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Traditional AASN Admission Information

Prerequisites

Prerequisite requirements for application to the Traditional AASN degree program include:
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.00 including all college credits
  • Completion of required courses

The courses required prior to acceptance into the AASN degree program can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin.

Prerequisites include the following courses:

  • ENGL 10103 Composition I 
  • MATH 11003 College Algebra
  • BIOL 24003 and BIOL 24001 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Laboratory
The required courses can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin.
All required courses must be completed with a minimum "C" in each course.

Prerequisite requirements for application to the LPN to AASN degree program include:
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.00 including all college credits
  • Completion of required courses

Prerequisites include the following courses:

  • ENGL 10103 Composition I 
  • MATH 11003 College Algebra
  • BIOL 24003 and BIOL 24001 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Laboratory
  • BIOL 24103 and BIOL 24101 Human Anatomy & Physiology II and Laboratory 
  • PSYC 11003 Introduction to Psychology 
  • NURS 22392 Health Assessment
  • NURS 22391 Health Assessment Practicum 
The required courses can be found in the most current Undergraduate Bulletin. All required courses must be completed with a minimum "C" in each course.

Admission Process

Limited Positions Available

Acceptance to the University does not guarantee admission to any nursing program.

Traditional AASN (You do not have an LPN License)

Class size is limited and all applicants may not be accepted into the program. Interested individuals are encouraged to seek an advisor early in their college career to ensure that all prerequisite courses are completed in a timely manner.

Applicants for admission will be ranked according to application completeness, the GPA of the 10 hours of prerequisites and admission test score. Consideration will be given to students completing prerequisite courses by the end of the Fall semester.

Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students admitted to professional programs that lead to licensure upon graduation are required to have a successful background check to complete formal admission. 

Online applications will be available August 31st - October 15th.

Applicants Must Complete

  1. Admission to Arkansas State University
  2. Online application for Admission to the School of Nursing available August 31st.  Link to apply is on the School of Nursing website (when available). 
  3. Take the required SPANS admission exam.  SPANS is a comprehensive assessment designed to measure readiness for the academic demand of health science programs. The exam consists of 150 questions that evaluate critical skills in reading comprehension/English, math, and scientific knowledge. The exam is completed remotely and should be completed prior to the deadline. Estimated cost is about $70 and the exam can be completed one time during the application cycle. Exam results are valid for 3 years. For those interested, there is a prep book available online for purchase through SPIN Learning. Instructions for SPANS:

    1. Visit https://www.spin-learning.com/

    2. Click SPANS Registration button at top of webpage

    3. Select SPANS SPIN-Learning

    4. Click “Buy SPANS Ticket”

    5. Choose Preferred Date

    6. Checkout

  4. Smarter Measure Online Readiness Assessment: The online readiness tool helps indicate the degree to which distance learning and/or learning in a technology rich environment will be a good fit for the student.  This assessment requires students to answer questions and complete a few activities.  It takes about 35 minutes to complete and measures reading rate and recall, technical competency, technical knowledge, and typing speed and accuracy. There is no cost for the Smarter Measures Assessment and it can be completed one time during the application cycle.  Exam results are valid for 3 years.

     

     

                 Link to the assessment: Smarter Measures Assessment

                 Username: Traditional AASN  Password: traditional

     

  5. If you have previously attended a RN program and did not complete the program, you MUST submit a letter of good standing.  The letter must be sent from the previous RN program dean/director/chair/coordinator prior to the application deadline to the AASN Program Chair or designate.  The letter can be emailed to sdearing@astate.edu

  6. Official Transcripts: Submit official transcripts showing all college work completed, including grades on courses taken in the last semester of enrollment to the Registrar's Office (PO Box 1570, State University AR 72467).  
  7. Submit a list of currently enrolled prerequisite coursework with application.
  8. Documentation of English proficiency, if applicable.

You DO have an LPN license:

  1. Apply for admission to A-State.
  2. Apply for admission to the LPN-AASN program. The application will be available on the School of Nursing website on April 30th.

  3. Take the required SPANS admission exam.  SPANS is a comprehensive assessment designed to measure readiness for the academic demand of health science programs. The exam consists of 150 questions that evaluate critical skills in reading comprehension/English, math, and scientific knowledge. The exam is completed remotely and should be completed prior to the deadline. Estimated cost is about $70 and the exam can be completed one time during the application cycle. Exam results are valid for 3 years. For those interested, there is a prep book available online for purchase through SPIN Learning. Instructions for SPANS:

    1. Visit https://www.spin-learning.com/

    2. Click SPANS Registration button at top of webpage

    3. Select SPANS SPIN-Learning

    4. Click “Buy SPANS Ticket”

    5. Choose Preferred Date

    6. Checkout

  4. Smarter Measure Online Readiness Assessment: The online readiness tool helps indicate the degree to which distance learning and/or learning in a technology rich environment will be a good fit for the student.  This assessment requires students to answer questions and complete a few activities.  It takes about 35 minutes to complete and measures reading rate and recall, technical competency, technical knowledge, and typing speed and accuracy. There is no cost for the Smarter Measures Assessment and it can be completed one time during the application cycle.  Exam results are valid for 3 years.

