MEPN FAQs

MS-MEPN is very much an in-person program where the majority of your classes are taught in-person; however, there are a couple of classes that are online. Labs, simulations, and clinicals are in-person as well.

Schedules will vary each semester but in general:

• Classes will run Monday-Friday
• Consists of lecture, lab, clinical experience
• Clinical days can be between 8-12 hours
• Due to rigorous schedule, limited work hours are recommended
• The program does not allow for vacations or time off for personal plans
• All programs observe university breaks

Yes! It’s highly recommended to move to Gilbert, AZ to complete the MS-MEPN Gilbert pathway. Typically, the MS-MEPN Gilbert pathway requires you to be in-person 3-4 days a week.

• Academic Advising
• Academic Success Coaching
• 1-on-1 time with faculty
• Faculty Mentor
• Peer Mentor

• Please attend an Information Session first. Sign-up days and times can be found via the Connect With Us page.
• After you attend an information session, you can schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor.

• Taking classes at a community college will not reflect negatively on your application.
• If you decide to take Nursing prerequisites elsewhere please make sure they transfer to the UA by checking the transfer courses on the Transfer Credit guide via the Transfer Credit & Articulation website.

In-State Coursework from Public Institutions

For courses taken at a public institution in Arizona (state university or community college), students may download the Arizona Course Equivalency Chart, which includes the exact courses that are acceptable for prerequisite transferability.

Out-of-State Coursework and In-State Private Institutions

Pre-established equivalencies can be searched and viewed on the University of Arizona's Transfer Credit Guide. If a course does not appear in this guide students will need to submit a course equivalency request to the Office of Transfer Credit & Articulation.

• No, only the lecture Microbiology.
• However, if you plan on working as a nurse in the state of California, the California Board of Registered Nurses requires Microbiology lecture AND Lab

• Prerequisites are primarily offered in Fall and Spring semesters but can also be offered in summer term.
• Visit the Schedule of Classes to search for course offerings and availability.

There are no limits to prerequisites in progress to apply if the following deadlines are met:

• Fall admission: Prerequisites final grades by June 1^st
• Spring admission: Prerequisites final grades by June 1^st
• Summer admission: Prerequisites final grades by March 30^th

• You can take either Allied Health Chemistry - CHM 130 (lecture and lab) OR General Chemistry I - CHM 151 AND General Chemistry II - 152 (2 lectures, 1 lab)
• To view these as transfer courses please visit the Arizona Course Equivalency Chart or the University of Arizona's Transfer Credit Guide

• How many applicants do you have each application cycle?
  • 150-250 applicants for each cycle
• How many students do you admit each cycle?
  • 48 in both Tucson and Gilbert every cycle

• College of Nursing prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better in each course.
• Minimum of a 3.0 GPA for prerequisite courses
• Completion of EITHER of the following entrance exams
  • Minimum 75% cumulative score for the HESI A2 Exam: Biology, Math, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension OR
  • Minimum 75.3% cumulative score for the ATI TEAS Exam: Science, Math, Reading, English and Language Usage
• Optional Experiences related to healthcare, volunteering, association with the honors college, military/peace corps service, and leadership
• Completion of the College of Nursing application through Nursing CAS: nursingcas.org

• Prerequisite GPA is based on the highest grade made in the Nursing prerequisites.
• Last 60 unit GPA consists of the last 60 units of college level class a student has taken at the college level. All attempts at courses you take are calculated into last 60 units GPA calculations unless they are removed through an official grade replacement process.

Applicants can view GPA and Test scores averages here

No. Experiences are much like extra credit and can help bolster an application but are not required to be eligible for admissions

Volunteer experience can be anything! It does not have to be healthcare. For application purposes, we look at both healthcare and volunteer experience.

Employment or volunteering in (but not limited to):

• Licensed/certified role (Ex: CNA, EMT, Caregiver, Phlebotomist)
• Dental Technician
• Veterinary Technician
• Health care agency (long term care, assisted living, acute care, clinic)
• Medical Sales (equipment, pharmaceuticals)
• Administrative role at the medical/clinical setting (Medical Records, Transcriptionist, Receptionist, clerk, billing)
• Lifeguard, Search and Rescue
• Bio Laboratory and Medical Research Assistant

• Completion of EITHER of the following entrance exams:
  • Minimum 75% cumulative score for the HESI A2 Exam: Biology, Math, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension OR
  • Minimum 75.3% cumulative score for the ATI TEAS Exam: Science, Math, Reading, English and Language Usage
• Other exams (such as Kaplan, MCAT, ACT, SAT) cannot be used in place of the HESI or TEAS

Information on the HESI exam Process can be found here

No, we only offer the HESI exam

No, there is no minimum waiting period between your two exam attempts

No. We do not give preference to anyone or any specific majors/minors when applying to our program. No specific majors or minors provide any extra points.

