Admissions

• A current, active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licensure with no disciplinary action from any state in the U.S.
• At least one year of full-time ICU experience as a registered nurse within the past two years by the time of the application deadline
  • Acceptable ICU settings include: adult (preferred) and pediatric intensive care units only. You are strongly advised to be currently working in the ICU at the time you apply. These units are not accepted as critical care experience: neonatal ICU, ICU step-down, operating room, post-anesthesia care unit, invasive radiology/cardiology or emergency room.
• Current CCRN Certification
• Current American Heart Association ACLS Provider Certification
• Recommended: Experience serving on a committee for an intensive care unit, health care facility or professional nursing organization

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, or Doctor or Nursing Practice from an ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or CCNE accredited school of nursing
• GPA calculated based on all higher education institutions (undergraduate and graduate combined). Students who do not meet the following recommended criteria are encouraged to retake courses before applying:
  • Overall GPA of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. The average overall GPA for the most recent admitted class was 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Science GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Science GPA is based on all courses in these subject areas from your undergraduate and graduate career. We do not use the comprehensive NursingCAS Course Subject Area calculation for science GPA.
    • All anatomy and physiology courses
      
    • All chemistry courses
    • All biology courses
    • All pathophysiology courses
      
    • All pharmacology courses
    • All physics courses
• Prerequisites: Any undergraduate or graduate course with at least a B (3.0 on 4.0 scale) in the following subject areas:
  • Chemistry
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Statistics

• GRE scores from exam taken no more than 5 years prior to the application deadline, submitted to the University of Cincinnati, code 1833 (not to NursingCAS). Applicants who do not meet the recommended minimum scores are encouraged to retake the exam. The average GRE scores for the most recent incoming class was 154 Verbal, 153 quantitative, and 4.0 writing.
  • Recommended minimum GRE scores:
    • 150 Writing
    • 150 Quantitative
    • 4.0 Writing
    • Applicants with a master’s or doctorate in any field with an overall graduate GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale are eligible for a GRE waiver; however, you are encouraged to complete the exam, even if you are eligible for the waiver. Scoring well can make your application more competitive.
• English proficiency scores. Waived for applicants who are from a country where English is the official language or who have completed a higher education degree in a country where English is the official language.
  
  • TOEFL score of 100 or higher
  • IELTS score of 7.0 or higher
  • Duolingo score of 120 or higher

• We strongly recommended you order transcripts at least one month prior to the application deadline.
• Transcripts must verify a Bachelor of Science in Nursing conferred from a regionally and ACEN (formerly NLNAC) or CCNE accredited institution.
• The Transcript Matching Form in the NursingCAS application is not required. This form helps ensure transcripts are matched to the correct application. If your previous institution allows you to use the form, we encourage you to do so.
• List any former names in the "Biographic Information" portion of your NursingCAS application to ensure your transcript uploads properly.
• International transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES) (preferred), or another NACES member.

• You may use an official or unofficial transcript to complete your coursework entry in the NursingCAS system. You must enter all courses from every higher education institution attended.
• Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) is an optional, paid service whereby a NursingCAS specialist enters coursework on an applicant's behalf.
  
  • PTE will not begin until all transcripts are received.
  • After PTE is complete, applicants receive an email prompting them to log in and approve the entry. The application verification process will not begin without approval of transcript entry.
    

• Upload English Proficiency Scores to your NursingCAS application. Do not send scores to the University of Cincinnati. (This requirement is waived, if you have a U.S. higher education degree or were born in a country where English is the first language.)
  • TOEFL
    • Internet-based TOEFL – 100 or higher
    • Computer-based TOEFL – 250 or higher
    • Paper-based TOEFL – 600-603
  • IELTS – 7.0 overall minimum
  • Duolingo - 120 or higher

International applicants are responsible for ensuring that their visa status meets program requirements and that online course requirements adhere to sponsored funding requirements. For additional information, visit the UC Graduate School International Student Admissions website.