Nursing, Accelerated Option, BSN

The Nursing BSN Accelerated Option is designed to enable students who have a four-year degree to obtain a BSN in nursing in 14–15 months. The student will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to function as a professional nurse in a variety of healthcare settings. Throughout the curriculum, the student will obtain competencies for professional nursing practice, including critical thinking, decision making, communication, leadership, and high-tech procedures to respond to the changing needs of today’s healthcare settings.

Nursing Student Services is available to help you whether you are just beginning to consider the right university or already have a focused plan and are ready to apply. We strongly recommend all interested persons contact Nursing Student Services prior to applying to the university to ensure all applicants are eligible to apply and to be informed of their application year.

Application Deadline

We have a two-step admission process. All applicants must first apply to the university before applying to the Accelerated Nursing option.

Step 1: Apply to North Carolina Central University

All intended nursing majors must first apply to NCCU. Visit the NCCU Office of Undergraduate Admissions to apply and for information requests regarding financial aid or SOAR orientation. Any questions about NCCU undergraduate admissions, application forms or official transcript submission should be directed to the following:

North Carolina University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

1801 Fayetteville St.

Durham, NC 27707

919-530-6100

Second Step: Apply to the Accelerated BSN Option

NCCU students with a declared major in Pre-Nursing must apply by the application deadline. All applications must be filed with Nursing Student Services (NSS) by May 1 of each year. No exceptions are granted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants are required to meet with an NSS advisor prior to the application day to ensure program requirements are met. Only students who have a formal, written acceptance into the program will be registered in upper-division nursing courses by an advisor in NSS. NSS advisors will register all admitted students into Nursing courses at the start of the Nursing curriculum to graduation.

All candidates must possess the physical health sufficient to meet the demands of nursing practice and provide safe patient care. In addition, fluency in speaking, reading and writing English is also required. The minimum admission requirements to be considered are as follows:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in any major
• A minimum 3.2 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale for first bachelor's degree
• A minimum of 3.2 math or science GPA (Note: All math and science courses expire within five years of the application deadline. Students cannot have more than two math or science failures. We do not recommend any math or science failures.)
• A minimum TEAS score of 70

Our program requires all admitted students to have completed the required prerequisite courses prior to the start of classes. An earned minimum grade of "C" or higher in each nursing prerequisite course is required. These courses may be taken at any accredited college, university or community college. The prerequisite requirements do not have to be completed prior to the application being submitted. However, in order to be considered priority status, applicants must be enrolled in the last outstanding prerequisites during the Spring semester of their application year. Applicants enrolled in last outstanding courses in Summer Session I are labeled as non-priority and waitlisted until decisions are made.

For more information regarding tuition and fees, please do a search on this website for tuition and fees.

There are additional costs to Pre-nursing students for TEAS exam attempts. Admitted upper-division nursing students must pay for uniforms, books, a background check, drug screening, clinical testing and supplies, and liability insurance. Students must also have a current CPR certification. Costs for these requirements vary from $25 to $75. More detailed information (including time frames, vendors, appropriate forms, etc.) is dispensed by Nursing Student Services.

Pre-Nursing students who are struggling with a Math or Science course should talk with their advisor before deciding whether to withdraw from it as well as if they have intentions to repeat a Math or Science course.

A retake course is a course that was passed with a C or better on the first attempt, but the student chooses to take it again to improve the grade. This is usually in an attempt to achieve a more competitive Math/Science GPA for the nursing admissions process. (WC scores are not included in this designation.)

Students are only allowed to retake 1 Math/Science prerequisite course to be calculated in the nursing GPA at an accredited institution.

This criteria also applies to any student wishing to transfer required Math/Science courses from a university/institution other than NCCU. Therefore, a course taken at another university that transfers in as equivalent will be counted as an attempt.

Students applying for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, Accelerated BSN option, are required to take the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The TEAS is a standardized test required to apply to both the Traditional and Accelerated BSN options at NCCU. The department of Nursing continuously receives many applications each year, making for a very competitive admission process. The faculty in department of Nursing approved the use of the TEAS test to help determine an applicant’s entry-level skills and abilities suited for success in the program. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) measures basic essential skills in the academic content area of reading, mathematics, science, English and language usage. For more information regarding TEAS, students can visit atitesting.com.

The NCCU Department of Nursing’s policy is that students can take TEAS a maximum of two times within an application cycle. Students must allow at least 30 days between attempts. 

Students should take the TEAS test at least once by November of application year.

Students are encouraged to inquire about the TEAS Test Prep Online course at Durham Technical Community College ($75) for test preparation prior to first attempt of the TEAS test.

COVID-19 Protocol

Due to COVID-19, TEAS tests are being administered remotely and online by the NCCU Testing Center, with remote proctoring services.

If a student requests a second attempt, it is required to be administered in person at the NCCU Testing Center. In person testing will adhere to all applicable university and state COVID-19 safety guidelines. Students are not allowed to bring personal items such as backpacks, jackets, and smart watches. Students are required to bring photo identification.

Note: this protocol is subject to change per the department’s discretion.

