Apply to a Health Sciences Program

The Health Sciences programs at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement.

Before You Apply

Important things to know before you start the application process.

Health Sciences programs follow a selective admissions process with specific application acceptance windows. After the submission period closes, applications are reviewed, and some programs may require candidate interviews as part of the selection process. Admissions timelines and requirements vary by program, so be sure to review the program admissions details on the program page of interest to ensure you apply on time.

View Health Science Programs

If you don’t yet meet the program prerequisites, the Pre-Healthcare Academy can help you get there.

The Coleman College Pre-Healthcare Academy is designed to help students build a strong foundation before enrolling in a healthcare program or transferring to a four-year institution. This academy offers key courses, including prerequisites for many health sciences programs, that prepare students academically and professionally for success in the healthcare field. Whether you're exploring your options or preparing for a specific program, the Pre-Healthcare Academy provides the right first steps toward a future in healthcare.

Learn more about the Pre-Healthcare Academy

Steps to Apply to a Health Sciences Program

  1. Apply for Admission to HCC

    If you are new to college or transferring to HCC, your first step is to become an HCC Eagle by submitting a free admissions application to HCC.

    Take the first step, apply to HCC!

  2. Attend a Program Information Session

    Program Information Session attendance is recommended but optional. To stay informed about the latest application details, we encourage you to attend an in-person Program Information Session when available. Information Session schedules are listed on the program page when offered.

    Select a program to view Information Sessions

  3. Meet with a HCC Coleman College Representative

    At least once during the application acceptance period, we strongly recommend that an applicant meet with an HCC Coleman Advisor via phone or in-person, or virtually to ensure they are meeting all of the program admission criteria.

    Academic Advising

What to Expect Once You Have Been Admitted

If you are offered admission into the program, then you will be asked to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements by a specific due date to maintain eligible status. Information on how to complete these requirements will be provided with your admission acceptance email. Please check your email regularly for updates and information.

  • Complete and send the Letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email. The offer and blank intent form will be sent to your submitted email address with the application form.
  • CPR certification required – American Heart Association (BLS) Healthcare Provider. Completion of CPR certification by program enrollment date.
  • Proof of personal health insurance
  • Physical exam
  • Immunization record showing: Completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months), Hepatitis C Status, MMR – 2 shots or titer, Tdap – every 10 years, TB skin test or chest X-ray – every year, Varicella – 2 shots or titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) Completed by the application deadline and Influenza - after September 1st.
  • Passing drug screen and background check prior to the start of class.
  • Cleared Criminal Background - If you have ever been charged with or convicted in court of a misdemeanor or felony (including conviction of a similar offense in a military court-martial) you must contact the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) at 651-687-0048 for eligibility requirements. ARRT pre-eligibility approval for candidates who disclosed a positive criminal history. A positive criminal history will require the candidate to submit to the ARRT a pre-eligibility application at their own expense prior to the program’s new student orientation.
  • Complete the mandatory program orientation and student service orientation on the date provided in your admission email.
    (if you are offered admission, please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations as follows: Summer Term - plan to attend program orientation in May month; Fall Term – plan to attend orientations between July and August

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students progress and graduate as scheduled, it is highly recommended that applicants weigh all of their options before agreeing to a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. In order to facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all of the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens and immunizations, including proof of COVID-19 vaccination. 

Students are required to provide to HCC proof that students meet all clinical requirements, with the exception of their COVID-19 vaccination status.  Consistent with state law, HCC does not mandate the COVID-19 vaccination. Students have the choice to voluntarily disclose or not disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status through their HCC Complio account.

However, most healthcare facilities do require the vaccine as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement.  If a student chooses not to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status or is not vaccinated, HCC may not be able to place the student in clinical rotations.  HCC will work to place such students into a clinical site that does not require the vaccine, provided such a site is available and HCC has an active affiliation agreement in place that meets the necessary conditions to provide an appropriate learning opportunity for the student.  However, HCC cannot guarantee that clinical sites that do not require the COVID vaccine will be available at the time the student requires placement.  At this time, many healthcare facilities are not accepting religious or medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine for clinical students.

If a student chooses not to receive or to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and no clinical sites are available to accept the student that do not require the COVID-19 vaccination, the student’s progression in the program and graduation will be delayed or stopped all together.  If a student cannot be timely placed in a qualifying clinical site, a student may not be able to complete the program. Our affiliate partners’ expectations are the same for our students as they would be when our students ultimately become employees in their chosen field.

Students with questions about clinical requirements and placement may contact the program director of their program of interest.