Making the choice to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a sign that prospective nursing students are ready for a major change in their lives. So what should you expect from the admissions process? What is getting into a nursing school like? Depending on your previous educational experience, you may need to take some prerequisite science courses or general education courses. You will also need to fulfill some other basic such as the TEAS Exam and CPR training.
If you have questions about this process, know that you can always contact your admissions counselor. You can also read our FAQs page about the admissions process for our ABSN track.
1. Do I need credits or a previous degree to apply?
Since the ABSN track is an accelerated format, students are required to have a minimum of 60 credits from a regionally accredited college or university prior to enrollment. These 60 credits may include prerequisites and general education coursework taken through Concordia Texas. You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the pre-nursing courses listed on the degree plan. Some people may be able to skip some of these pre-nursing courses depending on previous degrees or coursework. Your Admission Counselor will help you with this process.
Additional ABSN track requirements
- An official transcript from each regionally accredited institution attended.
- Satisfactory completion of all prerequisites, including Concordia Texas Distinctive Prerequisites
- TEAS VI Exam score above 67%.
- An essay
- CPR certification from the Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers course.
- Clinical clearance immunizations, background checks, criminal history checks, drug screening, etc.
Getting into a nursing school doesn’t have to be a paperwork headache. Your admissions counselor will be able to help you navigate this process, and help you put together a checklist of requirements.
2. Can I start the ABSN immediately if I have another degree?
Maybe, but that depends on what your science background and previous coursework included. If you have earned your degree within the last few years from a regionally accredited school, you may be able to skip the science prerequisites or at least significantly cut down on the coursework you need to take prior to enrollment.
Your academic counselor will review your transcripts and give you an idea of what your prerequisite course load will look like.
3. Can I complete the entire degree online?
No, only a portion of the curriculum is online. The Accelerated BSN track's purpose is to create the highest quality of nurses as quickly as the job market demands. Students will be required to come to skills labs, as well as traveling to the clinical sites for that portion of their education. While all the computer-based learning and prerequisites can be completed at any location of your choice, it is essential that you live a reasonable drive from campus while you earn your degree.
Our remote learning model incorporates real-world scenarios presented in animation form, but these are only effective if our students can put those lessons into practice on models and real patients. This makes the curriculum complementary, so you will be practicing the skills in real life that you learned online.
CTX’s College of Nursing’s BSN program’s curriculum has proven to be successful! One hundred percent of graduates in 2015 passed the NCLEX-RN the first time, and in 2016, 98% of graduates passed on their first attempt.
4. How can I strengthen my application?
There are a few things you can do to strengthen your nursing school application if you’re not happy with your current application. Most importantly, buy the study guide for the TEAS VI test which is sold online at atitesting.com. Also, your GPA needs to be at least 3.0 in the courses listed as pre-nursing requirements.
Remember that you can retake any classes in which you earned a grade you are unhappy with, as your most recent letter grade will be accepted. An admissions counselor will help you develop a plan to create the strongest application possible.
5. How long will I have to wait to start?
Once you have completed your prerequisites, you can start as soon as a new cohort opens, which happens three times a year. Our blended curriculum of online learning, on-site skills labs and hospital clinicals allows Concordia Texas to enroll more nursing students every semester.
The length of time it takes you to complete your prerequisites depends on your previous coursework. You will get the most accurate timeline from your admissions counselor, who will be able to determine exactly what your individual coursework needs will be prior to enrolling in the ABSN track.
6. Will I be able to work while I earn my BSN?
Your ABSN track coursework should be your temporary full-time job, but remember that it will last less than 2 years. Our Accelerated BSN track is immersive, rigorous, and, as the name implies, fast-paced. Non-clinical days should be dedicated to completing online coursework, and your clinical rotations will require 2-3 hours of preparation per clinical day.
We want our students to remember at all times that their accelerated nursing education is a shortstop in a long career in nursing; you must dedicate the majority of your energy to completing your courses. This way, you will become the best nurse you can for your employment. While it's possible to work part-time in nursing school, you should talk to an admissions counselor about your options.
7. Are there any financial aid options available for accelerated nursing students?
There are several funding options available to students, and our financial services team can help you discover all of them. Our admissions counselors dedicate their time to help guide you through the process, and we are ready to connect you.
Please contact an admissions counselor if you have additional questions.