02 · Get In
Get in.
Prereqs locked, entrance exam beat, packet submitted before the deadline.
Prerequisites
The courses to clear first
The standard science and general-education courses programs require before you can apply. Exact lists vary, so confirm with each school.
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Both courses, with labs. The backbone of everything that follows.
- Microbiology. Usually with a lab. Infection, immunity, and the organisms you'll fight on the floor.
- Chemistry. General or intro chemistry, sometimes with a lab. Check your program's exact requirement.
- Statistics. Required by most programs and used later for evidence-based practice.
- English Composition. Writing-intensive. Programs want to see you can communicate clearly.
- Psychology or Sociology. Often one of each. Foundation for mental health and community nursing.
- Minimum GPA. Most programs require 2.75 to 3.0. Competitive programs expect higher, often 3.5 plus.
Entrance exams
Beat the gate test
TEAS (ATI)
Test of Essential Academic Skills
Covers four sections: reading, math, science, and English language. Science carries the most weight for most nursing programs, so put your prep there first. Retake policies vary by school, so check how many attempts your programs allow and how long you must wait between them.
HESI A2
Health Education Systems entrance exam
Covers similar academic areas as the TEAS and adds sections some programs use, such as anatomy and physiology and a personality or learning-style profile. Schools pick one exam or the other, so confirm which test each program on your list requires before you register.
Application packet
What goes in the envelope
What programs typically require. Gather the slow items early, because background checks, immunization records, and official transcripts take longer than you expect.
- Official transcripts
- Entrance exam scores
- Personal statement
- References
- Background check
- Drug screen
- Immunizations
Timeline
Start a full semester before the deadline. Finish prereqs and the entrance exam first, line up references early, then write and revise the personal statement. Many programs have one or two application windows a year, so a missed deadline can cost you months.
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