding rules and regulations for examination at https://www.floridasnursing.gov/licensing/.

HEPATITIS-B IMMUNIZATION WAIVER

Students who do not have documentation of a Hepatitis B vaccination are required to sign a Waiver that states that he/she has made a voluntary decision not to be immunized against the Hepatitis B Virus. In making this decision, the student accepts full responsibility for that decision and understands that OSHA federal regulations require only healthcare facilities to make the Hepatitis B vaccination available to their own employees. Therefore, a student understands he/she is not a school employee, and charges may not be filed against the school if he/she is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus while attending classes at the institution or clinical sites.

COVID-19 IMMUNIZATION WAIVER

Students who do not have documentation of a Covid-19 vaccination are required to sign a Waiver that states that he/she has made a voluntary decision not to be immunized against the Covid-19 or Virus or Coronavirus. In making this decision, the student accepts full responsibility for that decision and understands that OSHA federal regulations require only healthcare facilities to make the Covid-19 vaccination available to their own employees. Therefore, a student understands he/she is not a school employee, and charges may not be filed against the school if they are exposed to the COVID-19 virus while attending classes at the institution or clinical sites.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

Our policy for transfer of credits/hours is as follows:

Transfer of Credits for Studies at Other Institutions

Riggs College gives credit for studies at other institutions that are approved within the United States, or proven equivalent United States accredited institutions. Riggs College does not accept credits from an unaccredited institution. To be considered, courses must be comparable to Riggs College courses included in the program of study and the grade received in the course must be at least 75% or higher or if the grade percentage is not noted on the academic transcript from the originated institution, a minimum grade of "C+" must have been earned. Generally, a maximum of 15 prerequisite course credits may be transferred into Riggs College, however, this is at the discretion of the Chief Operating Officer or the Dean of Academic. Transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis. Riggs College does not accept transfer credits from Straighterline or Sophia Pathways. In addition to this, Riggs College does not accept Advanced Placement credit. Credits will only be awarded for prerequisite courses.

For prerequisite courses that are greater than 10 years old, a test out option may be available with approval from the Dean of Academics. The cost for a test out is $300.00 per course and the applicant must receive a 75% or higher on the provided examination in order to earn the transfer credit. The examination for the test out is determined by Riggs College and will only cover the subject areas essential to the course in question. The test out examination will be given via Zoom and on a testing platform while being proctored by Riggs College. Should the applicant fail the test out examination, the test out fee is nonrefundable.

The transfer of academic credits/hours is evaluated on a course-by-course basis and is ultimately decided by the institution’s Dean of Academics. The number of credits/hours that may be transferred for each course is determined by establishing credit equivalencies by the institution’s Dean of Academics once a student has been accepted. General education and nursing pre-requisite courses in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) have a 10-year shelf-life. If a STEM course is older than 10 years, they may not transfer in, this will be evaluated on an individual basis. The acceptance of these classes will be determined at the time of the transcript evaluation.

Transfer of Credits for Studies at Other Institutions

• Riggs College will only accept transfer credits for the prerequisite/general education courses that are 10 years or less old, granted from an accredited institution and the grade received in the course must be at least 75% or higher or if the grade percentage is not noted on the official transcript from the originated institution, a minimum grade of "B" must have been earned.
• Acceptable transfer courses include: English Composition I, Oral Communications, Microbiology, Microbiology Lab, College Algebra Psychology, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, Human Anatomy & Physiology I - Lab, Human Anatomy & Physiology II, Human Anatomy & Physiology II - Lab, Human Growth & Development, Nutrition
• Core nursing courses will not be accepted as transfer credit.
• Riggs College will only allow a maximum of 15 transfer credits to be accepted from the ASN, LPN to RN, as well as the Associates and Bachelor programs for Criminal Justice and Business Administration.
• Riggs College does accept transfer credits from StraighterLine or Sophia Pathways.
• Riggs College will not accept transfer credits from an unaccredited institution and does not accept Advanced Placement credit.
• For the RN-BSN program, a maximum of 79 transfer credits can be accepted, 27 of which must be in general education.
• No transfer credits will be accepted for the Practical Nursing (PN) Program.

Transfer of Credits Between Programs within the Institution

The institution gives credit for General Education courses that are 10 years or less; however, acceptance of any previous coursework and/or credits is at the discretion of the dean and is therefore not guaranteed. Transcripts are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer of Credits earned at Riggs College to another Institution.

Transfer of credits earned at Riggs College are accepted at the discretion of the accepting institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether credits will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.

SUBMITTING ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Students transferring credits/hours are required to request official transcripts from the educational institutions attended to be sent directly to the institution’s Director of Education. Students have until the end of the first semester to comply with this requirement.

APPLICANTS WITH FOREIGN CREDENTIALS

Applicants with credentials from foreign countries must send credentials to the institution’s Director of Education for evaluation along with an official translation (in case the original is not in English). An official evaluation by an approved educational evaluator service attesting that the diploma/degree/credits earned at a foreign institution are equivalent to a diploma/degree/credit earned at an accredited institution in the United States. Foreign high school diplomas must be translated and evaluated by a member of the American Translators Association (ATA). For a list of approved translators visit https://www.atanet.org. Foreign diploma transcripts and college degree courses must be translated and evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) https://www.naces.org.