Admission Requirements

Admission to the Post-MSN Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist certificate programs is based on individual qualifications of the applicant without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, or disability. Requests for exceptions to any of the stated admission criteria must be submitted in writing to the program director, and will be considered on an individual basis.

1. A completed graduate application and non-refundable fee.
   
   
2. Official transcripts demonstrating graduation from an accredited (National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)) baccalaureate nursing program.
   
   
3. Official transcripts demonstrating graduation from an accredited (NLNAC or CCNE) masters degree in nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
   
   
4. Submission of a current Curriculum Vitae.
   
   
5. A copy of current license as a Registered Professional Nurse in the state in which the applicant resides.
   
   
6. Submission of signed Informed Responsibility Statement.
   
   
7. Additional requirements for Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program:
   
   
   1. Official transcripts documenting applicant has earned a C or better in:
      1. Courses in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
      2. 3-credit course in health assessment
      3. 3-credit course in pharmacology
         
         
   2. Three letters of recommendation, which have been completed using the Lewis University CONHP form, signed, and sealed, including at least:
      1. One from a master's prepared nurse in clinical practice, preferably an Advanced Practice Nurse, Certified Nurse Practitioner, or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
      2. One from an academic nurse educator (Masters prepared minimum) from a school/college of nursing.
         
         
   3. Submission of two essays on the following topics (500 word maximum each):
      1. What skills and qualities do you bring to the Nurse Practitioner role?
      2. What are the most important things you need to learn in order to be a successful Nurse Practitioner?
         
         
   4. One year minimum (two years preferred) of clinical experience as a Registered Professional Nurse with significant direct patient care responsibilities. Some leadership responsibilities beneficial.
      
      Transfer Credit
      
      
8. A maximum of nine (9) semester credits of graduate level coursework from a regionally accredited institution may be accepted for transfer credit if determined by the Director of Graduate Studies in Nursing, consulting with lead faculty of the equivalent course(s), to be applicable to the student's major and equivalent to required nursing course(s). Only courses carrying a grade of B or above will be considered. Grades from courses accepted for transfer credit are not calculated into the Lewis University cumulative grade point average (GPA).
   
   
9. No course taken at another institution after a student has matriculated at Lewis University, whether admitted or not, will be accepted in transfer for credit toward the master's degree in nursing at Lewis University.
   
   
10. To request review of coursework completed at another institution for acceptance as transfer credit in the Graduate Program in Nursing, the student must:
    
    
    1. Request official sealed transcripts from the College/University attended to be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies in the CONHP.
       
       
    2. Request evaluation of transfer credit in writing by completing and submitting to the Office of Graduate Studies in the CONHP one Request for Review of Graduate Courses for Transfer Equivalency Credit (see Appendix D) form for each course for which transfer credit is requested.
       
       
    3. Submit a copy of the course syllabus dated from the semester in which the course was taken and a copy of the college or university catalog course description from the transferring institution with the completed request form to the Director of Graduate Studies in Nursing.
       
       
    4. The request and all supporting documentation must be submitted prior to the completion of six (6) semester credit hours of MSN graduate coursework.
       
       
    5. Courses taken in meeting requirements for an undergraduate degree cannot be considered as transfer credit in the Graduate Program in Nursing, even if the course number is a graduate level number.
       
       
11. The Office of Graduate Studies in the CONHP will provide written notification to the student of the results of the evaluation. The completed Request for Review of Graduate Courses for Transfer Equivalency Credit form will become part of the student's permanent file.
    
    
12. The Office of Graduate Studies in the CONHP will submit required documentation to the Registrar upon acceptance of equivalency credit to register the transfer credit on the student's official Lewis University transcript.