Health Sciences

Resources

CONTACT CARD

Jason Smith, DNP, RN
Associate Vice President of Health Science Center
Jason.Smith@tvcc.edu

Health Sciences

TVCC's Health Occupations division offers many healthcare programs leading to skills awards, certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. Experienced instructors prepare students to become safe, skilled professionals and help them earn the certifications or licenses needed for their careers. Most programs are based at the renovated Terrell Health Science Center, with additional classes in Athens and Palestine. All programs are approved by Texas regulatory agencies, and several hold national accreditation.

With growing community needs and a shortage of healthcare workers, TVCC graduates are in high demand and often find jobs quickly and locally. The success of these programs comes from strong student and faculty commitment, selective admissions, and support from the college and clinical partners.

TVCC Discontinues HESI A2

TVCC will discontinue the HESI A2 assessment after August 2026. Beginning September 2026, the ATI TEAS will be the only entrance exam offered.

For all Nursing and Surgical Technology programs with application periods that occur during the 2026-2027 academic year, we will accept either the ATI TEAS or the HESI A2. After the 2026-2027 academic year, only the ATI TEAS will be accepted for required program applications.

Biannual Admission Cycle

TVCC is transitioning to a dual admission cycle, admitting two cohorts per academic year, offering both Fall and Spring startopportunities for students pursuing the ADN program. With this transition, the ADN program will now include a Spring 2027 start application cycle.

Biannual Admission Cycle	Fall Admission	Spring Admission
Application Window	January 1-January 31	July 1-July 31
Selection Process	April 1-April 15	September 1-September 15
Notifications	By April 16	By September 16
Acceptance/Denial Deadline	By May 15	By October 15
Orientation	June TBA	November TBA

Criminal Background

If you have a criminal background, it may affect your ability to get a license or certification. Talk to your instructor or department chair if you have questions or request a criminal history evaluation from the licensing/crediting agency.

The TVCC ADN and VN programs meet Texas Board of Nursing requirements, but TVCC has not confirmed if they meet licensure requirements in other states.

If you need info about another state, email the Associate VP of the Health Science Center, Dr. Jason Smith.

Definitions

The certiﬁcate of completion is designed to provide core courses in a workforce or technical education program that speciﬁcally and directly relate to competencies needed for employment and potential advancement in a career ﬁeld. Certiﬁcates of completion are desired by many employers, especially by those in demanding workforce ﬁelds.itiative.

Occupational Skills Awards (OSA) enable students to receive recognition (not designated on transcripts) for entry-level employment or industry-recognized certiﬁcation or licensure.

TVCC has implemented stackable credentials that allow students to enroll in an occupational skills award, which builds into a certiﬁcate of completion program and into the corresponding associate degree program.

TVCC offers an RN-to-BSN bachelor's degree completion program starting in each fall and spring semester. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Nurses should be lifelong learners and the next step in academic progression for associate degree-prepared nurses is the bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN).

The RN-to-BSN program focuses more in-depth on concepts such as research, theory, community health, leadership, and health policy. The RN-to-BSN program focuses on looking at their practice from a systems or population perspective, rather than focusing on individual patient care.

The associate of applied science degree (AAS) is awarded for the successful completion of a two-year prescribed workforce and technical education curriculum and may serve as a foundation for the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS), and the Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degree.

Each applied associate degree program shall provide the necessary workforce skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to attain entry-level employment in an occupation.

Trinity Valley Community College awards an Associate of Arts (AA) degree , Liberal Arts (Multi-disciplinary) major to students who complete the AA required coursework and are interested in transferring to a college or university to obtain a baccalaureate degree.

Suggested pathway electives and recommended core curriculum are designated within each program to provide students with introductory coursework that is university transferable and tailored to their chosen field of study. Students following these pathways earn an Associate of Arts degree (AA), Liberal Arts (Multi-disciplinary) major from TVCC.