Prereqs 7 years ago

manna, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2003

I think if you're dedicated, you can do it even with your classes being some time ago... you could always check out some books/sites and study on your own time to refresh your memory if needed.

Just be sure that your school will accept those pre-req credits if they were taken pre-1996. Some schools put a time limit on how long ago courses could be completed and still valid (I think at the school I'm applying to it's around 5 years - ack!)

LauraLou · Oct 24, 2003

I agree, you should check with the college you want to attend. My school requires science and math pre-req's to have been completed in the last five years. Anything older than that and you have to retake it.

Even if you have to retake them, which would be a shame, at least you will have an advantage because you've already taken the classes.

Good luck!

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2003

The only science that has a shelf-life at our school is A&P I. It's only good for 10 years.

lehua · Oct 24, 2003

Check several schools because many of them have different recency requirements (five years, ten years etc.), and some dont have any. If theres a school you want which has a recency, and your prereqs are too old, see if they have an exam you can take which covers all of the particular material. Schools here have them in chem, math, and sciences. A passing score should then be accepted in place of sitting and taking the particular subject. I hope you can do this so your one or two semesters closer to beginning nursing school!

KristinWW · Oct 24, 2003

The decision rests entirely upon the school. Do you have several that you could attend? I would call as many as possible and see which ones work in your favor, and go from there. Good luck!

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Oct 26, 2003

I think you could do just fine as long as you study. Most of my pre-reqs were 9-15 years old & I am having no problem with the exams.

CarVsTree · Oct 26, 2003

Definitely check with the school(s) you're interested in.

For example: Morris County College (NJ) Pre-reqs must be taken within the past 7 years.

Warren County Community College (NJ) Pre-reqs must be taken within the past 3 years.

Northampton Community College (PA) Pre-reqs have no expiration date.

We are in the process of buying a house in PA and I'm waiting to hear if I got accepted at NCC. I am currently taking A&P (hadn't taken a&p 1&2 yet).

If you're sciences are older than a couple of years, I would review you A&P text before starting NS.

EyesForward · Oct 26, 2003

In addition to what everyone else said, if you don't need to redo subjects, beware nursing pre-entrance exams include questions drawn from each of these prerequisites, especially math (alg, ratios and proportions, fractions, geometry), reading comprehension, and sciences all over the board (chem, micro, A&P, even Physics). I did not spend as much time preparing for my NLN exam, because I was so busy filling in the blanks for required prerequisites, but I regretted it until I got my acceptance letter for this Jan. My score was not exactly 'low', but I know I could have done a lot better.

tjello · Oct 27, 2003

Thanks everyone for all the help. I have looked into schools in my area and so far I am fine at all of them with the timeframe that I have. I am so excited to even think about starting back to school! But scared of course too.....It is out of my comfort zone (which we all hate to leave). I just want to do the best that I can!

apexsw20trd · Oct 27, 2003

i know all colleges are different but all science course must be within 5 years of entrance to the nursing program, chemistry has no time limit. so if you took your a&p class in 1997 then you would have to retake it.

well this is teh way my school handles this.