Excelsior College questions

Nursing Students Online Learning

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Very interested in EC and have a few questions about their program (their website is not user friendly lol)

1)Where are the general education credit exams/ nursing exams taken? from what I understand so far, at a local pearson VUE testing center?

2) Are gen ed credits transferrable? Is the nursing degree itself transferrable to another university?

3) I understand there are exam content guidelines.. does excelsior provide any other type of free study guide? Is there a formal website where EC students/grads discuss books they've found helpful?

Any other tips, advice, are greatly appreciated :D

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There is a student "forum" called the Electronic Peer Network that you can register for on the main EC website. But I'm pretty sure you have to be an enrolled student first. The study outlines on the EC website are the only ones they offer. You can get the first two (for the first two nursing tests), but have to be an enrolled student to get access to the others. The nursing degree is like any other one, the school you are transferring to decides what they will give you credit for and what they won't. Most people transfer in general ed courses that they have taken elsewhere. Like with most nursing schools, the nursing courses (tests) more than likely won't transfer. The general ed tests and courses transfer according to the school policy where you are transferring them to. The exams are taken at any Pearson Vue center that you wish to arrange. You can find out a lot of info and read about people's experiences by spending some time in the distance ed forum.

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Very interested in EC and have a few questions about their program (their website is not user friendly lol)

1)Where are the general education credit exams/ nursing exams taken? from what I understand so far, at a local pearson VUE testing center?

2) Are gen ed credits transferrable? Is the nursing degree itself transferrable to another university?

3) I understand there are exam content guidelines.. does excelsior provide any other type of free study guide? Is there a formal website where EC students/grads discuss books they've found helpful?

Any other tips, advice, are greatly appreciated :D

Since this website is set up to be a helping website, instead of sending you all over the world, I'll answer your questions.

(I believe that you can't access the EPN until you are a registered student.)

1.) Gen ed courses can be taken at Pearson Vue and local colleges. There are some other alternative testing sites as well, but those are the primary sites depending on where you are.

2.) Many Gen ed credits are transferrable. Especially CLEP, and if you are bringing in credits from other institutions. Some places will accept the transfer to another university. Indiana State is a big one that I know does.

3.) There are free exam content guidelines. This is the ONLY free info they hand out willingly. The EPN is available for you to discuss information, but you can't discuss exact info about the exams; just what's on the content guides. To do so is a violation of the academic honesty policy, but quite frankly, I have never heard of anyone being punished with this policy what with all of the 100TTK out there and all.

Excelsior is totally doable. I am waiting for my ATT here any second, and plan to sit for my boards sometime this week. I graduate December 17th. The CPNE is doable too. In fact, I found it rather easy. You don't need workshops or anything you just need to know the basic areas of care.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Just wanted to add that there are links to the nursing catalog and nursing viewbook on EC's site:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/About/EXCELSIOR_COLLEGE_SCHOOLS

And a bunch of publications:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/My_Excelsior_College/Excelsior_College_Publications_Request

You might have to register for a website account to view them, but that is free.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Just wanted to add that there are links to the nursing catalog and nursing viewbook on EC's site:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/About/EXCELSIOR_COLLEGE_SCHOOLS

And a bunch of publications:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/My_Excelsior_College/Excelsior_College_Publications_Request

You might have to register for a website account to view them, but that is free.

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Thank you guys a bunch:yeah: looking forward to starting at EC!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Also, you should ensure that EC is recognized by the BON in your state:

https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_Of_Nursing/Accreditation_and_Licensure/State_Board_Requirements

As an EC grad, there are a couple of states where you won't be able to work -- California and Maryland, most likely. Other states have extra requirements.

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Hello LunahRN you seem to have a lot of info about EC.

I am thinking very hard about attending the RN to BSN completion program hoping I can test-out and finish quickly.

Do know the how many credit courses are required at EC to be awarded A BSN degree

Also Ilive in maryland and already have my license in Maryland and Wash. DC. does this mean if I earn a BSN from EC I will not be able to practice in Maryland. I am a little confuse.

Any info would be greatly appreciate

thank you

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Hello LunahRN you seem to have a lot of info about EC.

I am thinking very hard about attending the RN to BSN completion program hoping I can test-out and finish quickly.

Do know the how many credit courses are required at EC to be awarded A BSN degree

Also Ilive in maryland and already have my license in Maryland and Wash. DC. does this mean if I earn a BSN from EC I will not be able to practice in Maryland. I am a little confuse.

Any info would be greatly appreciate

thank you

Any state board of nursing will always look at the source of your initial licensure for RN, not where you go for an RN to BSN completion. This issues some states have with EC are only with their ADN. The RN-BSN and RN-MSN are fully accredited. I don't know that much about EC's BSN, because I did mine elsewhere. However, I do know that the majority of EC's BSN courses are not test-out exams, but are actual courses that are either 8 or 15 weeks in length. Good luck.

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thanks = having over 149 associate credits and 16 BSN I am trying to find quickest route.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

If you already have BSN credits, can you not continue at the same school? I wouldn't count on a lot of BSN programs giving you credit for another school's classes.

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i just want to give my knowledge regarding universities accepting excelsior.

i am planning on taking the lpn-rn with excelsior, then my rn-bsn through a local state university. they have informed me that they take your license and give you credits based on your license, as long as you pass one of their tests. so they do not look at where the degree came from, but the fact that you have an rn license. that is what counts. i am referring to the unc/uncc nc state programs. ecu and wcu also have the same policy.

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