Nursing Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program option is designed for individuals who wish to earn a BSN and enter the nursing profession in an accelerated time frame. This program can be completed in 14 months of study and is located at CMU-Columbia in the Forum Shopping Center. Clinical experiences will occur in a variety of mid-Missouri health care facilities.

The accelerated BSN nursing program is fully approved by the  Missouri State Board of Nursing. The accelerated BSN program at CMU is accredited by the  Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The BSN program follows the Minimum Standards for Approved Programs of Professional Nursing (2019) under the guidance of the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Graduates of this program will be eligible for application to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Successful completion does not guarantee eligibility to take licensure examination. (Reference: Nurse Practice Act RS MO 335.066  https://pr.mo.gov/boards/nursing/npa.pdf)

Admission Requirements without a Baccalaureate Degree

All ABSN applicants without a baccalaureate degree must have completed a minimum of 53 credit hours of required general education and prerequisite coursework  prior to being considered for admission to the ABSN Program. All accepted ABSN students must complete  all required general education and prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the ABSN program. 

Students will be considered for admission to the ABSN program if all of the following criteria are met: 

  • Apply and be accepted to Central Methodist University College of Graduate and Extended Studies (CGES).  The application to the CMU CGES is located at  https://www.centralmethodist.edu/admissions/applications.html  Select “Other Locations/Online.”
  • Completion of application to the ABSN program found here: https://centralmethodist.edu/academics/undergraduate/accelerated-nursing/absn-application.html
  • Completion of a minimum of 53 credit hours of required general education and prerequisite coursework,  prior to applying and being considered for admission.
    • Request official transcripts from each institution previously attended to Central Methodist University. Official transcripts are accepted electronically through a secure e-transcript delivery service, or via US Postal Mail at 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette MO 65248. If the e-transcript delivery service needs a specific recipient email address, please use  cges@centralmethodist.edu. Transcripts originally issued to student or received via FAX are not accepted as official documents.
  • Completion of the following prerequisite science courses with a minimum grade of “C” or better in a maximum of two attempts: Biology with lab, Anatomy with lab, Physiology with lab, Chemistry, and Microbiology with lab
    • The Biology and/or Biology lab requirement may be waived if the student has completed all other science pre-requisite course requirements.
    • Applicants must have completed at least 3 of these 5 prerequisite science courses prior to applying and being considered for admission.
  • Completion of Pathophysiology with a grade of “B” or better prior to beginning the ABSN program.
  • Earn a science sub-cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all college coursework
  • Provide 2 references utilizing the form found here: ABSN-reference-form.pdf One of the reference forms should be from a non-nursing faculty member who currently has you in class. The second reference from a current employer or a non-related, non-family friend that you have done volunteer work for. Please have evaluator return the form to: absn@centralmethodist.edu 
  • Completion of a required meeting with the ABSN Program Coordinator or a member of the ABSN faculty.

Admissions Requirements with a Baccalaureate Degree

All accepted ABSN students must complete all required prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the ABSN program. The ABSN program admissions deadline is in December of each year with the cohort start date the following June.

Students will be considered for admission to the ABSN program if all of the following criteria are met: 

  • Apply and be accepted to Central Methodist University College of Graduate and Extended Studies (CGES).  The application to the CMU CGES is located at  https://www.centralmethodist.edu/admissions/applications.html  Select “Other Locations/Online.”
  • Completion of application to the ABSN program found here: https://centralmethodist.edu/academics/undergraduate/accelerated-nursing/absn-application.html
  • Earn a BA or BS degree in any field from an accredited college or university (official transcripts must be submitted from ALL colleges or universities attended)
  • Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "C" or better: Anatomy with lab, Physiology with lab, Microbiology with lab, Chemistry, and Statistics OR Data Analysis for Nursing Practice.
  • Completion of Pathophysiology with a grade of “B” or better prior to beginning the ABSN program.
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all college coursework
  • Earn a science sub-cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Completion of a required meeting with the ABSN Program Coordinator or a member of the ABSN faculty.
  • Provide 2 references utilizing the form found here: ABSN-reference-form.pdf One of the reference forms should be from a non-nursing faculty member who currently has you in class. The second reference from a current employer or a non-related, non-family friend that you have done volunteer work for. Please have evaluator return the form to: absn@centralmethodist.edu 

Admission Petitions

Students who do not meet the published admission criteria for the ABSN may petition for consideration of acceptance during the Admission Review Process by the ABSN Admissions Committee. Petition letters must explain why the student does not meet the standard and provide a valid reason for consideration. Additionally, students should express how they plan to be successful in the ABSN program should their petition to be considered for admission be granted. Note: Students who have previously been enrolled in another nursing education program and have not been academically successful in that program are not eligible for admission to the ABSN.

