Nursing Admission Requirements

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith's (UAFS) Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program requires candidates to meet specific criteria for admission, instead of a general set of prerequisites.

Admission Criteria:

• University Admission Requirements
  • Complete the university's admission process, including the submission of official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities. 
• Academic Performance
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all college coursework (including transfer credits, excluding developmental courses), and be in good academic standing. 
• ATI TEAS Exam
  • Achieve a minimum score of 60% on the ATI TEAS exam. 
• LPN-ADN Track
  • Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) must provide proof of an active unencumbered LPN license to practice in Arkansas to be eligible for the LPN-ADN track. 

Additional Information:

• Science Course Evaluation
  • Science courses taken more than five years prior to entering the program will be reviewed individually by the Program Director. Contact the CHEHS Nursing Advising Coordinator for more information and to request a science course evaluation. 
• Criminal Background Check
  • The Arkansas State Board of Nursing mandates criminal background checks for all nursing students as per the Nurse Practice Act. A third-party vendor conducts these checks, with all fees being the student's responsibility. Clinical agencies independently assess the results of these checks, which may affect a student's ability to practice in certain settings. Failure to complete the background check process by the specified deadline will prevent students from continuing the program. For more details and frequently asked questions regarding the criminal background check process, click here to visit the Arkansas Department of Health website. 

Make sure to meet all criteria and necessary steps to ensure a smooth admission process into the UAFS Associate Degree of Nursing program. 

Admission to the ADN program is competitive. Students who meet the minimum criteria identified above are eligible to submit an application for admission. Further application information is below. 

• Application deadline is July 8 for fall entry; October 29 for spring entry.
• Eligible students must submit an application for admission on the UAFS ADN program webpage prior to the application deadline. 
• Students must complete the TEAS exam prior to the application deadline. The TEAS deadline is July 5 for fall entry.
• Students will be required to submit an application essay, recommendation letter, or letter of standing depending on status at time of application. 

Apply to ADN Program

For applications with an unencumbered LPN license:

• Please provide two (2) sources for Letters of Recommendation
• Applicants may select sources from any of the options listed or any combination of the following:
  • Your current employer/supervisor
  • Your LPN program director
  • A past LPN program faculty member

Apply to LPN-ADN Program

• Format for all essays and letters
  • Times New Roman font
  • Size 12 font
  • Double-spaced
  • 500-word limit
  • Use proper grammar and spelling

• Content
  •  
    Must include the following information:
    • What interests you the most about becoming a nurse?
    • Share past medical experiences, volunteer opportunities, or accomplishments that have influenced your decision to become a nurse.
    • What character traits do you exhibit that will contribute to excellent nursing care?
  • Include any additional information you would like the admissions committee to know about you that has not already been considered in the application.
  • The essay must be in your own words.

• For applicants requesting a transfer from another school of nursing program from any institution, including the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, applying for the traditional AAS in Nursing (to include those withdrawing or being dismissed for academic or personal reasons)

  • Provide a letter of standing from the current, or most previous, program director.
• Provide a letter written in your own words to include the following information:
  • Reason for leaving the current program.
  • Explain your personal experience with nursing up to this point
  • Describe what changes are being made to facilitate your success in this program.

Selection is based on successful completion of the admission criteria. Due to program size limitations, selection is a highly competitive process. Those with a higher GPA and higher TEAS score may rank higher in selection. Only the strongest candidates will be selected for admission to the program. 

• CHEHS Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form
• Proof of immunizations
• CPR Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS)
• Criminal background check
• Drug screen

Once admitted into the ADN program, all nursing courses (with NURS prefix) on the program’s degree plan must be completed in residence. 

The ADN program is competency-based in skills and theory. A student must demonstrate satisfactory clinical performance, 100-percent mastery on all Competency Performance Evaluations (CPE), and maintain a minimum average cumulative score of 75 percent on Competency Performance Assessments (CPA) including the final CPA for each course. 

A grade of C or better is required in ALL courses applicable to the ADN degree. 

Students are allowed up to two (2) attempts on all nursing-specific courses on the degree plan (NURS prefix). A course withdrawal or failure will count as an attempt. For example, if a student withdraws from a NURS course and then fails the next attempt, the student will be ineligible to progress in the program. 

Students may not attempt any math or science course on the degree plan more than twice and still be eligible to progress in the ADN nursing program. 

NOTE: RN licensure requires a state and federal criminal background check. Students who have been convicted of a crime, including those that are sealed or expunged, must seek permission from the ASBN to take the licensure exam to become a registered nurse. 

To be considered for admission to the BSN program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Complete university admission requirements to include submission of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. 
• Have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA for all college coursework (including transfer work and excluding developmental courses) and be in good academic standing. 
• Complete required prerequisite courses for the program with a minimum grade of C or higher in each course before fall or spring entry. Prerequisite courses are the first four semesters as listed on the degree plan for a total of 62 hours. 
• Students may not attempt any course more than twice and be eligible for admission into the nursing program.

Students who meet the BSN minimum requirements are eligible to submit an application for admission.

Application deadline is March 1 for Fall entry and October 1 for Spring.

Apply to BSN Program

For application questions, please contact Nicki Gilbert, admission coordinator, at Nicki.Gilbert@uafs.edu or 479-788-7861.

Click here to view the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree plan.

NOTE: Meeting the minimum criteria for admission or taking courses on the B.S.N. degree plan does not guarantee admission into the program. Students not admitted must reapply to be considered for another semester. Students identified as alternates are not guaranteed a position in the next class.

• CHEHS Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form
• Proof of immunizations
• CPR Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS)
• Criminal background check
• Drug screen

Note: Many clinical facilities require a criminal background check and/or drug screen on students and have the authority to deny clinical training in their facility, secondary to the outcome of either screening. Students unable to practice in any clinical agency because of an adverse or negative background check will be unable to complete the program objectives, thereby revoking admission into a program or halting continued progression in the student's program of study.

NOTE: RN licensure requires a state and federal criminal background check. Students who have been convicted of a crime, including those that are sealed or expunged, must seek permission from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to write the licensure exam to become a registered nurse. (See Restrictions.)