Admissions

The following are the admission requirements for all applicants to WFUSM Academic Nursing programs. Specific educational tracks may have additional admission requirements. All materials and information submitted for admission consideration must be true. Evidence of false, deceptive or misleading information at any time will result in dismissal or rejection from the Academic Nursing program without refund of tuition or fees.

WFUSM Academic Nursing is committed to reviewing applicants and application materials without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability, consistent with law.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all required application materials are received by the stated deadlines for admission consideration.

Admissions to all Academic Nursing programs are in an annual, cohort admission model. Doctoral students matriculate in fall semester annually. Please see the FAQs area of the website for more information regarding the application and interview processes.

Admission Requirements

Official transcripts from all current and previous academic institutions.
- For APRN DNP tracks: Transcript(s) must reflect completion of undergraduate health assessment, nursing research and statistics courses (including inferential statistics) with a minimum grade of “C”.
  - Nurse anesthesia specialization: Chemistry (3 credit hour equivalent) with a minimum grade of “C” is also required.
- For Post-Master’s to DNP track:
  - Evidence of certification in APRN specialty, if applicable.
Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate nursing degree (i.e., BSN) or Master’s nursing degree (e.g., MSN, MN) from an accredited academic institution.
Current, unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse in the United States or its territories or protectorates.
- For APRN tracks: A North Carolina nursing license will be required for Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) educational tracks (e.g., nurse anesthesia specialization) prior to starting clinical rotations.
- Graduates of foreign nursing schools: Successfully complete the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School (CGFNS) certification program.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) including the following, where applicable:
- o Nurse anesthesia specialization:
  - Minimum of one-year full-time experience or its part-time equivalent as a registered nurse in a critical care setting within the United States, its territories, or a US military hospital outside the United States. This experience must be within two years prior to application. Time in orientation or in managerial positions is not included when determining an applicant’s length of clinical experience. Applicant must have developed as an independent decision maker capable of using and interpreting advanced monitoring techniques based on knowledge of physiological and pharmacological principles
- Post-Master’s to DNP: Professional and/or personal leadership roles.
Two (2) letters of recommendation completed by current or former employers or professors highlighting personal character, professional accomplishments, leadership, and ability to complete graduate-level coursework.
- Nurse anesthesia specialization:
  - One (1) letter or recommendation must be from the critical care area.
Responses to specified essay questions.
Virtual or in-person synchronous, personal interview (invitation only) with the respective educational track admissions committee. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be notified by email.
International applicants only: TOEFL (minimum of 80) or IELTS (minimum of 6.5) exam score for applicants whose official language of instruction for their bachelor’s or master’s degree was not English must submit proof of English proficiency.
- This option only available to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Specialization
Attest to the ability to meet the Academic Nursing technical standards.
Pay the non-refundable application fee.
- If admitted to a program, the applicant will be required to pay a deposit at the time of accepting the offer of admission to hold their seat in the cohort. This deposit is not refundable and most of the deposit will be applied to the doctoral student’s first year tuition.
  - Note: See Costs and Financial Aid

Additional Educational Track-Specific Admission Requirements

Nurse anesthesia specialization:
- Submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report taken within the past five (5) years.
- Complete the Casper Assessment and submit scores.
- Submit a copy of your Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification numerical score report.
- Submit American Heart Association (AHA) BLS, ACLS and PALS certifications.
- PALS certification is waived at the time of application but is required by the time or matriculation.

Application Deadlines

Deadline Date	Interview	Earliest Admission Semester
March 31	Spring	Nurse Anesthesia: Fall, next year Post-Master’s – DNP: Fall same year
May 30	Summer	Nurse Anesthesia: Fall, next year Post-Master’s – DNP: Fall, same year
September 1	Fall	Nurse Anesthesia: Fall, next year Post-Master’s – DNP: Fall, next year

Due to SARA regulations we are unable to accept students from the state of California into the Post Master’s to DNP program.

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Admissions

Admission Requirements

Additional Educational Track-Specific Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines