Health Programs Frequently Asked Questions

After admission to GRCC, students planning on pursuing a health program are required to fill out the Health Admissions Application. 

Your program major will not change to the Health Program you will graduate from until you are in the program taking classes. 

Students changing from one health program to another will need to fill out a new Health Admissions Application, this will discontinue their current health program checklist and instate the new health program checklist.

Students who no longer wish to pursue a health program at GRCC are required to fill out the Health Programs Exit Form, as a signature is required to discontinue a health program checklist.

In some cases, the transcripts are no longer available. High Schools transcripts do not need to be official; so your school may fax or email them to the Health Admissions Office.

Yes. The programs are restricted in the number of students that can enter them at a time due to the student-teacher ratio that must be maintained. Additionally, there is limited classroom and clinical space, to expand the programs.

As of Fall 2024:

• Associate Degree Nursing (Fall, Winter, and Summer Semester starts): 1-1.5 years
• Advanced Standing Associate Degree Nursing (for Practical Nurses obtaining an ADN degree): 1 year (students must have completed EN101, PY201, BI121, and BI122 to be offered an earlier start date)
• Practical Nursing (Fall and Winter Semester starts): 6 months - 1 year
• Dental Assisting (Fall Semester start): No wait
• Advanced Standing Dental Assisting (For CDAs only) (Fall Semester start): No wait
• Dental Hygiene (Fall Semester start): 3 years
• Occupational Therapy Assistant (Fall Semester start): No wait
• Radiologic Technology (Fall Semester start): 3-4 years

Please see Admission Requirements by Program for a listing of each program's waiting list requirements.

The tests are not meant to exclude anyone from any program. They are required to assure the health division that students will be successful in their respective programs. The reading test is to assure that students are able to read at the level which the textbooks are written and the math tests are to assure that the student has the essential skills required by the program.

Students are given three chances to take the test, just to ensure that there is no data or outside influence error. If unsuccessful after three attempts, the students are required to take a class to bring their skill levels up to the required math/reading level.

Each file is evaluated on an individual basis. The tests may be waived on the basis of past coursework, or recent (within the last five years) ACT or SAT scores.

You do not have to be attending college while on the wait list. However, many of our students take their general education classes such as English, psychology, human anatomy, etc. while waiting in order to make their actual clinical time less hectic.

Please be sure to keep your contact information updated in the system.

Please be aware of the Biology/Life Science Course Policy for our Health Programs:

Life science courses (BI 117, BI 121, BI 122, GH 125, BI 127, and CHM 210) must have been completed within eight years of graduation/completion of your desired Health Program at GRCC (This includes Life Science courses that are transferred in from other institutions regardless of the date on which they are transferred).

The GRCC Academic Advisors will be able to provide assistance in this area. All of our advisors are familiar with our health programs and have great expertise in the area of health. To set up an appointment please contact the counseling office at (616) 234-3900.

You will be sent a letter when your position is available, it is important that you keep your address with the college updated.

Failure to respond to the letter within 30 days will cause your removal from the waitlist. To get back on the list you may have to reapply and you will be placed at the bottom of the list.

The letter will require you to contact the respective health office and make an appointment for an EDP (Educational Development Plan). If you do not respond, as mentioned above, you will be removed from the list. If you make an appointment and do not keep the appointment, you will be removed from the list.

• The Associate Degree Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and Radiologic Technology are two-year associate degree programs
• The Dental Hygiene is a three-year associate degree program.
• The Dental Assisting and Practical Nursing are one-year certificate programs. 
• The Dental Assisting program can also be done as an associate degree program at the student's option with the student taking the general education courses necessary to obtain the associate degree.

Health students must submit to a Preliminary Background Check, which is a prerequisite for getting on the waiting list for all programs.  There is a $10 fee for this preliminary background check.  Additionally, the Nursing and the Radiologic Technology program students must submit to a drug screen as well.  Further, you will have to submit to a fingerprint scan prior to entering the clinical/fieldwork component of the chosen program.  There is a $63 charge for fingerprinting.

• Dental Hygiene
• Registered Nursing - ADN Associate Degree
• Advanced Standing - LPN to AD Nursing
• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Radiologic Technology

• Dental Assisting (or optional associate degree)
• Practical Nursing

• Receive a certificate or an associate degree
• Be eligible to apply for a state and/or a national licensing or certification examination

• Experienced and dedicated faculty
• Low-cost tuition
• Convenient location
• Personal attention
• Financial aid and scholarship availability
• Job placement services
• Access to lifelong learning opportunities