The College will admit all applicants who are high school graduates (from a regionally-accredited or state Department of Education recognized school), General Educational Development (GED) recipients, or home schooled students who have completed senior level curriculum.
In addition, adults who are not high school graduates will be admitted if they are 18 years of age or older or if they give evidence of being able to benefit from courses offered by the College. Students not meeting any of the previous criteria may be considered for admission on an individual basis.
Acceptance to the College does not ensure admission into all academic programs. Students who do not meet the College's academic standards or those who do not meet special admissions requirements will not be accepted into selective programs. Satisfying minimum special program requirements for selective admission programs does not guarantee admission into special programs.
Note: State and federal regulations prohibit students who have not earned a high school diploma (from a regionally-accredited or state Department of Education recognized school) or GED from receiving any form of federal or state financial aid.
How to start . . .
Below are the items that must be completed if you intend to earn a degree, certificate or specialized diploma on a full- or part-time basis.
- Submit a completed application form or apply online at www.northampton.edu and include a $25 non-refundable application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to NCC; or VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover card.
- Official high school, GED, home school record, and college transcripts (if applicable) are required if you are applying for a selective program and/or if you are applying for financial aid.
- To receive transfer credits, an official college transcript must be submitted. Credits for which a student received a grade of C or better, and which apply to a student's program, will be accepted as transfer credits. Only credits from institutions that have regional accreditation or are recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) are acceptable. Starting in Spring 2015, NCC will review transfer credits from non-regionally accredited colleges on a case-by-case basis per student request.
- Special requirements for certain programs are listed within this catalog, or under "Selective Admissions Programs" on the Admissions page of the NCC Web site.
- Students who wish to audit a course must submit a completed application form.
New Student College Success Policy
All new students are required to enroll in COLS101 College Success.
- New students enrolling full-time are required to take COLS101 in their first semester.
- New part-time students are required to take COLS101 before completing 15 credits.
Students exempt from taking COLS101 include:
- Students entering NCC with a post-secondary associate degree or bachelor’s degree.
- Students entering NCC who have successfully completed, with a grade C or better, an equivalent college success or freshmen seminar course at another college.
- Students who have completed COLS150 Skills for Academic Success.
- Students enrolling in these NCC specialized diplomas:
Child Development Associate – 9 credits
Emergency Medical Technician – 6 credits
Infant-toddler Development – 9 credits
Leadership for Early Childhood Program Directors – 9 credits
Multimedia – 9 credits
School-Age Child Care – 9 credits
Publishing for Writers – 6 credits
Special Education – 9 credits
Mandatory Orientation (beginning Spring 2015)
New Student Orientation
All students new to college who wish to enroll in degree, certificate, or specialized diploma programs must complete an orientation program prior to registration.
Tuition Deposit
Students accepted into a selective admission or limited enrollment program (i.e. Allied Health and Culinary Arts) must pay a $200 tuition deposit (which will be applied to tuition and fees) by the date indicated in their acceptance notification to reserve his/her acceptance into the chosen program. Failure to pay this deposit or arrange an alternate agreement with the Admissions Office may result in cancellation of acceptance. The deposit is refundable if requested in writing before July 1 for the fall semester or December 15 for the spring semester. Deposits paid after these deadlines are non-refundable.
Concurrent and Dual Enrollment for High School and Home School Students
Dual enrollment students from participating high schools may enroll in College courses as specified by each high school. Enrollment eligibility requirements vary by school district and are available in each high school guidance office and NCC's Admissions Office.
Concurrent enrollment students may enroll in one or two classes at NCC if they are seniors in high school or in the last year of a home school curriculum and have demonstrated the academic ability to benefit from course offerings at the College. All students must have approval of their school districts. Final decision to admit a concurrent enrollment student rests with the College.
Students who are in academic difficulty or have been expelled or dropped out of high school are not eligible for concurrent enrollment. Such students will fall under the regular College admissions policy, which requires students to be 18 years of age and give evidence of being able to benefit from courses offered by the College.
All requests for concurrent and dual enrollment are processed through the NCC Admissions Office.
International Students
Any student who is or intends to be in the United States on a student (F1) visa is considered an international student. Before acceptance to NCC can be granted or the I-20 visa form can be issued, international students must submit several application requirements. Please visit our How to Apply page for details.
Special Admission Requirements
More complete information is mailed to all applicants in these programs.
Computer Forensic Analyst: Hero, Special Diploma
Admission to NCC's Computer Forensic Analyst: HERO (Human Exploitation Rescue Operation) program is restricted to individuals who are enrolled in the current Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS/ICE) HERO program cohort.
