Another Excelsior question for IL residents

Published

Actually it's for my boyfriend. He's a full-time firefighter/paramedic looking to get into nursing as a side job. He doesn't have any college pre-req's besides the 35 credit hours he recieved from his paramedic program, but from my understanding that doesn't help with any of the nursing requirements.

What exactly does Excelsior teach, or do they simply give you the tests? I'm currently trying to get into a bachelors to MSN program so I think it would be the perfect time for him to start this program cause I will be able to help him.

What options does he have to get the pre-reqs done? He really doesn't have time to do traditional school.

What is the cost of Excelsior?

And finally the most important question...

I understand being an IL resident you can't work in IL right out of there program. He would have to secure a nursing job in Indiana or Wisconsin for two years before he could apply for reciprocity? How hard is this to do (finding a place that'll hire you when you live out of state) and would one shift a week fulfill this requirement?

I apologize if these questions have already been asked, I'm not very good with message forums.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Excelsior only administers tests. They give you study guides and tests. He will have to take ALL of the nursing exams and probably some coreqs - dev psych, soc, that kind of thing. It's $895 to enroll, each test is around 200, and the CPNE (clinical exam) is 1850. $500 graduation fee.

I have no idea about IL licensure.

:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

Contact the IL Board of Nursing to be sure.

If you have a federal facility close to you (like a VA Hospital), he can be licensed in ANY US state and work at the facility, even if the facility is located in IL. Then he could apply for IL licensure when he has the time in so that he may work at any facility that requires IL licensure. I'm sure it would be two years' worth of full-time RN work in order to apply for IL licensure and not just one day a week, but please check with them to be sure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you very much, there is actually a VA hospital near our house so that will work out perfectly. Working full-time might be rough for him as he already has a full-time job. I'm going to get in touch with the IL board of nursing and I will post my findings.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Good luck....yes, IL does not recognize Excelsior or other schools that do not have "CONCURRENT" classroom and clinical. Here is the reference:

"NOTE: Excelsior College a/k/a/ the University of the State of New York

Regents External Degree Program is an unapproved nursing education

program in the State of Illinois due to the fact that it does not have concurrent

theory and clinical components as required by the Illinois Nurse Practice

Act. Therefore, it is considered to be a correspondence course which is

identified by the Act as not meeting the requirements for licensure."

http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/apply/forms/rn-ex.pdf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you very much, there is actually a VA hospital near our house so that will work out perfectly. Working full-time might be rough for him as he already has a full-time job. I'm going to get in touch with the IL board of nursing and I will post my findings.

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong :), but I imagine that the "two years" requirement for licensure endorsement means working 2 years as an RN after graduating from EC and getting licensed as an RN in another state. It wouldn't be a matter of working full-time now in addition to his current job ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

He may want to check out the Indiana State program. I believe it has a paramedic to BSN program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
good luck....yes, il does not recognize excelsior or other schools that do not have "concurrent" classroom and clinical. here is the reference:

"note: excelsior college a/k/a/ the university of the state of new york

regents external degree program is an unapproved nursing education

program in the state of illinois due to the fact that it does not have concurrent

theory and clinical components as required by the illinois nurse practice

act. therefore, it is considered to be a correspondence course which is

identified by the act as not meeting the requirements for licensure."

http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/apply/forms/rn-ex.pdf

you are not quoting everything. yes it is possible for an ec grad to be licensed in il.

if you scroll down the pdf file from the above link, you can see this provison:

there is a provison in the act to allow for individual review of

applications from applicants who are graduates of such programs

provided the applicant is currently licensed in another u.s.

jurisdiction and has been actively practicing in clinical nursing

for a minimum of two (2) years. the applicant must have an employer

complete a ve (verification of employment) form verifying two full

years of clinical practice as a registered nurse. this must be

submitted with the endorsement applications. when the application

is complete, it is reviewed by the board of nursing for a

determination of eligibility to be rendered.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
He may want to check out the Indiana State program. I believe it has a paramedic to BSN program.

No, it doesn't. The BSN is for LPNs/LVNs or RNs only. There isn't a Paramedic to BSN through ISU. If there were, I probably would have gone that route to get the RN and BSN all in one swoop! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER and family advanced nursing practice.

I am an Excelsior grad and former Illinois resident. In fact I got my paramedic training at the Chicago Fire Academy. I am a fan of Excelsior but it takes a high amount of self discipline, the final practical is tough (40 percent fail rate when I took it) and expensive, and of course not all states take EC grads right out of school. If your boy friend doesn't have time for traditional college he should consider this: very few (if any) hospitals will hire a new grad with no hospital experience on a part time basis. This is because he will need to go through a new grad program. I don't know about you, but for many (including all of my RN friends, my wife (an ER RN), and me) new grad training was where I really learned to be an RN, not so much school.

I think he could do it. Many have. But I would also look into traditional schools as well. I have several firefighter friends who did it by trading shifts (not the whole shift, just the hours needed to attend class) and they were very successful. Neither is a better way for paramedics, just different ways.

Hope this helps. I am including a link from istudysmart that has a list of states that have extra requirments for Excelsior grads. Not sure how current or accurate the info is.

Ivan

http://www.istudysmart.com/content.asp?cid=70

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The program is through the College Network and is for paramedics and is a ADN associate degree RN completion program. The link for their website is http://www.college-net.com/NursingDegrees.asp?category=nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
The program is through the College Network and is for paramedics and is a ADN associate degree RN completion program.

Just as a point of clarification -- The College Network (TCN) doesn't grant the degree; Excelsior College does. The College Network is a provider of study guides (overpriced, in my opinion). That's not to say the materials aren't good, but I sure as heck don't want to buy a study guide that costs twice as much as the Excelsior exam does.

The program is actually through Excelsior College -- http://www.excelsior.edu -- and TCN is not affiliated with nor endorsed by Excelsior. As a matter of fact, EC warns students against most third-party publishers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion