Excelsior questions...

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Specializes in MDS.

Sorry if this has been addressed elsewhere, but I have a few questions regarding excelsior courses and enrollment.

I am getting ready to register on their website for a user name so I can begin taking classes. I've read that I'm allowed to take the first nursing core course without enrolling, but can I also take the non nursing courses that are required as well, prior to enrolling? If so, how do I go about finding out which of the non nursing courses I'll need? I've taken english I and II, A&P I, sociology, psychology, human growth and development.

After looking at their AS and AAS options, I think I'll need Info Lit., Microbiology, and possibly these

Humanities??, Humanities core?? Sciences Supportive of Nursing?? and either Art and Sciences electives/free electives?? Anyone who has enrolled aware of what other college courses might cover the humanities/core, sciences supportive of nursing and other free electives??? :confused:

Also, after I register on their site and get my user name, does that then allow me to register for the courses I'll need? I would like to get everything done and out of the way before I enroll and have to pay the enrollment fee.

I'm trying to figure this distance learning/excelsior thing out. :)

Thank you in advance for any advise or comments.

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.

my answers are in red... makes it easier for me to read your questions and type :-)

i am getting ready to register on their website for a user name so i can begin taking classes. i've read that i'm allowed to take the first nursing core course without enrolling, but can i also take the non nursing courses that are required as well, prior to enrolling? if so, how do i go about finding out which of the non nursing courses i'll need? i've taken english i and ii, a&p i, sociology, psychology, human growth and development.

ok, the best thing for you to do is send in your official transcripts to excelsior to get an eval. it is $75. however, this is an "unofficial" eval. the only way you get an "official" eval is to enroll. the advisors will tell you what you need, what excelsior will and won't accept from your previous schools, etc. i actually waited until after i enrolled to work on the gen. ed's and here's why.... when i got my "official" eval, they accepted 3 courses for electives/social sciences that were not on my unofficial one. so i would have taken stuff i didn't really need. i did take the first two nursing exams (transition to the rn and health safety) prior to enrolling.

after looking at their as and aas options, i think i'll need info lit., microbiology, and possibly these

humanities??, humanities core?? sciences supportive of nursing?? and either art and sciences electives/free electives?? anyone who has enrolled aware of what other college courses might cover the humanities/core, sciences supportive of nursing and other free electives??? :confused:

i opted for the aas degree because although my electives at the state college would have counted as science focused, for ec they did not, so they only way for me to get credit for things like diet and nutrition, intro to psych and physical anthropology were to do the aas option. you can work with an advisor prior to enrolling to find out which is better for you.

for my humanities credits/core, i took analyzing and interpreting lit clep. 6 credits, easy. college board should pay me for endorsements :-)

since you said you have a&p i, you will probably be lacking 2 credits of a&p and 2 supportive science credits. you can take the ec 6 credit exam to cover this. wait until you see what they say you need though. in my case, i have so much overlap credit that i didn't need any electives because they pulled one credit here and there from my social science courses.

info lit i did at penn foster for $115. easy, took me a few hours.

also, after i register on their site and get my user name, does that then allow me to register for the courses i'll need? i would like to get everything done and out of the way before i enroll and have to pay the enrollment fee.

you have to wait until you submit everything for your unofficial eval before you can do this. it takes about 1 month to get back.

i'm trying to figure this distance learning/excelsior thing out. :)

thank you in advance for any advise or comments.

good luck and welcome :-)

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Specializes in MDS.

Thank you very much for the reply beachnurse. That explains alot. I'll take the first nursing course and then enroll as the second I don't think I'll need as I'm already an LPN.

Have a great day!

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For the most part, you will be registering for exams, not "courses". If possible, you should complete all degree requirements, other than nursing exams, prior to enrolling to save money. Look for the catalog on the publications page on the website. There you will find a graphic that breaks down the requirements for the degree.

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
Thank you very much for the reply beachnurse. That explains alot. I'll take the first nursing course and then enroll as the second I don't think I'll need as I'm already an LPN.

Have a great day!

No you will still have to take Transitions and Health Safety regardless. How long have you been a LPN? The only course that we are exempt from is Health Differences ONLY if you have been a LPN for less than 5 years as of your date of enrollment. We are required to complete all 7 other nursing exams :-)

Glad I could help you! I would have never done EC if I did not find this board. I learned sooo much here and found such great support and friends!!! :-)

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Specializes in ED.
No you will still have to take Transitions and Health Safety regardless. How long have you been a LPN? The only course that we are exempt from is Health Differences ONLY if you have been a LPN for less than 5 years as of your date of enrollment. We are required to complete all 7 other nursing exams :-)

Glad I could help you! I would have never done EC if I did not find this board. I learned sooo much here and found such great support and friends!!! :-)

The course is no longer waived for LPNs. There was an announcement on the front page for a bit.

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Specializes in Tele/Neuro/Trauma.
The course is no longer waived for LPNs. There was an announcement on the front page for a bit.

Oh I didn't know they changed that! I know when I enrolled in January they were just changing it to LPN's who had been nurses longer than 5 years. Bummer, they should give LPN's credit for something! Our N does still stand for nurse, afterall :-)

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Specializes in MDS.

Wow....ok. I guess I'll have to go back over the website. It doesn't matter anyway. I'll get there one way or another. :D

Thanks for the replies!

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