Dental Hygiene
(Preferred deadline January 15 - Fall start only)
Before Admission
- High school Chemistry and Biology with lab, with B or better, overall grade point average of 3.0. (college courses may be substituted for missing high school requirements) For those with more than 12 college credits - college level Chemistry and Biology courses can be a B - or better, minimum 2.7 overall and program science specific grade point average
- Career Assessment Form
After Admission
- Medical form
- CPR certification: BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Health Insurance
- First Aid Certification
- State and Federal Criminal Background Checks
- PA Child & Elder Abuse History
- Felony Disclosure Form
- Drug Screen
- Signed Student Release of Information Form for Allied Health Sites
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
(Associate in Applied Science - AAS; preferred deadline March 15 - Fall start only)
Before Admission
- High school Algebra I and II with "Cs" or better, high school Biology with lab with a "B" or better (college courses may be substituted), at least 3.0 GPA, submission of Career Assessment Form, interview by invitation
After Admission
- Medical Form
- Health Insurance
- Drug Screen
- State and Federal Criminal Background Checks
- Child Abuse History Clearance
- CPR Certification for the Health Care Provider
- Written verification that the Essential Functions/Technical Standards can be met (form provided after admission)
- Signed Student Release of Information Form for Allied Health Clinical Sites
Education
After Admission:
Early Childhood Education
Applies to All Programs of Study except Leadership for Early Childhood Program Directors, Specialized Diploma.
- Act 114 FBI PDE Federal Criminal History Background Check
- Act 114 FBI DHS Federal Criminal History Background Check
- Act 34 Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
- Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 31 Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania Online Training
- National Sex Offender Registry Verification
- 2 Letters of Reference (from non-family members)
- NCC DHS Health Assessment
- Act 24 Pennsylvania Department of Education Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form
- TB (Tuberculin) skin test
Middle Level Education: Grades 4-8, A.A.
- Act 114 FBI PDE Federal Criminal History Background Check
- Act 34 Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
- Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 31 Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania Online Training
- Act 24 Pennsylvania Department of Education Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form
- TB (Tuberculin) skin test
Secondary Education, A.A.
- Act 114 FBI PDE Federal Criminal History Background Check
- Act 34 Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
- Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 31 Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania Online Training
- Act 24 Pennsylvania Department of Education Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form
- TB (Tuberculin) skin test
Special Education Paraeducator, A.A.S. and Specialized Diploma
- Act 114 FBI PDE Federal Criminal History Background Check
- Act 114 FBI DHS Federal Criminal History Background Check
- Act 34 Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
- Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 31 Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania Online Training
- Act 24 Pennsylvania Department of Education Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form
- TB (Tuberculin) skin test
- National Sex Offender Registry Verification
Funeral Service Education
(Preferred deadline March 15)
Acceptance into the Funeral Service Education program is competitive and you will need to meet certain prerequisites to be considered for admission.
These admission criteria include:
Before Admission
- High school graduates and non-traditional student applicants: will need to have completed high school Biology and Chemistry (with labs) with a grade of C or better AND have an overall high school G.P.A. of 2.5 or better.
- Transfer student applicants: Grades of C or better in each course being transferred in; achieved minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 for any college-level work completed.
After Admission
- Complete Student Trainee License Application and pay $25 fee
- Complete TIMMS application and send official transcripts to Department of Education
Funeral Service Education core courses (courses with the prefix FUNS) may only be taken by those students who have completed the 60 hours of general education requirement. See prerequisites for grade requirements.
