Accelerated BSN Programs in Tennessee

Program Length & Format

• Four consecutive semesters: Fall (Semester 1), Spring (Semester 2), Summer (Semester 3), Fall (Semester 4)
• Nursing courses total: 64 credit hours
• Total degree requirement: 129–133 credit hours
• Semester credit totals (nursing courses): Fall 1 = 19; Spring 2 = 13; Summer 3 = 17; Fall 4 = 15
• Last 32 credit hours must be completed at Belmont University

Admission Requirements

• Previous bachelor's degree required for Accelerated BSN applicants
• All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to program enrollment
• Anatomy and Physiology courses must have been completed within three years prior to admission

Prerequisites

• All prerequisite coursework must be finished before enrollment in the Accelerated BSN
• Anatomy and Physiology I and II must be completed within three years of admission

Progression Requirements

• Minimum grade of C (2.0) required in Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II to enter or progress
• If a student earns below C in A&P I or II, the course must be repeated before progressing
• All nursing courses must be taken at Belmont after admission to the School of Nursing
• A student who fails one nursing course (D, F, or WF) may repeat it the following semester and may not enroll in other nursing courses while repeating
• A student who fails one nursing course twice or two nursing courses will be dismissed; one readmission application permitted with a required remediation plan if readmitted

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical coursework offered during the summer term reserved for Accelerated BSN students
• Required items for clinical: watch with second hand, bandage scissors, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, lab coat
• Clinical compliance requirements: Complio account, current health professional CPR certification, health insurance, required immunizations/titers and TB skin test
• Students must provide their own transportation to clinical settings; criminal background check and drug screen may be required by clinical agencies; RN students must show proof of current licensure

Credit Transfer

• Transfer credit, CLEP, AP, or IB credit may be awarded for non-nursing courses per the Belmont University Undergraduate Catalog
• Graduates of associate degree and diploma programs who are RNs may be eligible for credit in selected nursing courses
• Last 32 credit hours of coursework must be completed at Belmont University

Graduation Requirements

• Must pass an examination in nursing during the last semester of nursing courses

Contacts

• Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212
• Phone: 615-460-6000

Program Length & Format

• Accelerated BSN offered at three locations: Johnson City, Kingsport, Sevierville
• Johnson City admits in summer semester; Kingsport admits in spring semester; Sevierville admits in fall semester
• BSN degree awarded after completion of all nursing coursework; graduates eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN

Program Curriculum

• Total BSN credit hours: 72
• Semester credit totals: Semester 1 = 15, Semester 2 = 15, Semester 3 = 15, Semester 4 = 16, Semester 5 = 14
• Core nursing course examples by semester include Pathophysiology (NRSE 2016), Pharmacology (NRSE 3010), Adult Care sequence (NRSE 3540, NRSE 4550, NRSE 4610), Leadership and Professional Practice (NRSE 4620)
• Multiple practicum/clinical courses integrated across semesters (see Clinical & Simulation Lab section)

Admission Requirements

• Minimum cumulative college-level GPA of 3.0 as computed by East Tennessee State University (developmental coursework excluded)
• Minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.75
• Prerequisite courses must be completed within five years of admission

Entrance Exams

• Test required: TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills)
• Minimum TEAS score: 65%
• TEAS score must be within two years of application
• Applicants may take TEAS a maximum of two times with a minimum 30-day wait between attempts
• TEAS scores must be downloaded and submitted in PDF format

Deadlines

• October 1 — Spring start application deadline
• February 1 — Summer start application deadline
• June 1 — Fall start application deadline

Application

• Apply to ETSU Admissions prior to nursing application
• Apply to the College of Nursing via NursingCAS (Centralized Application System)
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended (including dual enrollment) to NursingCAS
• Submit TEAS score PDF with NursingCAS application
• TEAS testing locations include ETSU Testing Center or other approved sites

Selection Process

• Admission cycles vary by location and by program track offered for each admit term
• Admission decisions based on review of NursingCAS application materials and ETSU admission status

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Practicum/clinical course credits listed in curriculum include:
  • NRSE 2351 Patient Centered Care 1 Practicum — 3 credits
  • NRSE 3501 Patient Centered Care 2 Practicum — 4 credits
  • NRSE 3091 Care of Persons with Mental Illness Practicum — 2 credits
  • NRSE 3541 Adult Care 1 Practicum — 4 credits
  • NRSE 4551 Adult Care 2 Practicum — 3 credits
  • NRSE 4561 Clinical Care for Women, Childbearing Families, and Children — 4 credits
  • NRSE 4611 Adult Care 3 Practicum — 4 credits
  • NRSE 4621 Professional Practice Practicum — 4 credits
• Aggregate practicum/clinical credits in curriculum: 28 credit hours

Credit Transfer

• Transfer students must apply to ETSU Admissions and ensure college-level coursework is transferred for transferability
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended must be sent to NursingCAS as part of the application

