Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions

When can I apply for the Nursing Program?

The Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program application is open in the fall and spring for admission the following semester. The Accelerated BSN program application is available annually from mid-November through mid-February for summer admission. The BS Completion program application is available in the fall, spring, and summer for admission in the following semester. For more details, please see the individual program web pages on the School of Nursing website at isu.edu/nursing.

Where can I find the Nursing Program application?

For all BSN program applications, you must meet with an Academic Advisor to determine your eligibility for the nursing application. If you are eligible to apply, the Advisor will give you access to the application.

What are the application requirements for the BSN program?

For the complete list of application requirements, please reference the instructions in the Nursing Program Application.

General application requirements for the Nursing Program are listed below, as well as specific details for each individual BSN program:

Acceptance to Idaho State University, including submission of all official transcripts
School of Nursing Academic Advising Appointment
Completion of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam with a 60% or higher score (not required for the BSN Completion program)
Completed School of Nursing online application
School of Nursing Course Petitions for the School of Nursing to consider courses that do not transfer into ISU as equivalent credits

For the Traditional BSN Program, the School of Nursing requires:

Prerequisite GPA: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A courses for the application; cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A and Set B courses for admission
Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS, 7th edition) minimum 60% Total Score

For the Accelerated BSN Program, the College of Nursing requires:

Earned Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from a regionally accredited college or university before the program starts
Prerequisite GPA: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A courses; cumulative GPA of 3.0 among the Set A and Set B courses for admission
Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS 7th edition) Total Score

For the BS Completion Program application, the College of Nursing requires:

Enrollment in or Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Registered Nursing Program
2.0 GPA – the cumulative GPA among the completed ADN courses combined with any completed requisite courses

For the Accelerated program, does it matter what field my current baccalaureate degree is in?

No, any Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school is acceptable.

Is an appointment with an adviser required?

Yes, an appointment with a nursing adviser is required for the application process. Talking with an advisor to review your prior coursework and evaluate your status regarding the prerequisite course requirements eliminates uncertainties on your part.

What do I need to know about the Test of Essential Academic Skills?

The computerized ATI TEAS (7th edition) exam is required for Traditional and Accelerated applicants and includes four parts: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English Language Usage. A study guide for the ATI TEAS is available if desired at www.atitesting.com or 1-800-667-7531. The exam takes approximately 4 hours, and your score is available upon completion. The ATI TEAS exam may be taken more than once per application cycle; the School of Nursing will accept your highest TEAS Total Score.

Please get in touch with an ISU Testing Center or another TEAS testing location for more details on the dates and times the exam will be administered.

How competitive is the application process?

Application pools vary; however, The School of Nursing is expanding to meet the growing needs of nurses across Idaho. Now is a great time to apply!

What other admission requirements are there besides the 3.0 GPA for admission into the Nursing Program?

Please refer to the application instructions for detailed application and admission information.

If you are accepted to the Nursing Program, you can reference the list below for additional admission requirements:

Physical Exam
Current Immunization Status
Criminal History Evaluation
CPR Certification through the American Heart Association

Do prerequisite courses need to be taken at ISU?

No, you may take courses at any regionally accredited institution; however, meeting with an advisor before taking courses is best to ensure transferability. You may be required to submit a School of Nursing Course Petition or an Undergraduate Student Petition for consideration of some transfer credits. See the School of Nursing Course Petitions and Transfer Credits sections below.

How do I determine if the classes I have already taken are equivalent to the prerequisite requirements for the Nursing Program?

Unofficial transcripts can be e-mailed to the School of Nursing at sonadvis@isu.edu for evaluation by an adviser to help you determine this. You may be required to petition the ISU School of Nursing for consideration of some transfer credits. Advising appointments can be completed in person, via Zoom, or by phone. You may schedule an appointment with an adviser by clicking the appointment button.

Does it matter when I complete program prerequisite courses?

For the Traditional and Accelerated nursing programs:

All Set A prerequisites must be complete and on an official transcript before the application deadline, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in Set A prerequisites is required.
All Set B prerequisites must be complete and on an official transcript before starting the NURS courses for the nursing program, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the combined Set A and Set B prerequisites is required.

For the BS Completion nursing program:

A minimum of 2.0 GPA in the completed co-requisites combined with completed Associate Degree Registered Nurse (ADRN) courses is required.
In progress, ADRN courses, as well as the pathobiology and statistics co-requisites, must be completed before graduation.

ISU School of Nursing reserves the right to revise admission requirements at any time without prior notice. Please check with the School of Nursing website and/or Academic Advisor for updates regarding restrictions on the maturity of credits and other admission requirements.

Note: 12 credits are required for full-time student status at ISU. Full-time status is necessary for many ISU scholarships. If you plan to enroll part-time, please review the Tuition and Fees information on the Finance and Administration website at isu.edu/financialaid/how-financial-aid-works/cost-of-attendance-coa/ to familiarize yourself with the cost of attendance.

