The number of applicants accepted in any College of Nursing program is based on available resources.
Transcripts, proof of degree and letter of good standing
- Provide official transcripts from any and all colleges and universities attended. A course in basic statistics must have a letter grade of “C” or better. IMPORTANT NOTE about electronic official transcripts: UAMS can only accept electronic official transcripts from eScrip-Safe. If sending an electronic official transcript to our office, please check to make sure your host institution sends through the eScrip-Safe network before ordering an electronic official transcript. Mail to: UAMS College of Nursing, Student Services Office, 4301 W. Markham, #529, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
- Present proof of earned baccalaureate degree in nursing from a NLNAC or CCNE accredited program.
- Applicants who have attended a previous graduate nursing school or another health related profession school must have a letter submitted from that school that includes a statement regarding the student’s standing at the previous school. Applicants who have been previously dismissed from a program or who are not in good standing will not be considered for admission. Admission will not be considered for anyone who earned a “NC”, or ”C” in any two graduate nursing courses or a “D”, “F”, “WD” or “WF” in any graduate nursing course.
- If you are an international applicant: The CIA official language field listing to determine whether the TOEFL exam is required for international applicants who declare English as their first language. If English is listed as the official language of their country of birth on the CIA listing, the student will not be required to complete the TOEFL exam as an admission requirement. If the applicant was not born in the United States or in a country where English is the official language, the applicant may document their English proficiency in one of two ways:
- An official TOEFL score of a minimum score of 20 in each section of the iBT is required. The test must have been taken within the last two (2) calendar years of admission. Official TOEFL exam score report reflecting successful completion must be received no later than one (1) month past the application deadline date. Only TOEFL test scores received directly from ETS will be accepted as valid. Testing information is available at http://ets.org.
- If the applicant’s entire educational experience has been in the United States, the applicant does not have to take the TOEFL. To document this, the applicant must provide records/transcripts from the time that the applicant entered school in the seventh grade through high school, and college. If the applicant cannot provide this documentation, the applicant may appeal first to the College of Nursing Admissions and Progression Committee, and then to the College of Nursing Dean.
- Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts – If the degree was earned outside of the United States, the applicant must have all international transcripts evaluated by a credentialing entity that is a member of NACES (The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services naces.org (e.g., www.wes.org or www.ece.org). The evaluation must include proof of the equivalency of a United States degree and an equivalent GPA that is based on a 4.0 grading system.
PROOF OF LICENSE
- Provide evidence of an unencumbered Arkansas or unencumbered compact state RN license. All UAMS College of Nursing (CON) students who are or have been licensed as a nurse (LPN, RN, RNP, APRN, etc.) must maintain that nursing license “in good standing” with the appropriate State Board of Nursing throughout their enrollment in the College of Nursing.
- Students may not continue to be enrolled in any courses or have any contact with patients/clients, if their license is expired, encumbered, probationary, suspended, or surrendered.
- It is the student’s ethical and professional obligation to inform the CON Student Services Office immediately upon any change in licensure status. Failure to do so will be considered a breach of the CON Scholastic Non-Cognitive Performance Standards and the CON Honor Code, and the student will be dismissed from the CON.
PROOF OF HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Provide evidence of an academic or an ANCC-COA continuing education approved health assessment course.
GPA
- Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is competitive. Applicants will be ranked by GPA calculated from the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework for applicants with BSN only, or graduate coursework for applicants with graduate degree in nursing. An individual interview and essay may also be a part of the admission process. Selection of participants is based on space and availability of resources. Highest GPA and interview scores are given priority consideration.
- Students must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above (on a 4 point scale) for admission.
APPLICANTS FOR SECOND NURSE PRACTITIONER SPECIALTY PREPARATION MUST ALSO PROVIDE
- Evidence of completion of a graduate program in nursing, leading to eligibility to sit for national certification as an APRN (CNP, CNS, CNM, or CRNA).
- Evidence of national certification in the APRN role.
- Evidence of an unencumbered APRN license.
Note
A minimum of 2,000 verified experience hours is required prior to enrollment in the Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning course. A minimum of two years of clinical experience is recommended but not required.