Application for Admission

Completely fill out all four pages of the application. (Printable Application Form / .PDF Format) Applicants are considered for admission to the Fall Semester once all required application information is in his/her record.

Eighteen (18) units of secondary school credits are required. One unit of science must be in Chemistry. One unit of math should be Algebra. Both must be completed with a final grade of "C" or better. If the applicant has not taken a Chemistry course in high school, one must be successfully completed prior to submission of application. No application will be accepted from individuals enrolled in a chemistry course at the time of application. Preference is given to candidates who graduate in the upper half of their high school class. The college preparatory course of study is strongly recommended to be competitive in the admissions process and should include the following:

PREREQUISITE CHEMISTRY REQUIREMENT
A chemistry course is a requirement for admission. All applicants who have NOT taken or have not successfully passed Chemistry in high school (final grade of "C" or better) must show proof of taking and passing a basic Chemistry course (final grade of "C" or better) via an official college transcript as part of the application. NO applicant is considered for admission unless this requirement is fulfilled at the time of application.

An one of the following courses may be taken to meet the chemistry prerequisite.

TRANSFERABLE NON-NURSING CREDIT
Transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning are assigned for comparable courses (see website) provided they are less than seven (7) years old and passed with a final grade of 'C' or better. Similar courses from other institutions may be considered for transfer only when a course description is provided by the applicant and included at the time of application.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
The Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) Admission Assessment Examination (A2) must be taken by all candidates applying for admission to the School of Nursing by February 20th - NO EXCEPTIONS. The examination may only be taken once during an application period. The test is computerized, covering the areas of Math, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary / General Knowledge and Grammar and takes approximately 4 hours to complete. A score of 80% or better in each area is strongly desired for admission consideration.

HOW TO REGISTER
Applicants must register online to begin the registration process for examination.
The cost is $85.00.

To register for your HESI Elsevier exam, you must email the following information to Elsevier Review and Testing using this email address : exameligibility@elsevier.com.

You will receive a Confirmation Notice indicating that you may schedule your exam. Please carefully review the information contained in your Confirmation Notice.

If any of the information in the confirmation notice is incorrect, or if the information has changed, please email Elsevier Review and Testing at  exameligibility@elsevier.com.

Please only submit your eligibility information once.

Entrance Exams are only given at:
Thomson Prometric Testing Center
2346 Post Road, Suite #104
Warwick, RI 02886

ACCUPLACER PLACEMENT TESTING
All applicants who have not successfully completed their biological and social sciences are required to do so at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). CCRI requires all students to take an Accuplacer placement test which encompasses math, english and writing. All St. Joseph School of Nursing applicants must take this placement examination prior to submission of application AND include official test results (not unofficial student printouts) with placement indications with their application.

REFERENCES
Three (3) references are required to complete the application procedure. These must be printed legibly and submitted on official School of Nursing reference forms. Accepted references include one (1) employer, one (1) academic, and one (1) personal. NOTE: References from family / relatives are NOT accepted and will be rejected. Examples of a personal reference contact could include a member of the clergy, a co-worker, and/or a family physician.

ESSAY
A typed double-spaced (#12 font) essay is part of the application and must clearly address stated questions asked of the applicant

COMPUTER LITERACY
All applicants must possess basic computer skills, as these are required for success in the program.

PERSONAL INTERVIEW
The Admissions Committee may request an interview with an applicant.

OPEN HOUSE
Twice yearly, November and January, the School hosts an Open House. Prospective applicants can tour the school accompanied by current students and alumni. Educational and financial sessions are on-going. Individual counseling sessions with faculty are available at this time.

FINANCIAL AID
Available to all students. The free Federal Application for Student Aid may be obtained from the Financial Aid Advisor (401.456.3057) following application to the School of Nursing.

In evaluating candidates for admission, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to select only those applicants who show intellectual and personal characteristics desirable in professional nursing practice.

NOTIFICATION
Applicants are notified in writing of the committee's decision by May 1st. Once accepted, the applicant must send confirmation of acceptance in writing by the deadline stated in the acceptance letter, along with a non-refundable registration fee of $100, payable by certified bank check, money order, or Visa, only. No personal checks or cash.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should be in good health and able to perform clinical student nurse duties. The student health services will schedule appointments for a personal health assessment for the candidate prior to enrollment.

MANDATORY MEDICAL INSURANCE
Students are required to submit proof of current medical insurance at the School's orientation and on a yearly basis until graduation. NO student may attend nursing class or clinical without proof of valid medical insurance.

CPR REQUIREMENT
Prior to the first day of school, students are required to possess a current CPR certification. The School only accepts American Heart Association's Basic Life Support for Health Care Provider course (includes AED).

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
Students are required to undergo a criminal background check. Details will be provided upon acceptance. In today's world this is standard practice and it is especially true in health care. Felonies and some misdemeanors will preclude a student's availability to be placed in agencies. State Board's of Nursing also have restrictions on candidates NCLEX-RN eligibility. A student with a record must contact the Director and a decision will be made at that time about entrance into the program.

PLEASE NOTE: REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

TRANSFERABLE CREDIT
The following courses from local institutions of higher learning are transferable to St. Joseph School of Nursing provided the student achieves a final grade of "C" or better and the course is less than seven (7) years old. Similar courses from other institutions not listed below may be considered for transfer by the admissions committee when the applicant includes a course description with the transcript. St. Joseph School of Nursing does not automatically grant credit for courses taken.

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM POLICY (CLEP)
St. Joseph School of Nursing accepts the qualifying scores of selected College Level Examinations Program tests (CLEP) only when successfully passed and official results are sent to the School of Nursing prior to entrance.

The credits earned are substituted for specific courses required by the School of Nursing.
The applicant is responsible for securing arrangements to take
the examination(s) by contacting:
Community College of Rhode Island / Flanagan Campus - Warwick, RI
Admissions Office - Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, 401.333.7300

Approved CLEP General Examination / Qualifying Scores
General Chemistry
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Human Growth and Development