Do my prerequisite courses expire?

ISU will accept credits regardless of when they were taken. However, for the nursing programs:

Introduction to Pathobiology (ISU BIOL 3305) and Pharmacology for Nursing (DHS 3315) must be completed within 3 years before entrance into the nursing program.

If you have completed a course that falls outside the times listed above, you are welcome to submit a petition if you have been using and applying the content from that course(s) in your recent work and/or volunteer experience. Please include a written statement with your petition that details your experience.

Are straight A’s in the nursing prerequisites required to apply and be accepted into the Nursing Program?

No. The School of Nursing requires a minimum 3.0 GPA among the Set A and Set B list of prerequisite courses. Only the Set A prerequisite courses are considered for the application, so having a higher GPA in this set is beneficial. Application averages vary depending on the program. Talk with an advisor for the most current information.

The BSN Completion application requires a minimum of 2.0 in any completed requisite and ADN courses.

If I want to work in a specific location, hospital, or with a specific nurse, can I contact the site or preceptor directly to request a clinical site placement?

For ALL Undergraduate Students (Accelerated, Traditional, & BS Completion): NO

The School of Nursing faculty and staff must go through proper legal channels with each clinical site. If you would like to request a clinical placement at a specific site, please talk with your School of Nursing faculty adviser and/or your faculty member for the course.

Are iPads required for clinicals?

No. The ISU School of Nursing does not require iPads or any technology for clinicals.

Where do clinicals take place?

While the majority of clinicals happen at the local hospitals near our campuses, some clinical placements can take place up to 200 miles from your assigned campus. Transportation/lodging costs are the student's responsibility.

Do you have nursing scholarships available?

Yes, we have several nursing scholarships available annually, in addition to other scholarships available through the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences and larger ISU institutions. The nursing scholarships require the student to be admitted to the Nursing Program. The School of Nursing will make an announcement when the scholarships are open, typically in April/May annually.

How much does the Nursing Program cost?

ISU tuition costs are available on the Finance and Administration website at Cost of Attendance. In addition to tuition, you will need to factor in the professional nursing program fee, other miscellaneous fees, books, health insurance, annual background check, and the cost of keeping your immunizations and up-to-date CPR certification. You will also need to pay for your uniforms and any supplies or instruments for your clinical experiences prior to the start of your first semester.

What is the process for a School of Nursing (SON) Course Petition?

If you are interested in petitioning the SON to accept credit for a course you completed as a substitution for an undergraduate nursing program requirement, please see the process below:

Student completes the DocuSign Petition form; the link is found on the School of Nursing website
Once the committee has reached a decision, the student will be notified via DocuSign

What other documentation needs to be included with the SON Course Petition form?

Along with the petition form, please include:

A copy of the course description for the course you completed with the course circled or highlighted on the page.
A copy of the course syllabus, as this will give the committee a better grasp of the material covered in the course.
A copy of your transcript showing the grade

I have a course I would like to petition. When can I submit the SON Course Petition?

You have two options for when to submit the petition:

You can submit the petition before you register for the course to see if the course you want to take will count toward the nursing prerequisites.
You can submit the petition after you have taken the course.

The School of Nursing Course Petition form and supporting documentation can be submitted via DocuSign at any time. The student can expect to receive the decision or a request for more information within two to three weeks.

My SON Course Petition was approved, but my transcript does not show that the equivalent ISU course was completed. Why?

An approved Petition means that the School of Nursing approved your course as a substitution for a similar requirement in our program. A School of Nursing Adviser will submit the substitution to the Registrar to show your course as a substitution in the nursing requirements.

Does my approved SON Course Petition guarantee my success in future courses that contain similar material?

No, an approved SON Course Petition does not guarantee success in future courses. The committee evaluates your course based on the information provided in your petition to see if your course may satisfy the material you may learn in a similar ISU course. Please consider the committee approval of your petition neither as a guarantee that you have learned all of the material in the similar ISU course nor as a guarantee of your success in future courses.

If I am an international student and interested in the nursing program, how do I know what courses transfer into ISU?

For international students, please discuss your Idaho State University application and admissions information with the ISU International Programs Office. Their staff will better understand how international credits transfer into ISU and what other admissions requirements you may have to complete for Idaho State University. Once you are a student at ISU, the Academic Advisor for the School of Nursing can work with you to prepare you for the Nursing Program. For more details about the International Programs Office, please see their website at isu.edu/ipo/ and contact ipomail@isu.edu. For more information about the nursing program, please see isu.edu/nursing and contact the Academic Advisor.

What if I have other questions?

If you have other questions, please contact the School of Nursing Staff so they can better assist you.

School of Nursing Email for Advising: sonadvis@isu.edu