need help with excelsior online rn program

FocusRN · Dec 27, 2004

okay first lets start with the free guides. if you go to ec's website (go here) https://login.excelsior.edu/ec_portal/servlet/portallogin , there you can sign up for a free account. after that log in, and you will find all of their exam content guides there 100% free.

with that said you don't really need them. you only need them if you plan on taking ec's exams. i don't plan on taking ec's exams (the ones that i can avoid). i am taking clep exams, from what i have heard they are much easier, and much cheaper (only $55 each, compared to like $200 ea for ec).

next you don't have to enroll and pay the $800 with ec until you are ready to take the nursing concepts 3 exam.

okay without going to into it, here is what i suggest to you:

1. go to the link i gave you, and look around, you will find what is required for ec's nursing program

2. exam the credit you alrady have that may fufill some of ec's requirements (if you went to a regionally accredited school, andthey have similiar course names, they will transfer)

3. after you have figured out what you have focus on what you don't have. and since you are an lpn you probably won't have most of the pre-req's, and of course none of the nursing concepts.

4. go to the clep website and look at what exams they have that will transfer over to ec (all of the will except any type of english, for ec's written english requirement)

5. choose which subject you want to start on, and go get the clep study guide, as well as another subject specific study guide. there are lots of great ones out there made just for clep exams.

6. create a timeline, study hard, and go take your clep test. everyone has told me that most of them are pretty easy so as long as you study the clep official study guide and another one (like peterson's) made for clep exams, you should pass.

7.do this until you have taken all of the pre-req's that you can with clep (you won't be able to take any enlish with clep, and you will also not be able to take statistics or microbiology)

8. for the ones that you can't test our of with clep, you can do 1 of 3 things

a. find a coourse onlne at at a local college that will fufill the requirement

b. study what the ec content gudes tell you to study and take the ec exam

c. take the actual ec course (they are like $700 each)

9. after you have done all of the pre-req's, you can do one of two things

a. enroll in ec, pay the $800, transfer all of your exams and/or college course to ec, and start on your nursing concepts (you will basically have to follow the ec content guides for nursing concepts, because you have to take those exams through ec)

b. get your study materials and take nursing concepts 1 and 2, without enrolling in ec

10. if you have already enrolled in ec at this point, all you have to do is complete your nursing concepts, and the cpne. if you have not enrolled in ec by this point you must enroll now, and transfer all of your exams and/or college course to ec. then you may go on to take nursing concepts 3-7 and the cpne.

11. you have graduated!!!... congrats!!!... now go on to get you bsn.

good luck!!!...

nurseinpa · Dec 27, 2004

i need info as to what study guides i need to use and how to purchase them without paying a whole heap of money i do not have.also i heard i could get free content guides to help with the program. i really need my rn.is anyone out there familiar with excelsior.i need to know do i have to purchase all the required books and study guides.just so confused and scared of not getting enough study materials to pass the required courses to become an rn.any suggestions would be appreciated.

I purchased study books for CLEP exams and still have them if you are interested in them. Most are general ed classes like sociology, biology, abnormal psy. etc.. I CLEPped out of these and am now enrolled in an online BSN program through Slippery Rock University. Email me if you are interested in these. :)

LVHospiceRN · Dec 27, 2004

I bought most of mine from ebay used paid about 50.00 each. I also used EC free guides and bought older editions of some textbooks. It worked for me

good luck

Hairstylingnurse · Dec 27, 2004

Hi, Iwent to clep.com and several similar websites with no luck. Could u possibly add the link or address so I can find the proper info? Also do u take the clep test at the Sylvan? Any info is appreciated.

Hairstylingnurse · Dec 27, 2004

Hi again, does anyone know if u can clep out of sociology and or humanities with excelsior?

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 27, 2004

Yes- you can CLEP out of Soc., and you can take the Analyzing & Interpreting Lit. CLEP for Humanities credit. For that one, you get 6 credit hours and a letter grade. For the Soc., you get 3 credit hours, and a pass/fail score.

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 27, 2004

Oops- forgot to add- here's the official CLEP website: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

You usually take CLEPs at your local university. You can find your location at the above website. Good luck to you!

opalmRN · Dec 27, 2004

i need info as to what study guides i need to use and how to purchase them without paying a whole heap of money i do not have.also i heard i could get free content guides to help with the program. i really need my rn.is anyone out there familiar with excelsior.i need to know do i have to purchase all the required books and study guides.just so confused and scared of not getting enough study materials to pass the required courses to become an rn.any suggestions would be appreciated.

No you don't HAVE to purchase all the books or study guides. The books EC lists are suggested reading not required. If you feel you need these books, then by all means get ahold of them (either second hand, borrow or purchase new it's up to you) and as for the study guides, EC provides them free of charge.

While you can clep the non-nursing courses (Sciences, humanities, etc.) you cannot clep the nursing concepts. As an LPN you may be exempt from the NC2 (you will need to check with EC as there are some stipulations regarding exemption from this course) but to my knowledge NC2 is the only nursing course you can excempt from as an LPN.

The study guides provide a clear and concise listing of what is needed to pass the NC exams. There is no need to purchase any additional study guides for the exams.

Good luck