     

     

                 Link to the assessment: Smarter Measures Assessment

                 Username: Traditional AASN  Password: traditional

     

  5. If you have previously attended a RN program and did not complete the program, you MUST submit a letter of good standing.  The letter must be sent from the previous RN program dean/director/chair/coordinator prior to the application deadline to the AASN Program Chair or designate.  The letter can be emailed to sdearing@astate.edu
  6. Submit the following by the June 7th deadline:
  • Completed LPN-AASN application
  • Official (sealed) transcripts of ALL college work completed submitted to the Registrar's Office (PO Box 1570, State University, ARN 72467).
  • Documentation of prerequisite coursework currently enrolled in at time of application.
  • Letter of reference from the program director/chair of any previously attended, but not completed, nursing program (if applicable)
  • Validation of work experience (if applicable)
  • Documentation of English proficiency (if applicable)

Deadline

All application materials must be received by June 7th for the fall semester. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Applications are reviewed after the application deadline and preference is not given for early submission.

Additional Documentation

Students admitted will be required to supply additional documentation, including current CPR certification, Hepatitis B immunizations, TB skin test or chest x-ray, tetanus and MMR and proof of professional liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000/$6,000,000).

Based on recent legislation in Arkansas, students admitted to professional programs that lead to licensure upon graduation are required to have a successful background check to complete formal admission.

An unencumbered LPN license is to be maintained throughout the program.

All documentation required by the School of Nursing must be kept current al all times during the course of the program.

LPN Work Experience Requirements

Recent LPN Graduates

Applicants who complete their LPN program less than 12 months prior to application to the AASN program are not required to have 1000 hours of work experience. You are still required to to complete the work experience document to show proof of working as an LPN. 

Practicing LPNs

If it is greater than 12 months since graduation, the applicant must provide proof of work experience reflecting a minimum of 1,000 hours of nursing employment during the past 12-24 months.

Click here for employer documentation of work experience.

For any questions concerning this information, applicants are encouraged to see the AASN advisor, Samantha Dunavion (sadunavion@astate.edu)

Licensure Information

RN Licensure

Upon completion on this program, the student eligible to apply for licensure as a Registered Nurse.

A first-time applicant for any license by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing will have a state and national criminal background check. Any offenses identified in section §17-87-312 of the Nurse Practice Act may prohibit a graduate from obtaining a license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Arkansas. Although an appeal may be possible there are offenses that permanently disqualify an applicant from licensure.

The Nurse Practice Act may be viewed on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing website (www.arsbn.org) and also on the School of Nursing website.

Technology Requirements for Program

Readmission Process

For students seeking readmission to the AASN Nursing program:

Readmission Testing

Students seeking readmission to the LPN-AASN nursing programs are required to pass a standardized test created from the objectives of the courses successfully completed in previous semesters.

Criteria for readmission to the undergraduate nursing programs includes:

  • Complete readmission packet;
  • Recommendation of faculty;
  • Passing score (75%) on the standardized assessment test(s) of courses previously passed;
  • Cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0; and
  • Space availability in the class

The cost of the readmission test will be the responsibility of the student

Please email NRStesting@AState.edu with any questions.

Program Application

Program applications for transfer and readmission will be available (Fall) April 30th - June 7th and (Spring) August 31st - October 15th.

Transfer Process 

The Traditional AASN program considers students for transfer into the program. Consideration as a Transfer student does not guarantee acceptance into the Traditional AASN program. Students accepted as Transfer students to the program are admitted to the 2nd semester of the program. All med-surg courses will be repeated. Students that have passed a specialty course (maternal/child or mental health) with a letter grade of C or better do have an option for specialty course waiver. Students interested in transferring to the Traditional AASN program should contact the AASN Program Chair to begin the process.  

Questions

For general questions and program information, please contact the following:

Samantha Dunavion, AASN Advisor - (870) 972-3074
                                                                                                                                                                   

For specific questions related to the application process and registration for pre-requisites (Health Assessment and Health Assessment Practicum) please contact the following:                                                                                                                                          
Lisa Montgomery, Admin Spec III - (870) 733-6031

The School of Nursing affirms that all students enrolled in the AASN program must possess those intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty for safe professional practice.  The criteria are included in the Nursing Student Handbook and are attached to the application for admission.

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