Excelsior Paramedic to RN?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 11, 2018

Associate Requirements - Excelsior College - excelsior.edu

This page indicates that it is still open to medics.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 11, 2018

Hi,

I believe they still do it, as I have a few co-workers doing it. Just advise him all of my co-workers who have eventually gotten to the testing portion have regretted not just going to a normal community college. The wait to take the final test in NY, or wherever you go to do the clinical test is at a minimum a year, add in the expense, especially if you fail it, and then add all the course work you have to do on your own. The one that did finally get a test date and pass NCLEX was very nervous when he got a job because he had never done a lot of nursing stuff because you do not have the same amount of clinicals!

I highly recommend he/she do a normal nursing program! Excellior sounds easy, until you are actually doing it!

Annie

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 11, 2018

Excelsior is neither fast nor easy. But yes, still open to paramedics. Students must maintain employment in a direct patient care position that can be verified by a supervisor filling out a form at a few intervals throughout the program.

**emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN** · Mar 12, 2018

Hi,
I believe they still do it, as I have a few co-workers doing it. Just advise him all of my co-workers who have eventually gotten to the testing portion have regretted not just going to a normal community college. The wait to take the final test in NY, or wherever you go to do the clinical test is at a minimum a year, add in the expense, especially if you fail it, and then add all the course work you have to do on your own. The one that did finally get a test date and pass NCLEX was very nervous when he got a job because he had never done a lot of nursing stuff because you do not have the same amount of clinicals!
I highly recommend he/she do a normal nursing program! Excellior sounds easy, until you are actually doing it!
Annie

100% dead accurate! My husband was considering this until he heard the final test war story from his co-worker. He specifically said he did it due to time constraints but if he could do it all over again he would not do an online program.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2018

Excelsior is not an easy program. It is not a shortcut to an RN degree. It is hard, and the CPNE is a tough exam, unfortunately, with a long wait time.

It is not for everyone. It worked great for me, and I would do it again.

I have discouraged a few from doing it because I didn't think they could do it. One I suggested he not, but he did anyway. He ended up passing the CPNE the first try. I know 4-5 others that have passed as well (both paramedics and LVN's). It can still be done, but as said, it is hard and is not for everyone.

Chirogyro · Mar 12, 2018

I'm a chiropractor and was introduced to Excelsior's Medic-RN(ASN) program through MidAmerica learning.

I actually started the paramedic program in preparation for Excelsior, thinking that was really the only "quick route" to my goal of becoming an NP. As I started doing more and more reading about Excelsior and their program (all the while doing the paramedic program) I became more and more hesitant. I found that while the logic of the steps through MidAmerica's/Excelsior's program made sense on the surface, once you scratched the surface of Excelsior's program things started to fall apart.

IMO Excelsior has a reputation issue due to two issues:

1) Several states either a) won't license you as a nurse if you were educated as a nurse at Excelsior or b) have extensive requirements if you were educated in nursing there.

2) The CPNE is an Excelsior-only non-standardized clinical experience. It is expensive, and due to wait-time and scheduling you can wait UP TO A YEAR after you finish your didactic program to take the test. That's a YEAR -- forgetting things, waiting, fretting. The test will cost a person upwards to $3k to take, notwithstanding any fees for a 'prep course' (for a non-standardized, proprietary test!). With a relatively low test pass-rate, you're very likely to have to take the test a second time -- introducing ANOTHER year, and costing ANOTHER $3k. Oh, and all the while you're still paying Excelsior's maintenance fees. All of this information is derived from conversations with Excelsior's admissions counsellor and from searching on the internet.

I've been through a very intensive clinical education with standardized clinical examinations and 4-part national board examinations. In comparison Excelsior's attempt falls significantly short of acceptable (in my estimation) so I looked elsewhere for another possibility. I found an alternative in WGU's pre-licensure BSN program which will end up getting me to my goal in about the same period without the major headaches. Feel free to contact my privately if you would like to chat..

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 13, 2018

1) Several states either a) won't license you as a nurse if you were educated as a nurse at Excelsior or b) have extensive requirements if you were educated in nursing there.

Not quite true - I am an EC grad. The only states where I cannot be licensed are California and Alabama, two places where I will never live anyway. I hold a multistate license and I am also licensed in states that have some extra hoops - Washington State, Georgia, and Illinois. At the end of the day, with RN experience, it really is not an issue. But the caveat is that a prospective student must ensure that he/she is able to get that initial license and experience. This program isn't for everyone.

Regarding the CPNE, if you are only waiting for the CPNE, you do not pay an annual fee. It is deferred. Many students take cancellation dates at shorter intervals (9 months, 10 months). When I tested 10 years ago I waited 7 months. This is not a new issue, but the school is trying some alternative formats to see if that helps alleviate the wait.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2018

Not quite true - I am an EC grad. The only states where I cannot be licensed are California and Alabama, two places where I will never live anyway...

I did not know Alabama had joined California.

I see that is a recent change. I guess the Excelsior grads already practicing there are grandfathered? Is there a cutoff date for that? The Excelsior site was not clear on that.

I also see some other states are changing. Looks like Arkansas is close to an outright Excelsior ban as well. So for me, California, Alabama and Arkansas are off limits to me, and I am fine with that. Oklahoma would require I do a 60 hour preceptorship, but no plans of moving there.

The only other state I would even consider moving to is Arizona, and I can endorse there (as well as all others except those above).

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 17, 2018

I don't think Excelsior is clear about Alabama because Alabama has not been clear. There are conflicting results/stories about BON responses and endorsement.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 17, 2018

My super-secret sources tell me Texas is teetering on the same brink as California and Alabama. And I feel if Texas goes, so will a bunch of others.

And for clarity- I am NOT anti-Excelsior. I have a degree (non-nursing) from Excelsior. I have worked with Excelsior ASN grads.

It's disheartening that Excelsior cannot 'fix' the problems with this program, because is represents an opportunity for people who might otherwise be shut out of more traditional programs.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 17, 2018

Texas has issues with EC's NCLEX pass rates, as they should. They have fallen over the last few years, something EC is working to correct. For now, EC is okay in Texas and it will be some time before they can teeter in any direction based on recent actions that have been covered here in other threads.