Seven Steps to your ASN Degree (Buckle Up!!)
Step 1 – Determine Your Academic Needs
We will help you start the process by advising you based on your past qualifications, licensure and medical experience. The majority of students already have LPNs, LVNs, Paramedics, and Respiratory Therapy degrees so most of the classes transfer for credit.
Step 2 – Prepare to Pass Examinations
All the the credits needed, students have to take a standardized, end–of–course examination to "test out" of the requirement. We have developed study guides that will take you step by step through all modalities and essential material required in order to pass these exams. Each study guide is prepared and developed by our educators that are experienced and went through the same process you are about to go through, as they teach and instruct from the personal experience.
Step 3 – Take End–of–Course Examinations
Take each end-of-course (standardized) exam when you feel you are ready, at a testing site in or near your hometown. There are two types of examinations you may need to take. One is the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). CLEPs are multiple–choice 90–minute examinations that generally cover introductory level material. CLEP examinations are given at many local colleges throughout the United States. To locate a site near you, check out www.collegeboard.com.
The second type is the Excelsior College for–credit examination. You'll register for these exams through Excelsior College. These tests are three hours long and are more difficult than CLEP exams. Excelsior College exams are taken at a Prometric center in your area. Check out www.2test.com to find a local site.
Step 4– Enroll with Excelsior College
After completing most of your general education requirements and your first two nursing exams, you will need to enroll with Excelsior College. After paying the enrollment fee, all of your existing credits and test scores will be transferred into the college. Please note that enrollment into Excelsior is a separate cost. Transfer all exam results plus any other earned college credits to Excelsior College for review and proceed with the next steps.
Step 5– Complete Requirements for the CPNE
Prepare for and take your clinical performance evaluation at a host hospital designated by Excelsior College. Excelsior College designed their Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE) program for people just like you, people who are already experienced in a clinical setting. The CPNE is a 2 1/2 –day performance examination designed to test your clinical skills. You'll spend a weekend at one of the many sites offered by Excelsior, where you'll be expected to provide total patient care for three to five actual patients click here the check the sites and make your booking appointment early since they can be fully booked for the next 6 months sometimes.
Step 6 – Graduate from Excelsior
The final step will be graduation from Excelsior College with an Associate Degree in Nursing. After you pass your clinical and pay the required graduation fee, you'll receive your degree in the mail, Congratulations! But remember one more last step__
Step 7: Take the NCLEX exam for your RN
Excelsior will notify your state's Board of Nursing that you are eligible to sit for State Boards Examination. Every state has its own policies regarding this examination, and many offer computer–delivered examinations at the same Prometric Testing Centers.
Good News is that will assist and advise you through the whole process and you will never be alone, "...take heart and be of the great courage.." (Josh 1:8)
