Military Husband:Are Nursing CreditsTransferable To Different Nursing Schools?

RN9742 · Sep 24, 2010

I personally think the bigger issue would be even getting into a new nursing school each time you move. The majority of them are very competitive, and difficult to get into.

As for classes transferring, only the school you are choosing to transfer can tell you that for sure. If he is only going to be there less than a year, I would concentrate on finishing any pre-reqs you have, and start applying at schools where he will be stationed at next. It is very likely even if you can get accepted you will be put on a waiting list in most areas of the country!

caliotter3 · Sep 24, 2010

Generally speaking, courses that are general ed like English or prerequisite science courses, like anatomy will transfer. Nursing courses rarely transfer.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Sep 24, 2010

Make sure your school is Regionally accredited - that should ensure the basic 'transferability' of courses. If you are working on your pre-reqs, this should not be a problem. However, many nursing schools are reluctant to take transfer students & have limitations on how many nursing course you can transfer in because schools may have unique philosophies and base their nursing curricula on different nursing theorists.

I hadn't realized that anyone was having to cope with such frequent family re-locations any more - but my frame of reference is more Air Force (aka chair force - LOL) oriented. Can you talk to the 'family services' folks and get their advice? I know that every base/post has this service - they may be called different things.

In today's climate, there are some pretty long waiting periods before being accepted in to nursing school... How are you going to cope with this? Can you anticipate where your next duty station is going to be that far in advance? It would be a shame to be accepted right before you have to move.

Best of luck to you!

LorilouRN · Sep 24, 2010

I assume he's doing some training, so if you can find out where his follow on is, I might start looking at colleges there. 6-9 months isn't giving you much time where he currently is. If you still have pre-reqs to knock out, you could probably do those where he is now. But I'd check with the nursing schools where the follow on is. My school did not accept my A&P I from my previous university. I had to take A&P I and II from the same university, so I ended up having to retake it (which was a waste of money since I got an A the first time).

Good luck! :)

semester1kid · Sep 24, 2010

It's funny that you say that - my mom is a nurse who was married to her second husband while she was in school (and he was in the Airforce)...he was transfered from Offut AFB near Omaha, NE to Hanscom AFB, just outside of Boston...she opted to stay behind since it was a matter of 6 months until she graduated.

The problem you have is that many colleges with nursing programs have a significant wait list - I'm not sure how that would work out for you. If the landscape of the field changed so that you could jump from school to school and get right in, you'd be better off...but that's not the case right now

Guest 360983 · Sep 24, 2010

Like someone else mentioned, make sure to take A&P 1 and 2 at the same school. Pre-reqs will transfer; it is unusual for nursing classes to. The best thing you can do is get your pre-reqs out of the way and be ready to start nursing school wherever your husband will be when he is done with training. Research the local schools and their requirements and get in touch with the nursing department to find out the admissions process now.

You might also consider an LVN program if your timing isn't good. That typically takes a year vs the 2 years an RN degree takes.