DNP Admission Requirements

Are you considering advancing your nursing career as either a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Executive? USAHS offers a path towards achieving your goal with our DNP program. Our Doctor of Nursing Practice requirements are put in place to ensure your success in this doctoral program.

• BSN-entry DNP: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 grade – official transcripts are one of our BSN to DNP program requirements
• MSN-entry DNP: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 grade – official transcripts are among our DNP requirements for the MSN entry pathway.
• Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the state of residence
• Two professional references from a nurse educator, preceptor, or immediate supervisor are part of our DNP degree requirements; peers or personal relationships are not acceptable.
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae; an equivalent of one full-time year of experience as a registered nurse by the time you start your first practicum course.
• Comprehensive background checks requiring fingerprints and drug screens will be administered after acceptance into the program and at the applicant’s expense. A felony charge and or conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the certification examination or to attain state licensure.
• Career goal statement – 500-word essay describing your short-term and long-term career goals and how you plan to achieve them
• An interview if requested

International Students Applying for Admission

International candidates may be considered for admission into non-licensure leading graduate nursing programs; however, USAHS does not participate in student visa programs for its graduate nursing degree offerings and cannot sponsor students to enter the US for purposes of completing academic or internship requirements. Applicants located in the United States on a non-F-1 student visa can be considered for admission. Prospective students who already hold a non-F-1 student visa allowing for study in the U.S., including clinical placements, are eligible for admission to the DNP program, provided a copy of a valid, unexpired passport reflecting visa status is provided prior to admission and that the individual meets other admission requirements. Students must keep their non-F-1 student visa in good standing throughout the duration of their studies with USAHS, as the University cannot sponsor them for study now or at any point in the future for the DNP program. Students holding a visa that is renewed during their course of study must provide a copy of their updated passport reflecting visa status to the Admissions office. Further, there may be additional requirements for students seeking federal financial aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid prior to enrolling and provide any required documents.
All instruction in the DNP program is conducted in English. To be considered, a candidate must submit:

• Transcripts (original and a translated version, if applicable) and a credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) that provide evidence of training at a level equivalent to that of a bachelor’s degree in the United States.
• Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report if their education was completed in a language other than English or they reside in a non-English speaking country. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based testing), 210 (computer-based testing) or 89 (IBT – Internet based testing) is required.

DNP Program Page