How do LPN to RN prerequisites work?

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Dec 9, 2014

Not dumb questions at all.

A higher level course in the same subject area will generally be accepted, but it will require some 'human' intervention by the admissions people who review your transcript. You may also have to submit a form requesting this. When you enter a program, the terms of admission provide a 'guarantee' that they aren't going to change the requirements on you. So, when schools make a change in the requirements for a particular degree it only applies to new admissions, not to anyone who is currently enrolled in the program. That is not ironclad, but I have never heard of it being done in a different way.

In the US, each state has rules about what courses have to be included for each degree at all public (tax supported) schools. For instance, in Texas all BS degrees must include college algebra. So as long as you are working with schools in a particular state, there will be a pretty standard set of core requirements.

Unfortunately, there is very little standardization in Nursing programs unless they are all part of the same organization... a state university or community college system. All of the programs also have to be approved by the state in which they are offered... in order for their graduates to be eligible to take NCLEX. However, this only means that the overall content is the same... not the way it is organized into courses. But -just like other types of degree programs, when a school changes any requirement it usually only applies to newly admitted students rather than those that are already enrolled in a program.

The best option would be to attend programs that are already linked in an educational ladder arrangement. In my state, there are many community college programs that are partnered with colleges. It is much easier to transfer because all of the courses will automatically be accepted at the higher-level school.... unless of course they have 'expired' , but that's a whole other situation.

It sure would be better if nursing programs were more standardized, right? But in the meantime, we have to deal with this craziness. Best of luck on your educational journey. Keep us posted on your progress.

resqbug · Dec 9, 2014

Pretty much every program I know has had the same pre-reqs in the last 5 or so years. The only exception to this is private schools having their own hefty pre-reqs and trouble transferring them into their program. I would make a list of the programs you are interested in and contact them in regards to the pre-reqs they accept from other schools and go from there. In my state, there is one school that requires pathophysiology for an ADN program, while none of the others worry about that unless you are a BSN student. ADN requirements are generally the same across the board - micro, A & P, communications, sociology, etc...

Nienna Celebrindal · Dec 9, 2014

Oh, another question, it's a dumb question but I need to know! If I took principles of sociology, but they want intro to sociology, does the higher level class replace the lower level class?

You would think it would but it depends on the school in my experience. You have to call tehm and find out.

As far as the pre-reqs I was pretty slow to get my BSN after my LVN and I saw very little change or variation to the pre-reqs at multiple schools in multiple states.