Trying to Understand excelsior

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 18, 2008

So, I'm trying to understand exaclty how excelsior works. I've talked wtih someone from "The College Network" and got some info. Is this "college network" the same as excelsior or are they different?

The College Network (TCN) is a publishing company -- period. Your degree would come from Excelsior College (EC), not TCN. TCN seems to like to make it seem like you can't do EC without them, but that's not true! My advice -- stay away from TCN. While their study materials seem to be pretty good, their prices aren't ... don't get sucked into a contract and spend thousands more than you should. You have to pay EC for exams/fees ON TOP of what you'd pay TCN. EC also states that they do NOT endorse TCN (or any company that signs students to long-term contracts that cannot be broken).

So, once I finish my LPN and take NCLEX PN I can begin, right? I've been told that there are 7 courses you need to complete and then you must pay and take the tests too. So what is the cost of the class? I see the test fee is $205 per test...so at 7 that is just over $1400, right?

Yes, that is correct -- you need to be an LPN before you'd be accepted as an EC student. However, I believe you can take the first nursing exam before applying and being accepted. I'm not 100% sure about that, though. You should ask EC directly about that.

Under the current curriculum, there are 8 nursing exams, not 7. Also a three-part computer-based focused clinical competencies assessment (the FCCA, still in development), as well as the CPNE.

Then there is that clinical weekend thing that most of you seem to freak about. It is really scaring me! That is $1800--and if you don't pass you pay again, right?

Yup, that's the CPNE -- Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination. And yes, you have to pay again if you don't pass the first time! It's a scary exam, but there are resources to help you prepare.

How long did it take you to finish the 7 nursing courses? AND how long to do the tests (is there a long wait for testing centers)?

I scheduled my exams 3 to 4 weeks ahead of time, so I never had a problem getting my desired test date/time. It took me about 5 months to finish all the nursing exams.

How long from the time you applied for the clinical weekend until you actually got to do it? Do you have to complete all your courses before you can apply for this to be scheduled?

I applied in early November and got my date in early April. It does take a while, but you can also use that time wisely to prepare! My CPNE is the weekend of June 13th.

You have to have completed all the nursing courses and two parts of the three-part FCCA, and be within 10 credits of finish your other credits to be CPNE-eligible. Under the new curriculum, you have to have successfully completed all three parts of the FCCA to take the CPNE. However, because it's still in development, they've waived it for a few people to complete the FCCA after the CPNE.

AND how are you financing this? It is about the same cost, a bit more, than the local community college--but there are no federal student loans to be had since it is distance..so I'm at a loss here.

I got a scholarship. The rest I paid with savings or by working extra shifts, and my employer reimbursed me for a lot of it, too.

elkpark · Apr 18, 2008

Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

There is lots of info on this forum about Excelsior College, as well as The College Network and some of the other publishing companies that offer Excelsior-related materials/services. I strongly encourage you to read what's here about College Network before you sign a contract with them. Here is one recent thread (that I know of offhand, because I posted on it):

https://allnurses.com/forums/f125/really-need-advice-294935.html

Best wishes!