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State Board Requirements

A Note about State Licensure Requirements for Associate Degree in Nursing Graduates

Excelsior College School of Nursing graduates are widely recognized and welcomed by boards of nursing throughout most of the United States. However, because Excelsior’s model of pre-licensure nursing is innovative and unique, and because RN licensure rules and regulations vary from state to state, some states have additional requirements or stipulations for licensure of our associate degree in nursing graduates.  These additional stipulations are based on state-specific Nurse Practice Act requirements and rules or regulations pertaining to the practice of professional nursing in the different states.  If you have specific questions about your eligibility to practice as a registered nurse in a particular state, direct your questions to the relevant state board of nursing.

If you reside in a state with additional licensure requirements and you wish to apply for admission to Excelsior College’s School of Nursing for the associate degree in nursing program, you will be asked to complete a Pre-Admission State Board Form.  This form includes an acknowledgement that you understand the additional requirements for the state where you currently reside and/or where you plan to apply for RN licensure.  Graduates living in states that impose restrictions on RN licensure for graduates of Excelsior's pre-licensure nursing program may work in a federal facility in their home state by obtaining an RN license in any U.S. jurisdiction. Federal facilities include entities such as VA hospitals and federal prisons.

Thirty-seven U.S. jurisdictions have no additional requirements for licensure of Excelsior College School of Nursing associate degree in nursing graduates. Below is the list of states with additional stipulations. Click on the state you are interested in to obtain specific information about additional requirements.

The regulation of RN licensure and practice in each state is subject to change. The information provided on this page is the most current information available to us. These requirements are reviewed on a monthly basis to ensure that the information is still current.

If you require further information please contact our State Board Advising Team via the Message Center (login required) or email us: stateboards@excelsior.edu

Alabama

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Initial Licensure: Excelsior College graduates are eligible to seek RN licensure by examination in Alabama. Your application will be considered on an individual basis by the board of nursing at the time of application. In the past, LPNs who can demonstrate completion of a LPN program that includes psychiatric and obstetric clinical rotations have been reviewed favorably.

Endorsement: Excelsior College graduates are eligible to seek RN licensure by endorsement in Alabama.

March 12, 2012

Arizona

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Preceptorship required.

Direct licensure: Students enrolling on or after September 1, 2006 must complete a 120-hour precepted experience administered by Excelsior College, after completing associate degree in nursing requirements. After completion of the preceptorship, students may take the NCLEX-RN and be licensed in Arizona.

Endorsement: Students enrolled on or after September 1, 2006, may endorse into Arizona with 960 hours of RN practice or complete the 120 hour precepted experience.

March 8, 2012

California

Direct licensure: All graduates enrolled on or before December 5, 2003 may apply for RN licensure or endorsement.

March 8, 2012

Colorado

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Preceptorship required.

Students who enrolled after January 1, 2006 are eligible to apply to the Colorado Board but must complete a preceptorship after graduation. This must be approved and administered by the Colorado Board. The requirement for the preceptorship for LPNs is 350 hours and for non-LPNs is 750 hours.

Endorsement: All graduates enrolled after January 1, 2006, must endorse in with 2000 hours of RN experience (or complete the preceptorship).

March 8, 2012

Georgia

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Preceptorship required for selected graduates.

In April 2011, the Georgia Legislature amended the Georgia Nurse Practice Act which revised the requirements for RN licensure that affect Excelsior graduates. Georgia Licensing Requirements for Excelsior College Associate Degree Graduates is a chart that is intended to provide information on how to interpret the statutory changes. Please note that the information on the chart depicts Excelsior's interpretation of the law and the Board of Nursing (BON) must validate this interpretation and develop regulations and procedures to implement this law.

Endorsement: Stipulations vary based on prior health care experience; LPN’s with one year experience as an RN will license with no preceptorship; LPNs with less than one year RN experience, Paramedics and Corpsmen will do a preceptorship.

 

March 8, 2012

Illinois

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Endorsement: All graduates must endorse in with two years of RN experience.

March 8, 2012
 

Kansas

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Endorsement: All graduates enrolled before February 16, 2005 must endorse in with 1,000 hours of RN experience.

March 8, 2012 

Louisiana

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

LPNs or graduates with 50% traditional nursing school clinical hours who complete the Excelsior College nursing program may apply for the RN license.

Non-LPNs graduates must apply for endorsement into LA with 6 months RN experience.

March 8, 2012

Maryland

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Excelsior College graduates enrolled on or before July 24, 2006 and graduated before December 31, 2007 are eligible to apply for the direct licensure or endorsement.

March 8, 2012

North Dakota

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

All Excelsior College graduates may endorse in with 400 hours of RN experience.

March 8, 2012

Oklahoma

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Preceptorship required.

Initial: Students are required to pass two 30-hour precepted experiences in psychiatric and obstetrical nursing administered by Excelsior College before graduation.

Endorsement: Graduates must complete a post-graduate preceptorship approved by the Board of Nursing in psychiatric and obstetrical nursing administered by Excelsior College.

March 8, 2012

Vermont

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

All graduates enrolled on or before June 30, 2006 will be allowed to apply for licensure. All graduates with enrollment date of July 1, 2006 and after must have 480 hours of RN experience to endorse into the state.

March 8, 2012

Virginia

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Endorsement only: After December 31, 2009 graduates are eligible to be licensed by endorsement with 960 hours of RN experience

March 8, 2012

Washington

Pre-Admission State Board Letter is needed.

Preceptorship required.

Initial: Only LPNs with 200 hours precepted experience set up through a Washington Nursing Commission approved facility may apply for licensure by examination.

Endorsement: Excelsior graduates who are licensed as an RN in another state may endorse their license to Washington if they have 1000 hours of practice as a registered nurse.

Preceptorship approved by Washington Nursing Commission.

March 8, 2012