Admission Requirements

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree or higher in any discipline from a regionally accredited college or university.
  2. Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  4. Grade of B- or better in all prerequisite natural science and nutrition courses.
  5. Grade of C or better in all pre-requisite courses.
  6. Applicants who do not have a minimum 3.00 cumulative undergraduate GPA will be reviewed for admission if they meet the following requirements: prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher; grades of B or higher in Anatomy & Physiology I and II, Microbiology.
  7. A student is not eligible for admission to the nursing major if he/she earns three or more unsatisfactory grades in the same course or any combination of these 4 courses: anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, microbiology or equivalent courses transferred as prerequisites for admission. An unsatisfactory grade is defined as one grade lower than C; or two withdrawals from any single course or combination of the three courses listed. The policy refers to the final course grade, not a grade on a specific assignment.
  8. Submit a personal statement which describes experiences which have led you to consider nursing as a career.
  9. The Office of Graduate Admission reserves the right to request additional information or a personal interview. The admission decision will be made following receipt of additional information or the personal interview.
  10. Completion of an American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR course. Students in the May cohort must complete the CPR course by May 1 of the program year. Students in the January cohort must complete the CPR course by December 13 immediately before their January start. You can find a provider at www.heart.org. We do not accept other forms of CPR training.
  11. Satisfactory completion of all required criminal background and immunization documents. Students in the May cohort must complete these by May 1 of the program year. Students in the January cohort must complete these by December 13 immediately before their January start.
  12. Mandatory drug testing. Students in the May cohort must complete this by May 1 of the program year. Students in the January cohort must complete this by December 13 immediately before their January start.
  13. Admitted students must attend both the virtual and in-person mandatory Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN Orientations.  The dates will be provided at the time of admission.
  14. If any transcript(s) or undergraduate degree(s) is from an international institution, applicants must provide an official copy of a World Education Services (www.wes.org) or Spantran (https://spantran.com) course-by-course credential evaluation to Nursing CAS. The evaluation should be for US equivalency. The Office of Graduate Admission reserves the right to request a certified copy of the original transcript(s).
  15. Please note that the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is not eligible for students who require a new F-1 visa to study in the United States. However, students who currently hold an active F-1 visa and have been continuously enrolled in a SEVP-approved program for at least 12 months prior to the start of the ABSN program may be eligible. If you meet these criteria and are considering applying, we encourage you to contact our International Student Services Office to confirm your eligibility and discuss your specific situation.

Prerequisite Courses

  • Anatomy and Physiology (6-8 hours)
  • Microbiology

Proof of Pre-Requisite Completion

  • Because students cannot be enrolled in any other academic coursework while enrolled in the Accelerated BSN program, you must provide proof that you have successfully completed all courses by the dates indicated in your admission notification.
  • An email from the professor including the final grade, an unofficial transcript, or credit-by-exam printed grade report including the final letter grade will be acceptable for proof of course completion.  
  • If you are completing your bachelor’s degree in the spring semester of your program year, you should provide proof of course completion for all spring semester courses. 
  • Students who do not provide proof of successful completion of all academic coursework by the deadlines included in the admission notification will not be allowed to start the program.  
  • This information only applies to domestic students. International students must follow the instructions and deadlines for submitting final, official transcripts in the International Applicant Section below.

Application Information

All applicants must apply through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (CAS) at www.nursingcas.org. Applicants must complete the entire application, including entry of all previous coursework.

  • It takes Nursing CAS 4-6 weeks to verify your application and submit it to Bellarmine University after you submit it to Nursing CAS.
  • You must submit all official transcripts (even if coursework is “In Progress”) directly to Nursing CAS. They will not verify an application without all transcripts.
  • You may apply while enrolled in pre-requisite courses. Applicants are considered for conditional admission pending successful completion of outstanding requirements.
  • You may apply if you will earn your bachelor’s degree by May 2025.
  • The application fee is $60.
  • We do not require a supplemental application or fee.
  • Upon admission to the program, students must submit a $100 non-refundable tuition deposit to reserve a position in the May 2025 program.

Transcript Information

Applicants must submit all final, official transcripts to Nursing CAS at the time of your application or they will not process your application.

  • Applicants must submit any official transcripts including “In Progress” coursework at the time of application as well.
  • Applicants who apply prior to fall semester grade posting must submit final, official transcripts including fall semester grades to Nursing CAS by February 1 of the program year.
  • Any final, official transcripts submitted to Nursing CAS are considered official and you do not need to submit those to Bellarmine University.
  • Any transcripts which include “In Progress” coursework or degree requirements at the time you submit the Nursing CAS application are not considered official.
  • All final, official transcripts for any course completed in the spring semester must be submitted directly from the college or university directly to Bellarmine University by June 18, 2020. Final, official transcripts cannot be stamped “Issued to Student.”
  • Because students cannot be enrolled in any other academic coursework while enrolled in the Accelerated BSN program, you must provide proof that you have successfully completed all courses by Thursday, April 30, 2020.
  • An email from the professor including the final grade, an unofficial transcript, or credit-by-exam printed grade report including the final letter grade will be acceptable for proof of course completion.
  • If you are completing your bachelor’s degree in May 2020, you should provide proof of course completion for all spring semester courses.
  • Students who do not provide proof of successful completion of all academic coursework by Thursday, April 30, 2020 will not begin classes on Monday, May 4, 2020.

International Applicants

Language Proficiency. see above

Financial Affidavit. All applicants must provide credible evidence (e.g. a bank statement, letter on bank stationary attesting to the availability of funds, etc.) of the ability to fund the cost of attending Bellarmine University for one academic year. If funds are provided by another person on behalf of the student, an affidavit must accompany the financial information.

Proof of Passport. Scan of passport ID page must show validity for 6 months post completion of the program.

KBN Regulation on Mandatory Reporting of Criminal Convictions

An applicant for an RN license in Kentucky must report and submit documentation of felonies and/or misdemeanors. The applicant is required to report and submit the following documentation on the RN license application under Criminal History:

  • All Felonies: Certified court documents and a detailed letter of explanation
  • All Misdemeanors received within 5 years of the date of application: Certified court documents and a detailed letter of explanation
  • All DUIs (Driving Under the Influence): Certified court documents and a detailed letter of explanation
  • All Misdemeanors received prior to 5 years of the date of application: No documentation required
  • Traffic offenses, other than DUIs, do not have to be reported.

“The statute [KRS 314.091(1)(b)] states that the Kentucky Board of Nursing may take action on any felony or a misdemeanor that involved drugs, alcohol, fraud, deceit, falsification of records, a breach of trust, physical harm or endangerment to others, dishonesty, or sexual offenses. The Kentucky Board of Nursing can deny an application for a license for criminal convictions(s). Denial of licensure is a formal disciplinary action.”

If you have questions about your particular situation, contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing at 800.305.2042.