Admission/ Progression Criteria

• Pre-licensure – those applicants who have never held a nursing license

Admission Criteria for the RN Pre-licensure Program

Students in the pre-licensure program are admitted once a year for classes beginning in the summer, both on the Demorest and Athens campuses. Admission to Piedmont University does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. A separate application is required for admission to the nursing program, and should be received in the nursing department by the online published date prior to desired admission date. Students desiring admission to the nursing program must meet all admission criteria as specified by the nursing department. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated. In addition, transfer students must include proof of admission to Piedmont University prior to the review of their nursing applications An official transcript of all general education courses completed must be sent to the Piedmont University Admissions office to be reviewed by the admission committee for the Nursing program.

Criteria for admission are as follows:

• Regular admission and acceptance to Piedmont University must precede the application to the nursing program
• Separate application to the nursing program must be submitted for review by the published online date
• Demonstration of performance at or above the national mean on a standardized entrance examination. Examination must be taken in the academic year of application and may not be taken more than twice in the academic year.
• Completion of all required general education courses for the nursing major; exemption of MATH 1100 will require students to take another math course approved by their advisor not to include MATH 1300, MATH 1600, or MATH 1700.
• Minimum of “C” in all general education courses required for the nursing major; only two lab science courses may be repeated one time. Failure of more than two science courses or a second failure in any one science course results in ineligibility for admission to the nursing program and ineligibility to remain a nursing major.
• Completion of biology courses (anatomy and physiology, microbiology) within the last seven years or permission of the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences
• Minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 on general education courses required for the nursing major. A CGPA of 3.00 does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. Cumulative GPA calculated for admission is based only on courses required for admission to the nursing program. In instances where a course has been repeated for a higher grade, the higher grade will be counted only if the first grade is a “D” or “F.” If the initial grade is a “C” or higher, repeat grades will not be counted.
• Documentation of the following at time of admission—
  1. Current health and accident insurance
  2. Current physical examination by either a licensed physician or nurse practitioner
  3. Immunization including mumps, measles, rubella (MMR), and varicella or titer to prove immunities
  4. Current tetanus, Tdap/Td (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
  5. Current two-step PPD tuberculin test or chest x-ray results for converters
  6. Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination (preferably two of the three injections completed)
  7. Current certification as a Health Care Provider in CPR by the American Heart Association
  8. Successful completion of a criminal background check and drug screen approved by the nursing program. Students who are not able to successfully complete an acceptable background check and drug screen may not be eligible for clinical placement and therefore are ineligible to continue in the program.

Failure of two or more required nursing courses at another school, college, or university will lead to denial of admission to the nursing program.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences maintains the right to deny admission to the program for good cause.

Students who have not completed all general education requirements may apply for admission to the nursing program in the fall semester prior to desired admission date provided they complete the remaining courses by the semester that they begin the nursing program.

If all of the criteria for admission have been successfully completed, contingent admission may be offered until grades are received for the remaining coursework. Proof of completion with grades must be submitted to the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences prior to the first day of orientation to the nursing program.

Once a student is accepted in the nursing program, a deposit to be specified by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will be required to hold that student’s place in the program. When the student registers for the initial semester in the nursing program, this deposit will be credited to the student’s tuition.

Enrollment Limitations

In order to provide clinical practicum sites and faculty supervision, enrollment limitations may be necessary. The Admissions and Progression Committee of the nursing department will review application files and consider cumulative grade-point averages (CGPA), standardized exam scores, and response to essay question to determine preference for admission. Any applicant not admitted, or accepted students who decide not to enter the program, may reapply for admission. Each application for admission will be evaluated as a new application; seats are not held by the nursing program from one application period to the next. Prior admission to the nursing program does not guarantee admission in subsequent years.

LPN to BSN Admission Criteria

Applicants currently holding an unencumbered Georgia LPN license who apply to the Nursing program will follow the same admission requirements as traditional BSN applicants. Students with a LPN license accepted into the program will complete the BSN curriculum as published. There is the opportunity for students with a LPN licensure to complete a competency assessment for NURS 3312 and receive course credit under the Georgia Articulation agreement as part of their first semester in the program.

General Education Requirements for Nursing and Health Science Majors:

See General Education Requirements

Please consult the specific program for further information.