FNP/ENP ARNP Program

Requirements and Process

Admission

Admission is open to qualified men and women of any race, color, religion and national or ethnic origin. Graduate admission is processed through the School of Nursing. Admission to the graduate nursing program is limited to 20 slots per year/per program. The admission process is competitive based on the following criteria:

  • Application and $30.00 nonrefundable application fee
  • Graduation from an accredited NLN or CCNE BSN nursing program. Overall undergraduate grade point average of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities.
  • Current Florida registered nurse license. Out of state applicants must be eligible for endorsement in Florida. International students must hold a current license from a U.S. state and be eligible for endorsement in Florida.
  • All students must take the GRE exam and submit their scores. An official copy of scores reflecting a total score of 900 or more on the combined verbal and quantitative sections. Students not meeting these requirements may be admitted on conditional status for six credit hours.
  • TOEFL (minimum score of 650) if the applicants primary language is not English.
  • Three recommendations; two of which should be professional references. References should be from a supervisor familiar with the student’s clinical abilities and if possible an educator who taught the student.
  • Essay: The Essay will discuss a personal statement describing reasons for pursuing an advanced degree and professional goals.
  • Evidence of completion of an undergraduate course in statistics and physical assessment.
  • Interview
  • Background Check
  • Professional Resume
  • One year of clinical experience in a critical care or emergency setting and Advanced Cardiac Life Support are required prior to beginning the first clinical Nurse Practitioner course.

Unclassified Status

  • Application and $30.00 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate nursing program.
  • Six credits can be taken as unclassified and applied to a degree program. Courses that can be taken under this provision include NUR 510, NUR 520 and NUR 511.

Post-Master's Program

  • Application and $30.00 nonrefundable application fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities.
  • TOEFL (minimum score of 650) if the applicants primary language is not English.
  • Two professional references. References should be from a supervisor familiar with the student’s clinical abilities and if possible an educator who taught the student.
  • Essay: The Essay will discuss a personal statement describing reasons for pursuing an advanced degree and professional goals.
  • Evidence of completion of an undergraduate course in statistics and physical assessment.
  • One year of clinical experience in a critical care or emergency setting required prior to beginning the first clinical Nurse Practitioner course.

Selection Process

Admission to the MSN degree program is selective and limited to those students who demonstrate a potential for successfully completing the program. The decision is based upon evaluation of the student’s undergraduate program and grades earned, score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), work experience (if applicable), recommendations and personal interview.

Part-Time and Full-Time Status

A student may be admitted on a part-time or full-time basis. To qualify for a full-time status, a student must be registered for nine or more graduate hours for the fall and spring semesters and six hours in the summer semester. Attendance during the summer semester is optional.

Program Completion

Students must successfully complete all course work no later than five years after entrance into the program and the completion of the first graduate-level course.

Academic Standards

MSN candidates must maintain an academic grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (B) during their enrollment in the program. No course in which a grade below a 2.0 (C) is earned will be accepted as fulfilling a requirement for the graduate degree, although this grade will be averaged into the grade point average. In order to graduate, students must have at least a 3.0 GPA.

Academic Standing

MSN students will be placed on academic probation if the cumulative GPA drops below 3.0 (B). Those who do not achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within two semesters of being placed on probation will be dismissed from the program. A student who receives one “C” will be placed on academic probation. A subsequent “C” will dismiss them from the program regardless of GPA. A student who receives an “F” will be dismissed from the program. Students dismissed from the MSN program may appeal the action to the School of Nursing Admissions Committee.