Become a registered nurse with WGU’s innovative BSN program
Program Details
Eligibility Requirements
In-Hospital Clinical Experience
Tuition and Fees
How the Program Works
Accredited and Credible
Program Support
Hospital and Health Systems Partners
National Advisory Committee
Grants and Support
About WGU
Become a WGU Clinical Coach or Instructor
B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure)
WGU is currently recruiting students for programs in California and Texas. See admissions requirements below.
Want to become a nurse? Now is the perfect time to become a Registered Nurse (RN). WGU’s B.S. in Nursing (Prelicensure) degree program prepares you with the content knowledge and extensive in-hospital clinical experience to earn your bachelor’s degree and prepare you to sit for the national NCLEX licensing exam.
Your clinical education also includes “intensives” at Clinical Simulation Labs utilizing the latest in simulation technology to prepare you for agency-based clinicals. Agency-based clinicals occur in hospitals and other key healthcare facilities with expert staff nurses to provide coaching and clinical learning opportunities.
You will become a technologically proficient, caring, bachelor’s degree-prepared nurse who is ready to preserve, promote, improve, and maintain the health and well-being of individuals and families in your community.
Program Details
This program includes one clinical domain of study plus intensive clinical rotations for each clinical subdomain of study. The domains of study are as follows:
Clinical Domain:
- Nursing Theory and Practice
Non-Clinical Domain:
Pre-Nursing Domains (considered prerequisites):
- Nursing-Related Science
- Foundations
- Language and Communications
- Quantitative Literacy
- Social Science Distribution
- Humanities Distribution
Total Program: 120 Competency Units (credit equivalents)
Less: any competency units waived through transfer of prior college credits
More details about your challenging course of study
View the PDF program guide
Program Admissions Requirements
NOTICE: For the 2010 programs, there will be limited clinical opportunities available in select hospitals in Southern California and Texas. Because of limited clinical opportunities, this is a highly selective program. Future expansion is planned in both states and in additional states this year and beyond.
WGU is now opening admissions to aspiring nurses in these select areas who may not meet all of the requirements to enter the clinical portions of this program. Therefore, WGU will admit students who are either "Admissions-Ready" or "Clinical-Ready."
To be "Admissions-Ready," you must meet the following requirements:
- Must possess a current CPR certification at the Healthcare Provider Level.
- Must possess a minimum of a CNA, LVN, or LPN license and have patient care experience.
- Must submit at least one letter of recommendation from your current healthcare employer.
- Must provide transcripts from all previous institutions that shows you have earned a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
These transcripts will enable WGU to determine whether you have completed the Pre-Nursing requisites (listed below) that will enable you to become a "Clinical-Ready" candidate.
To be “Clinical-Ready,” you must meet the following requirements:
- Must have transcripts that show completion of all Pre-Nursing domains as follows that are a prerequisite for entry into the clinical portions of the program:
- Must possess health insurance.
- Must obtain student malpractice insurance (usually a modest $29/year cost).
- Must pass a criminal background check*.
- Must pass a urine drug test*.
- Must pass a physical exam*.
- Must complete the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Test and demonstrate the attributes of a successful nurse*.
- Must have a current immunization record and current negative TB test. Click here to see what immunizations are required of you.
- Must meet the specific physical requirements in accordance with the core performance standards of the nursing profession. Click here to see examples of physical requirements.
* Note: Starred items are required to be completed no sooner than 90 days prior to beginning the clinical portions of this program.
Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to better understand what is required of you.
Back to Program Details Program Support
Your In-Hospital Clinical Experience
This program includes intensive clinical rotations. Preparation for these clinicals will be completed both online under the guidance of a WGU mentor and in conjunction with Clinical Simulation labs.
Your innovative clinical education experience includes:
- Cutting-edge clinical simulations, including virtual reality and high fidelity simulations to develop clinical skills.
- Agency-based clinical rotations in hospitals and other key healthcare sites.
- One-on-one guidance, supervision, and support in a busy, contemporary clinical setting with a Clinical Coach—an experienced staff nurse and clinical expert.
Clinical rotations are arranged as compressed “intensives” where students work one-on-one with expert nurses. You will complete at least four sessions of clinical rotations each year.
Speak to an Enrollment Counselor for a more in-depth explanation of the in-hospital clinical experience.
Back to Program Details Program Support
Affordable Tuition and Fees
Basic tuition: $4,250 per 6-month term (includes clinical rotation fees)
Estimated time to completion*: 2 years
* Contingent on covering all prerequisites
Other student responsibilities:
- Consolidated Nursing fee: $350
- Uniforms: $250
- iTouch unit: $199
- LabPaq fees: $200
- Criminal Background Check: $140
- Drug Test fee: $50
- NCLEX exam fees: $500
You may also be required to pay for doctor’s visit for a physical examination and immunizations to fulfill specific admissions requirements.
More information about Tuition and Fees
Back to Program Details Program Support
How Your Program Will Work
WGU offers degrees, not classes. As a competency-based program, learning is measured by what you know and can do based on assessments rather than time spent in classes or courses completed. You’ll study. You’ll write papers. You’ll take tests. You’ll complete rigorous lab work, simulations, and clinical rotations.
Here’s generally how your program will work:
- Your degree requirements are carefully developed to give you high-level competence in a variety of patient care settings, including chronic care, geriatrics, pediatrics, etc.
- You will work with a WGU mentor during the non-clinical portions of your program to complete rigorous assessments, virtual reality simulations, and high fidelity simulations to prepare you for your clinical rotations.
- You will work one-on-one with a Clinical Coach (under the guidance of a Clinical Instructor) to complete several “intensives” of clinical rotations. Your Clinical Coach is an experienced staff nurse who is trained to help you throughout the duration of your clinical rotations.
- Together with your mentor, you will largely be able to decide when you complete your non-clinical assessments. (Your clinical rotations will determined by your Clinical Coach’s schedule.)
- You should expect to work hard and spend at least 30 hours or more per week on your studies during non-clinical assessments; you’ll likely have to work many more hours per week during your clinical rotations and clinical simulation labs.
Speak to an Enrollment Counselor for a more in-depth explanation of how your program will work.
Back to Program Details Program Support
Accredited and Credible
Accreditation is a key indicator of a university’s credibility among both academia and employers. WGU is:
- CCNE accredited — by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and by the Texas Board of Nursing.
- Nationally accredited — by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
- Regionally accredited — by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Northwest Commission is also responsible for the accreditation of other major universities such as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, and the University of Utah, to name a few.
- Founded by 19 governors and supported by hospital partners — WGU was founded by the governors of 19 U.S. states. WGU and this BSN program are also supported by hospital partners across the nation, including Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Tenet Healthcare, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Catholic Healthcare West, and Universal Health Services.
Learn more about accreditation.
Back to Program Details Program Support
