The College offers numerous degrees and career studies certificate programs at the Medical Education Campus for those who wish to pursue careers in the health professions. Many of the programs are accredited by professional organizations. Each program is designed with the advice of community health professionals to include a balance of technical and general education courses. The purpose of Allied Health and Nursing programs is to prepare caring, competent, adaptable, reflective, service-oriented health care professionals who can identify and use a variety of resources and technologies to function successfully in diverse and evolving health care practice environments.
Students are advised that the NOVA’s Allied Health and Nursing programs have been designed to prepare students for direct entry to health careers. However, a few programs have articulated agreements with four-year colleges and universities that facilitate the partial or complete transfer of NOVA course work to four-year degree programs. Students who wish to transfer to a baccalaureate program should consult the appropriate assistant dean early in the program of study.
Allied Health and Nursing programs are based at the Medical Education Campus. Some core courses are available online or at locations other than the Medical Education Campus. Students may take general education support courses at any of the six College campuses.
Because of limited laboratory, classroom and/or clinical space, certain Allied Health and Nursing programs have limited enrollment. Acceptance to NOVA does not constitute acceptance into a specific Allied Health or Nursing program. The College contracts with a large number of Metropolitan Washington health-care facilities and community-based agencies for clinical instruction. These contracts regulate the conditions under which NOVA Allied Health and Nursing students may obtain required clinical experience. In some cases, accrediting bodies may specify program requirements.
Each program has specific admission, program continuation, and program completion criteria. These are described under each program. Due to the unique responsibilities involved in health careers, the college reserves the right to require that any student who is unsuited for any Allied Health or Nursing program be withdrawn and guided into a more suitable field of study.
Admission into an Allied Health or Nursing program begins with application to the College, followed by attendance at a program information session. To declare your major in an Allied Health or Nursing program an interview with a counselor or an assistant dean may also be required. Admission is not complete until all admission requirements are met. Early application is desirable.
Students are accepted with priority given to: (1) legal residents domiciled in the cities and counties supporting the College, (2) other Virginia legal residents, (3) out-of-state applicants, and (4) international students. For certain Health Science programs, "counties supporting the College" may include those in which clinical affiliates have contractual agreements with NOVA.
The Allied Health and Nursing programs are authorized to deny enrollment in health programs to any student who has been arrested and charged with a felony pertaining to barrier crimes and controlled substances and who was adjudicated guilty, or adjudication was withheld because of placement in a pre-trial intervention program or who entered a plea of nolo contendere. If you are convicted of a felony you will not qualify for application to the nursing program. Clinical sites may exclude you from their site for a misdemeanor, and if that occurs there is no alternative but to withdraw.