College of Health Admission Requirements

To be considered for enrollment into the BSHIM program, applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following:

Option 1: Submit high school transcripts for review with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Option 2: Possess a bachelors or associates degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Option 3: Submit transcripts documenting completion of college[1]level coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

To be considered for this program, applicants must:

• Possess an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited institution or state board of nursing approved program.
• Possess an active, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence or your state of employment. (Some license holders may be granted a waiver if they are not licensed in their state of residence or employment.) RN licensure in your state of residence or employment is required to successfully complete clinical experiences. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. Click here for more information about compact licenses.
• Submit to and pass a criminal background check through American Databank.

To be considered for this program, applicants must:

• Possess a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) from an accredited institution or state board of nursing approved program. 
• Possess an active, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence or your state of employment (though you are not required to be working as an RN at the time of enrollment). Some license holders may be granted a waiver if they are not licensed in their state of residence or employment. RN licensure in your state of residence or employment is required to successfully complete clinical experiences. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. Click here for more information about compact licenses.
• Submit to and pass a criminal background check through American Databank and provide proof of current immunizations. Additional fees apply.

To be considered for this program, applicants must:

• Possess an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited institution or state board of nursing approved program.
• Possess an active, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence or your state of employment. (Some license holders may be granted a waiver if they are not licensed in their state of residence or employment.) RN licensure in your state of residence or employment is required to successfully complete clinical experiences. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. Click here for more information about compact licenses.
• Submit to and pass a criminal background check through American Databank and provide proof of current immunizations. Additional fees apply.

To be considered for this program, applicants must:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and experience in healthcare or healthcare-related industry.
  OR
• Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and obtain MHL program chair approval.

Up to 8 competency units of graduate-level coursework may be accepted as transfer credit.

To be considered for a post-master's certificate program, you must:

• Possess an M.S. in Nursing from an accredited institution or state board of nursing approved program.
• Possess an active, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence, or your state of employment. (Some license holders may be granted a waiver if they are not licensed in their state of residence or employment.) You must be licensed in the state in which you will complete your clinical experience.

Applicants must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in the required nursing sciences to be considered for enrollment into the pre-nursing program. Successful completion of a nursing program admission exam is required prior to enrollment. Enrollment in the university and in the pre-nursing term does not guarantee acceptance into the clinical nursing program. Applicants are required to submit and/or complete the following items:

• Take and pass the ATI TEAS Exam with a minimum total score of 60% and a reading subtest score of at least 60. Click here to learn more about the ATI TEAS Exam.
• Submit a professional resume.
• Submit a letter of intent.
• Submit one professional letter of recommendation.
• Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions that show completion of required prerequisites.

Note: Preference will be given to those individuals with a prior college degree. All prerequisites must be complete before an application for enrollment can be considered. Applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to take appropriate tests of language proficiency.

Enrollment into the Pre-Nursing Curriculum and admission into the Clinical Nursing Program is competitive. Students must first be accepted and enrolled into the Pre-Nursing Curriculum. Students who are successful in the Pre-Nursing Curriculum will be allowed to apply for admission for the Clinical Nursing Program. Enrollment in the Pre-Nursing Curriculum is not a guarantee for admission into the Clinical Nursing Program. You must be at least 18 years of age before beginning the application process or participating in clinical experiences. Students enrolled in the Pre-Nursing Curriculum must successfully pass the Foundations in Nursing Skills performance exam  during the pre-nursing term in order to be considered for admission.

Approximately 60 days after enrollment into the Pre-Nursing Curriculum, if you qualify, you must apply for admission into the Clinical Nursing Program. To be considered for admission, the following support documentation must be provided by you as part of the application process:

• Proof of health insurance†.
• Proof of successfully passing of a criminal background check*.
• Proof of successfully passing a urine drug test*.
• Proof of a current immunization record and current negative TB test. See below which immunizations are required of you.
• Proof of meeting the specific physical requirements in accordance with the core performance standards of the nursing profession. 
• Participation in an interview with an admissions committee comprised of two or three committee members including the State Director of Nursing or designee.

† Note: Student malpractice insurance will be provided by WGU at no cost to you.

* Note: Starred items are required to be completed no sooner than 90 days prior to beginning the clinical portions of this program.

Application and acceptance into the program is based on available clinical space, successful completion of all pre-nursing term course requirements, and numerical ranking of the above items, including a WGU pre-nursing term mentor recommendation.

Pre-nursing students will required to submit evidence of all of the below to be considered for admission to the nursing program.

• Tetanus/Diphtheria and Pertussis vaccination
• Measles vaccination or Titer
• Mumps vaccination or Titer
• Rubella vaccination or Titer
• Varicella Zoster vaccination or Titer
• Hepatitis B vaccination or Titer
• TB testing
• Seasonal flu vaccination
• H1N1 flu vaccination or signed declination form)

It is necessary to have the ability to:

• Walk the equivalent of five miles per day
• Reach above shoulder level
• Hear tape recorded transcription and emergency monitors
• Distinguish colors
• Adapt to shift work
• Grip
• Sit for periods of time
• Climb stairs
• Stand for long periods of time
• Lift 50 pounds
• Perform CPR

If you are looking to become an RN and live within these states, this program is for you. Available in Texas, Florida, Indiana, and Utah—WGU has partnerships with healthcare employers who provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.

Admissions into the B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure) program is open to aspiring nurses in these select areas who have completed all prerequisites as outlined below. Enrollment into this program is conducted in two phases of admissions: Pre-Nursing Curriculum and the Clinical Nursing Program.

To be considered for this program, you must:

• Possess a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) from an accredited institution or state board of nursing approved program. NOTE: Students that hold an MSN will not be eligible to apply for the MSN-FNP pathway.
• Possess a current, active, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license from AND a permanent residence in an approved state. Students must complete the internships in their state of residence/license and intend to obtain initial APRN licensure in that state. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. (The FNP is currently not available for students in California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, and Washington.)
• Submit to a criminal background check through American Databank. Additional fees may apply.
• Submit a cover letter and professional resume or CV outlining your academic, professional, and service history.  
• Submit an application essay. You must submit a 1-2-page student statement detailing your experience in nursing and explaining why you want to become an FNP. This document helps us understand your unique situation and personal goals.
• Provide three letters of recommendation from: 
  1. A supervisor or manager who directly supervised you in a clinical setting.
  2. A professor, faculty member, or academic advisor who can provide meaningful input regarding your academic record.
  3. A Board Certified practicing healthcare provider (APRN, NP, PA, MD, DO) who has served as a mentor or whom you have shadowed, preferably in the specialty to which you are applying. Note: A registered nurse cannot serve as the practicing provider for this recommendation source.
  Note: Access the Letter of Recommendation request form through your enrollment portal.
• Have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the following 5 courses OR hold a BSNU degree from WGU:
  - Anatomy / Physiology I  w/lab (equivalent to 4 semester hours)
  - Anatomy / Physiology II  w/lab (equivalent to 4 semester hours)
  - Statistics (equivalent to 3 semester hours)
  - Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan (equivalent to 3 semester hours)
  - Pharmacology (equivalent to 2 semester hours)
  Note: All courses must be awarded a C- or above to meet this requirement. At this time, WGU is not accepting transfer credit for the Master of Science - Family Nurse Practitioner program.
• Have one year of clinical experience and be actively working as an RN at the time of application. *This requirement is strongly preferred, as these will be competitive factors in the admission decision-making process.

To be considered for this program, you must:

• Possess a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) from an accredited institution. NOTE: Students that hold an MSN will not be eligible to apply for the BSN-PMHNP pathway.
• Possess a current, active, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license from AND a permanent residence in an approved state. Students must complete the internships in their state of residence/license and intend to obtain initial APRN licensure in that state. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. (The PMHNP is currently not available for students in Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.) 
• Submit to a criminal background check through American Databank. Additional fees may apply.
• Submit a professional resume or CV outlining your academic, professional, and service history.  
• Submit an application essay. You must submit a 3- to 4-page student statement detailing your experience in nursing and explaining why you want to become a PMHNP. This document helps us understand your unique situation and personal goals.
• Provide three letters of recommendation from: 
  1. A supervisor or manager who directly supervised you in a clinical setting.
  2. A professor, faculty member, or academic advisor who can provide meaningful input regarding your academic record.
  3. A Board Certified practicing healthcare provider (APRN, NP, PA, MD, DO) who has served as a mentor or whom you have shadowed, preferably in the specialty to which you are applying. Note: A registered nurse cannot serve as the practicing provider for this recommendation source.
  
• Have earned a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the following 5 courses OR hold a BSNU degree from WGU:
  - Anatomy / Physiology I  w/lab (equivalent to 4 semester hours)
  - Anatomy / Physiology II  w/lab (equivalent to 4 semester hours)
  - Statistics (equivalent to 3 semester hours)
  - Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan (equivalent to 3 semester hours)
  - Pharmacology (equivalent to 2 semester hours) 
  Note: All courses must be awarded a C- or above to meet this requirement. At this time, WGU is not accepting transfer credit for the Master of Science in Nursing–Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
• Have one year of clinical experience and be actively working as an RN at the time of application. *This requirement is strongly preferred, as these will be competitive factors in the admission decision-making process.