An arrest or conviction may disqualify a candidate for licensure examination. The State Board of Nursing has the authority to refuse the issue of a license (Reference: Nursing Practice Act RSMO 335.066).

Admission Selection Process: The ABSN Admissions Committee meets each December to select the next cohort. The following are the procedures for all applicants:

  1. Applicant files are reviewed by the ABSN Admissions Committee.  The ABSN Admissions Committee is comprised of:
    1. The ABSN Program Director
    2. The ABSN Faculty Members
    3. The ABSN Clinical Coordinator
    4. The Dean of the School of Health
    5. Director of BSNG Program
  2. Each completed applicant’s file includes:
    1. academic record
    2. letters of recommendation
    3. completed criminal background check (according to guidelines)
  3. After reviewing applicant files, the ABSN Admissions Committee selects applicants for admission.  Applicants may be accepted either "fully" or "pending successful completion of pre-requisite requirements;” not accepted, but placed on a waiting list; or not accepted based on established criteria.
  4. Applicants placed on the wait list are ranked and will be notified in rank order if a program seat becomes available prior to the start of classes.
  5. All applicants accepted or on the wait list are notified of their status and are provided information regarding their responsibilities in completing mandatory requirements, including urine drug screens, and other mandatory items of applicant responsibility.

After acceptance:

  1. An applicant forfeits her or his reserved seat in the program if she or he:
    1. notifies the ABSN Program Coordinator  in writing that they wish to forfeit their seat;
    2. has not completed the mandatory requirements (other than coursework) prior to the start of the ABSN program;
    3. does not meet the minimum requirements encompassed by the criminal background check and urine drug screen; or
    4. drops out of any required pre-requisite coursework (accepted pending) or does not earn the required minimum grade in science courses, as described previously in the admission requirements. Accepted applicants must complete all required general education and prerequisite coursework, with appropriate grades, prior to beginning the ABSN program in June. 
  2. Forfeited seats will be awarded to the next applicant from the wait list who has completed the mandatory requirements prior to the start of the ABSN program in June.
  3. Each accepted applicant is required to purchase a Viewpoint Screening account. Specific information is provided to each admitted applicant.

Students are required to upload the following to their Viewpoint Screening account prior to the start of the Nursing program (specific due date will be provided):

  • Physical examination
  • Rubella titer and/or immunization
  • Varicella titer and/or immunization
  • Current diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus-DPT
  • Hepatitis B injection series
  • COVID-19 vaccination (required by clinical partners for student nurses to complete clinical experiences)
  • Urine drug screen by a department approved vendor

NOTE: Information for obtaining a Viewpoint Screening account, the drug screen, immunization tracking, and CPR currency will be mailed to the student from the Nursing Department following acceptance into the program.

Students are required to show proof of the following, yearly:

  • Tuberculosis screening
  • Annual influenza vaccine
  • Current CPR certification (good for 2 years)
  • Personal health insurance

Malpractice insurance will be obtained yearly through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Requirements for Licensure
  1. Graduation from an approved nursing program.
  2. An arrest or conviction may disqualify a candidate for licensure examination. The State Board of Nursing has the authority to deny the opportunity to take the NCLEX or to refuse the issue of a license.

Requirements for Continuation in Program

Students who earn less than a "B" in a course may not continue in their cohort. Any one course where the student earns less than a "B" must be repeated and completed with a grade of "B" or higher, and then the student will join the subsequent cohort. Any second instance when a student earns less than a "B"- whether it is a repeated course or one taken for the first time - results in the student's dismissal from the program.