This exam must be taken within the appropriate timeframe (for Accelerated, June–May). Although applicants can opt to schedule to take the test at NCCU (always in coordination with NSS during the application year), students can take it at another university or community college and send their scores to "NC Central U." The applicant’s composite test score is only good for one application year.

Please do not take the exam without first scheduling an advising session to speak with an NSS advisor to determine your nursing eligibility.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline — no exceptions!  In order for an application to be considered complete, the following documents must be received:

• Completed online application (application link only sent by advisors in Nursing Student Services)
• Official copy of all post-secondary educational transcripts (either mailed or sent electronically to Undergraduate Admissions, with unofficial copies sent to Nursing Student Services)

Students must also attend one informational session with Nursing Student Services. All dates are made available on their page.

Once the application is complete, the file will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee. The candidate will be notified of the admissions decision via email by Nursing Student Services. Admissions decisions are made by June (Fall term admission). Candidates not offered admission will receive either a wait-list status invitation or a deny/decline decision. Should space become available, candidates will be notified individually via Nursing Student Services. An offer of admission is not guaranteed for wait-listed candidates.

All newly admitted ABSN students are required to attend a mandatory orientation session prior to the start of courses during their first semester. This date, along with course start date, will be a part of the acceptance packet each admitted student will receive.

All students admitted to the Accelerated BSN option are required by the North Carolina Board of Nursing to provide documentation of their fitness to provide safe nursing care to the public. Failure to provide required documentation will result in the withdrawal of the admission offer. Additionally, North Carolina law requires incoming students to present to the University, before the first day of enrollment, evidence verifying that the student has received all required immunizations. The required paperwork is a part of the Nursing application.

It is essential that everyone interested in applying keeps in mind that the Accelerated BSN major at NCCU receives more applications to the upper-division nursing major each year. Each application year raises the bar in how competitive the program is. Thus, every applicant needs to demonstrate a strong academic performance in order to increase their chances of being accepted into the upper-division major. Students who struggle meeting the minimum criteria are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to discuss their likelihood of acceptance into the major and adjust their academic progression in the event they are not admitted.

View Catalog Information

Can you do a transcript audit before I apply to the university?
Yes! In fact, we encourage every applicant to first talk with an advisor in Nursing Student Services before applying to the university. Electronic transcripts can be sent to nursingstudentservices@nccu.edu.

Can I fax Nursing Student Services my transcripts to be evaluated?
Transcripts may be faxed for an unofficial transcript evaluation or to help determine prerequisite completion. The fax number is 919-530-6805.

Can I take the prerequisite courses at a community college or online? 
Yes. The prerequisite courses can be completed at any regionally accredited college/university or community college. Online courses are acceptable if the institution is accredited.

I failed Math/Science course(s). Can I retake the course(s) for a better grade?
Retaking courses (whether failed attempts or "C" grades) is not encouraged. While the Admissions Committee will take your highest score, your failure(s) will still be notated and weigh heavily on your application.

Do I have to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) before applying?
Neither is required at this time.

Will I need any letters of recommendation in order to apply?
Currently, the Admissions Committee does not accept letters of recommendation.

If I am offered admission, can I defer my acceptance to another semester? 
Generally, we do not permit deferrals unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond your control that would prevent you from enrolling in the term you were admitted. If you have a concern about your ability to start for the semester admitted, please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services.

Are there any part-time or online options available for the program?
No. The Accelerated BSN option is a full-time cohort in which you are encouraged not to hold employment while in the program. There are no online options available. Students will not be able to customize their schedules upon admission.

Do all of the prerequisite courses need to be completed when I apply for the program?
No. All prerequisite courses need to be completed prior to admission. All priority applicants should be enrolled in their last outstanding prerequisite courses during the Spring semester of the application deadline. Non-priority applicants need to be enrolled in their last outstanding prerequisites courses no later than Summer Session I.

I am about to be/have been dismissed from another Nursing program. Can I still apply?

No. Applicants are unable to apply if they have failed out of/been dismissed from a Nursing program at any institution.

I have taken a few Nursing courses at another university/institution. Can I still apply?

Yes. However, you will need to contact the department(s) of which you took the Nursing courses and request a letter of good standing. This is required to prove that you were not dismissed. This can be sent as an attachment to nursingstudentservices@nccu.edu after your advising session. Please note that Nursing courses from another institution are non-transferrable.

I have a master’s degree. Will my credits or/and GPA be considered when applying?

No. All BSN options at NCCU are undergraduate degree options; therefore, any credits obtained in a master’s program are not considered.

Can I choose when/where I do my clinical rotations?

No. All students are assigned their clinical rotations, which can be located up to an hour from NCCU’s campus. Our students only rotate through official sites of the program and could possibly rotate through all clinical sites upon completion of the program.

I have a 2.99 or below in my bachelor’s degree. Can I apply to the Accelerated BSN option?

No. All applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0. We do not round.

Will my final grades in my outstanding prerequisite courses help boost my cumulative GPA?

No. Once your bachelor’s degree is awarded, your GPA resets.

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Note: Nursing courses completed at other institutions are not accepted as transfer credits. Students who were not successful in other nursing programs are not eligible for admission to the nursing program at NC Central. If a student failed a nursing course, they are not eligible for the accelerated nursing option.