Admission Requirements for Nursing Programs

Nursing Admission Is Often a Two-Step Process

Getting into a university does not guarantee a spot in its nursing program. Most schools run nursing admission as a separate, competitive step after you enroll or apply, known as secondary admission. Space in clinical rotations is limited, so nursing programs cap the number of students who move from prerequisite coursework into the major.

Some schools admit students directly into a pre-nursing track as freshmen, then require a formal application to the BSN program after prerequisites are complete. Others run a single competitive review at the point of freshman application. Check each school's website for its specific model before you apply.

Which Nursing Degree Path Fits Your Application

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs at community colleges tend to have lower prerequisite loads and often skip the TEAS in favor of GPA-based review. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at four-year universities require the full prerequisite list and typically weigh entrance exam scores more heavily. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, an accelerated BSN program lets you finish nursing prerequisites and licensure coursework faster, though these programs are often the most selective because of small cohort sizes.

Prerequisite Coursework

Traditional and accelerated BSN programs typically require a set list of prerequisite courses before you start nursing-specific classes, according to NursingLicensure.org . Expect a course load of 8 to 18 prerequisite classes depending on your degree path and school.

• Anatomy and Physiology I and II

• Microbiology

• General and Organic Chemistry

• Statistics

• Developmental Psychology

• English Composition

Grades in science prerequisites carry extra weight.

A single C in Anatomy and Physiology often drops you below the GPA cutoff a program uses to rank applicants, even if your overall GPA looks fine.

Entrance Exams: TEAS and HESI A2

Nearly every ADN, BSN, and accelerated BSN program requires a standardized entrance exam before the admissions committee reviews the rest of your file, according to RegisteredNursing.org . The two most common exams are the ATI TEAS and the HESI A2, both testing reading, math, science, and English language skills.

A TEAS composite score of 70% or higher is widely considered competitive for ADN programs. Selective BSN programs at research universities often expect scores well above that baseline. Take the exam after finishing Anatomy and Physiology I and a college-level math course, since those subjects carry the heaviest weight on the test.

A growing number of programs, including some accelerated ADN tracks, have dropped the entrance exam requirement in favor of GPA review and interviews. Availability of exam-free options varies by region and degree level, so confirm the requirement for each program you apply to.

GPA and Selective Admission

Most BSN programs set a cumulative GPA floor of 3.0, with a separate, often higher, minimum for prerequisite science courses. Meeting the minimum gets you into the applicant pool, not a seat. Selective programs rank applicants by a composite score built from GPA, prerequisite grades, and entrance exam results, then admit from the top down until seats fill.

Some schools weight science prerequisite GPA more than overall GPA when they build that ranking. A strong overall transcript with weak grades in Chemistry or Microbiology still loses out to an applicant with a lower overall GPA but stronger science grades in many ranking formulas.

RN-to-BSN and Transfer Pathways

If you already hold an active RN license from an ADN program, RN-to-BSN bridge programs let you complete a bachelor's degree without repeating nursing courses you already passed. These programs typically waive the TEAS or HESI entrance exam since you already demonstrated clinical competence through licensure, and admission relies mainly on your ADN transcript and license status.

Transfer students moving from a community college into a four-year BSN program face a different path. Some universities have formal articulation agreements with specific community colleges that guarantee a transfer seat if you complete prerequisites at a set GPA. Where no articulation agreement exists, transfer applicants compete in the same secondary-admission pool as students who started at the four-year school, so prerequisite grades matter just as much.

Clinical Readiness Requirements

Admission to the nursing major is not the end of the paperwork. Before your first clinical rotation, programs typically require a criminal background check, drug screening, proof of immunizations, current CPR certification, and health insurance. Clinical sites set these requirements, and a failed background check or missing immunization record delays your start even after you are admitted.

How to Strengthen Your Nursing Application

• Take Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology early, and retake any course where you scored below a B if your program allows grade replacement.

• Study for the TEAS or HESI A2 with a dedicated prep course or practice tests rather than walking in cold.

• Get healthcare-related volunteer or work experience, such as a CNA certification or hospital volunteering, since some programs weigh it in holistic review.

• Apply to more than one program if your target schools are highly selective, since acceptance rates into the nursing major often run far lower than the university's overall acceptance rate.