No. Having a minor does not impact your application

No, W’s do not impact your application

• Fall Admissions: April 1
• Spring Admissions: August 15
• Summer Admissions: December 1

Three (fall + spring + summer)

• The Nursing application can be found via nursingcas.org.
• Please note: The application opens two months prior to the application deadline you plan to apply to.

Yes! Please see our application checklist on the MS-MEPN Admissions page.

• HESI Exam: $60-$120 per attempt
• NursingCAS: $60.00 application fee
• University of Arizona Graduate Application: $90.00 application fee

• College of Nursing NursingCAS Tutorial Videos
• NursingCAS Applicant Help Center

• For help with application-related questions, you can log in to your application and contact us using the chat icon in the lower right corner.
• You can also contact NursingCAS by email at nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org or by phone at 617-612-2880.
• Note the following:
  • Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM ET.
  • For the quickest response, log in to your application and contact by chat.
  • NursingCAS typically provides responses to emails within two business days; however, response times can take up to three business days during peak times. Be sure to have your CAS ID number (located under your name in the upper-right corner of the application) when contacting NursingCAS.

It depends. If you have completed all Nursing prerequisites, as well as the HESI exam and are ready to apply to the Nursing program, then please apply through NursingCAS first. If admitted to the Nursing program, then you will be required to apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions. Please do not apply to UA Undergraduate Admissions before knowing if you have been admitted to the Nursing program or not.

Yes! As long as you meet the requirements to apply.

Applications are reviewed after the application deadline. Applications must have the status of "verified" in the NursingCAS system to be eligible for review. Applications not "verified" 14 days after submission will not be reviewed.

Decisions will be sent out approximately 8-weeks after the application deadline.

• Conditional Admissions: Offered admissions to the MS-MEPN Program with the condition that academic and clinical compliance requirements must be met.
• Alternate: Once the programs have admitted the maximum number of candidates, a small number of applicants are selected for alternate status for each program. If a seat becomes available before the start of the semester, an alternate will be contacted and offered admissions. If not offered a seat by the beginning of the next semester, the applicant will be considered ‘not admitted’ and will need to reapply to the program in a future application cycle to be considered for admissions again.
• Not Admitted: Not offered admissions or alternate status. Will need to reapply to the program in a future application cycle to be considered for admissions again.

No, there is no waitlist. Applicants are reviewed each cycle. Applicants not admitted to the program for that cycle will need to reapply in the future.

You will be notified via email. It will be sent to the email address you have on file with NursingCAS.

You will receive an intent to enroll form that will need to be completed to accept your seat. You will also receive detailed information on next steps including registration, clinical compliance, and orientation.

Applicants are encouraged to review their application in detail (GPA, HESI, Experiences) to ensure eligibility. Applicants can view admission averages.

Applicants can accept their admissions to the second choice or decline the seat and reapply for admissions in a future admissions cycle.

• Retake prerequisite courses
• Retake HESI
• Explore gaining healthcare, volunteer, or leadership experience

• Admissions to the MS-MEPN Program is conditional upon completing academic and clinical compliance requirements
• Applicants who do not meet requirements by a specific deadline may have their admissions rescinded
• Those who have their admissions rescinded will not be able to enter their program in the coming semester and will need to reapply to the program in a future admissions cycle to be reconsidered for admissions
• Applicants must note that admissions from one cycle does not carry over to the next. Previous admissions does not guarantee admissions in a future cycle.

Please see our Costs & Financial Aid page.

• Yes! They are available to current MS-MEPN students only. Please see our Costs & Financial Aid page for more information.
• The University of Arizona offers the AiMS4Nursing Program.

Knowing how much the program costs is a good way to start. Please visit the Costs & Financial Aid page to see how much your program is so you have an idea. Then, we recommend contacting OSFA as they would have the best tips and tricks for you.

The College of Nursing identifies clinical sites and assigns students to rotations.

• Level 1: Long Term Care (LTC)
• Level 2: Pediatric, Obstetrics, Medical Surgery
• Level 3: Psychiatric Mental, Health Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Level 4: Community/public health, Preceptorship

Over 1000 hours of clinical experience.

All clinical compliance requirements are listed on our clinical compliance checklist.

• The University and College of Nursing (CON) do not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but most of CON’s clinical sites require that students training at their sites be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• A small number of clinical sites do not have vaccination requirements and/or may allow students to request an exemption or accommodation from their COVID-19 vaccination requirement. However, it may not be possible for CON to place unvaccinated students at these sites.
• Because COVID-19 vaccination is required at most clinical sites, and clinical sites that do not require vaccination and/or allow for exemptions may change their vaccination policy at any time, unvaccinated students must understand that there could be situations where CON will not be able to place an unvaccinated student in a required clinical rotation, even if the student has requested an accommodation.
• More information is available at COVID-19 Vaccine and Clinical Rotations.