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YOUR NURSING ROADMAP — JULY 13, 2026
Applying to more than one ADN program this cycle? There is one step many students miss: applying for admission to each college first.
APPLICATION PREP
Apply to the College Before the Nursing Program
One of the most common mistakes we see is students waiting to apply for college admission until the nursing application opens.
At every California community college, applying to the college and applying to the nursing program are two separate steps. Before you can submit a nursing application, you must first apply for admission to the college.
Why?
Because that's how you receive your student ID number. Every nursing application requires your student ID, and schools often send important updates to your student email account.
If you're applying to five nursing programs, you'll also need to submit five separate college admission applications; one for each college on your list.
California community college admission applications are free through CCCApply.
So before your nursing application windows open, do three things:
- Apply for admission to every college on your list. It is free, and you can knock out all of them in one sitting.
- Watch for the welcome email with your student ID. It can take a few days, and it sometimes lands in spam.
- Save every student ID and login in one place. A simple note with each school, ID number, and portal password will save you real stress when the nursing application opens.
Two applications, two separate steps. Handle college admission early so your student ID is ready and waiting, and the nursing application becomes the only one you have to think about when the window opens.
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