Massage Therapy
(Certificate program; preferred deadline April 15 for Fall; possible Spring start, depending on demand, with September 15 preferred deadline)
Before Admission
- High school diploma or GED
- At least 18 years of age before beginning program
- High school Biology (or NCC BIOS 107 or 115) with a grade of C or better
- Eligible to enroll in English 101
- Overall high school or college GPA of at least 2.5 (most recent GPA)
After Admission
- Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)
- Child and Elder Abuse History Clearance
- State and FBI Clearance
- Certification in Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers
- Felony Disclosure Form
Medical Assistant
(Diploma Program; preferred deadline April 15 - Fall start only)
Before Admission
- High school diploma or GED, high school biology with a lab with a C or better, high school Algebra I with a C or better (college courses can be substituted for missing high school requirements), placement into college level English
After Admission
- State and Federal Criminal Background Checks
- Physical examination forms
- Immunization history
- Documentation of recent hepatitis B vaccination or relevant titer
- Child and Elder Abuse Clearance forms
- Health Insurance
- Felony Disclosure Form
- Certificate in Basic Life Support for healthcare providers
Nursing
(Preferred deadline February 15 for Fall start and Sept. 15 for Spring start)
Before Admission
- RN - completion of high school diploma or equivalent, high school Chemistry and Biology with lab with B or better, two years of Algebra with a C or better (college courses can be substituted for missing high school requirements), placement test into college level English and Math, overall college grade point average of 3.0 or higher, proficient rating on TEAS assessment with Adjusted Individual scores in Reading, Math, Science and English at or above the national mean
- Advanced Placement RN - RN requirements grade point average above 3.0 in college level courses applicable to the program, completed specified RN general education core with C or better, current LPN license, passed the required Excelsior exams, proficient rating on TEAS assessment with Adjusted Individual scores in Reading, Math, Science and English at or above the national mean
- LPN (Preferred deadline February 15 fo Fall start only) - completion of high school diploma or equivalent, high school Algebra I and Biology with C or better (college courses can be substituted for missing high school requirements), overall college grade point average of 2.5 or higher and Basic rating on TEAS assessment
After Admission
- CPR certification
- State and Federal Criminal Background Checks
- Health insurance
- Child Abuse Background Check
- Medical forms and Immunization records
- Felony Disclosure Form
- Drug screen
- Student Release of Information Form for Allied Health Clinical Sites
- Hospital Orientation and Paperwork Seminar
Radiography
(Preferred deadline March 15 - Fall start only)
Before Admission
- Completion of high school diploma or equivalent
- High school biology with lab with "C" or better (Or BIOS 115 with "C' or better) and two units of Algebra (Or MATH 022 and MATH 026,
- Or MATH 028) with "C" or better
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.5
- Complete Career Assessment Form (CAF) after virtual shadowing in radiography
- Information session and interview for competitive applicants
After Admission
- Medical forms
- Documentation of relevant immunizations and/or titers
- State and Federal Criminal Background Checks
- Child Abuse Background Check
- Health insurance
- CPR certification for Health Care Provider
- Written verification that the Essential Functions Technical Support Standards can be met
- Signed Student Release of Information Form for Allied Health Clinical Sites
- Drug screen
Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences
(Preferred deadline April 15 - Fall start only)
Before Admission
- Completion of high school diploma or equivalent
- High school Chemistry with lab with "B" or better (or CHEM 135 with "B" or better), high school Biology with lab with "C" or better (or BIOS 115 with "C" or better), one year of high school Algebra with a "C" or better (or MATH 022 with a "C" or better), and eligibility to take English I.
After Admission
- State and Federal Criminal Background Checks
- Medical forms and vaccinations
Veterinary Technician
(Preferred deadline March 15 - Fall start only)
Before Admission
- Completion of high school diploma or equivalent
- High school Biology with lab with B or better, Algebra I and II with C or better (college courses can be substituted for missing high school requirements)
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- Placement into college level English and math
- Interview (qualified applicants will be notified of date)
- Career Exploration Form and completion of 20 hours of observation in a veterinary facility within the past year
After Admission
- Medical form
- Health Insurance
Other Requirements
Before Admission
- Theatre - Audition during first semester
After Admission
- Applied Psychology - State and Federal Criminal Background Checks, Child Abuse History Clearance
- Automotive - Auto dealership sponsorship, valid driver's license, meeting with program director
- Culinary Arts - Medical form and Immunization Records
- Early Childhood Education - Health Form and TB test results, State and Federal Criminal Background Checks, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, 2 letters of reference
- Middle Level Education - State and Federal Criminal Background Checks, PA Child Abuse History Clearance and TB test results
- Secondary Education - State and Federal Criminal Background Checks, PA Child Abuse History Clearance and TB test results
- Special Education - State and Federal Criminal Background Checks, PA Child Abuse History Clearance and TB test results
Culinary Arts AAS and Specialized Diploma – Application Admissions Requirements
(Proposed Deadlines: 3/15 Summer; 5/15 Fall; 10/15 Spring)
Open Access POS – AND have other various requirements due before and after admission
Applied Psychology AAS – background check
Automotive Technology, AAS, Certificate, Diploma – valid driver’s license
Background Check - on ground only
Early Childhood Education, AAS, Certificate, Specialized Diploma
Middle Level Education AA
Secondary Education AA
Special Education Paraeducator AAS and Specialized Diploma