From the UK

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 4, 2015

You will still need to take courses offered at American colleges and universities. You may have a stronger base. But will still need to take the same number of credits

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2015

You might be able to place out of some classes or get some kind of credit for your advanced classes. But that would be university specific most likely. Most university web sites have a special section for international applicants.

BTW, not all US high schools are inferior. Both of my Ds got 30 hours of college credit (that's an entire year of school) by virtue of taking and doing well on advanced placement exams. While in general we acknowledge that our public schools have issues, there are still many great public schools and some extremely rigorous and high performing private schools.

Firas5 · Oct 4, 2015

Wow so you saved one year of college?

In that case do you think I should call up individual colleges and universities to find out my stands and if I can save a year?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2015

Wow so you saved one year of college?
In that case do you think I should call up individual colleges and universities to find out my stands and if I can save a year?

I would. Couldn't hurt.

selectallthatapply · Oct 4, 2015

Your high school education probably isn't on par with the first year at a university. Even American universities.

Also, ADN programs are done in 2 years.

Firas5 · Oct 5, 2015

I've seen some people say that the ADN is actually 3 years? If so that sucks.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 5, 2015

Your high school education probably isn't on par with the first year at a university. Even American universities.
Also, ADN programs are done in 2 years.

Hard to do in 2 years due to required courses that are needed to enter the program.

selectallthatapply · Oct 5, 2015

It's not easy but it can be done. A good number of my classmates are doing their ADN in 2 years.

britpanda · Oct 5, 2015

I moved to the U.S. immediately after my GCSEs. The GCSEs were converted to high school level classes here, however I still needed the American core requirement classes (American history, American government and economics) to obtain a High School Diploma so I ended up going back to high school after I moved here (I was 16 at the time). As far as further education goes, I would imagine your A-levels would convert to basic college level courses (freshman/1000 level or sophomore/2000 level) and depending on what subjects your A-levels are in they may satisfy some of the prerequisite classes needed before entering nursing school. From what I understand, college/university level education obtained abroad usually has to go through a formal review process (from a third party) and is not customarily conducted by the academic institution you apply to. Best advice is to contact the admissions office of the school you wish to attend and ask how they handle foreign graduates. They will steer you in the right direction. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Lucy

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Oct 5, 2015

World Education Services is one agency that assessed international education transcripts to US standards. It sounds like "A level" may be similar to honors or advance placement courses available to academically advanced US high school students.

BSN programs vary across the nation. My sister attended an integrated BSN program. All co-requisite classes were taken concurrently throughout the program so for example first semester freshman year you would have English composition 3sh, anatomy & physiology 1 with lab 4sh, statistics 3sh, nursing fundamentals 1 with lab 3sh, psychology 3sh, physical education 1sh; second semester would be English literature 3sh, A&P/lab 2, nursing fundamentals 2, general chemistry with lab, sociology or humanities elective.

The next school might require the first 2 years be co/pre-requisites then apply to nursing program and complete all nursing coursework in junior & senior year plus a summer