Licensure Coverage

• States where BSN curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification:
  • Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin
• States for which the college has not made a determination regarding meeting state-specific licensure/certification requirements:
  • Alabama, Kentucky, New York, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Ohio, Utah, California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Wyoming, Idaho

Contacts

• College of Nursing general phone: 423-439-4578
• College of Nursing address: 365 Stout Drive, PO Box 70617, Johnson City, TN 37614
• ETSU at Kingsport main office phone: 423-392-8000
• ETSU/HVMC Accelerated BSN contact: Jessica Hudson
• BSN program advisor: Margaret Mahlin

Program Length & Format

• 1 year

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a discipline other than nursing required
• Minimum prerequisite GPA: 2.75 (calculated on Composition I & II, Statistics, Chemistry with lab, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology)
• No grade lower than a C in prerequisite courses
• Minimum 3.0 GPA in last 30 hours of previous bachelor's degree (waiver possible via ABSN advisor)
• Applicants must be admitted to UTC as a post-baccalaureate degree-seeking student by the nursing application deadline

Prerequisites

• Human Anatomy or A&P I with lab
• Human Physiology or A&P II with lab
• Microbiology with lab
• Chemistry with lab
• Writing and Communication (6 credit hours; e.g., Composition I and II, public speaking)
• Introduction/General Psychology
• Statistics
• No more than two prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application

Deadlines

• Fall (August start): apply by March 15
• Spring (January start): apply by September 15
• Summer (May start): apply by January 15
• UTC Admissions Application becomes available August 15 for the following Spring, Summer, and Fall cycles
• Spring 2026 application: apply by September 15, 2025

Application

• Submit both UTC Admissions Application and ABSN Nursing application by the program deadline
• Official college transcripts required and prerequisite coursework must appear on MocsDegree Evaluation
• Resume required (professional/work experience, campus/community activities, honors, volunteer or health-care work experience)
• Essay required: address three specified areas
• Applicants must note any outstanding coursework on the nursing application

Selection Process

• Notification of admission status sent by email approximately 4–6 weeks after the application deadline
• Final acceptance conditions for admitted candidates: completion of in-progress prerequisite courses with grade C or better, ATI Launch Readiness program certificate of completion, satisfactory criminal background check, completion of required health examinations and immunizations, proof of health insurance, and participation in the school's liability insurance program
• Admission offer may be rescinded based on criminal background check results or findings of unprofessional behavior
• Admitted students who earn less than a C in any prerequisite or fail to complete a prerequisite must forfeit their position

Credit Transfer

• UTC does not accept transfer credit from online course providers such as Sophia.org, Study.com, or StraighterLine
• Applicants responsible for ensuring prerequisite coursework is listed on MocsDegree Evaluation

Contacts

• School of Nursing phone: 423-425-4652
• School of Nursing mailing: Dept 1051, 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403

Program Length & Format

• 12-month
• 47 credit hours
• Full-time enrollment only; no part-time option
• Summer term start: begins the Tuesday after Memorial Day; summer term runs until mid-August
• Clinical experiences and labs located in Knoxville and East Tennessee; typical schedules include classes, labs, and clinicals up to 5 days per week
• Annual enrollment: 72 students per year

Admission Requirements

• Conferred non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to the Summer admit term
• Minimum combined GPA of 3.0 based on the most recent 120 completed credits, including graduate coursework
• Completion of 3 of 4 prerequisites with a grade of C or higher by the end of the Fall term; the remaining prerequisite must be completed in the Spring term prior to Summer start
• Admission contingent upon admission to the University of Tennessee and submission of updated transcripts and successful completion of any remaining prerequisites with a grade of C or higher

Entrance Exams

• TEAS test is not required

Prerequisites

• Human Anatomy: 4 semester hours with lab (equivalent to EEB 250/251, ANTH 250/251, or NURS 250/251)
• Human Physiology: 4 semester hours with lab (equivalent to BCMB 230)
• Microbiology: minimum 3 semester hours with lab (equivalent to MICR 210 or BIOL 220/229)
• Human Development: 3 semester hours (equivalent to HDFS 210, CFS 210, or PSYC 300)
• Year-long Anatomy & Physiology sequences must be completed as a full sequence at the same institution; prerequisites must be completed prior to beginning the ABSN curriculum and cannot be taken concurrently with the ABSN program
• Prerequisite grades must be C or higher; C- and D grades are not accepted

Deadlines

• NursingCAS application opens early August
• First round decisions sent early September for applicants with all criteria complete
• Priority deadline: November 1
• Final application deadline: January 15 (NursingCAS and UT applications must be submitted by this date)
• Materials deadline for applicants who applied by January 15: February 1 (NursingCAS applications must be verified by this date)
• Academic updates/transcript submissions: mid-December (Fall) and late May (Spring)
• Program begins late May

Application

• Two applications required: NursingCAS application and University of Tennessee application (select Accelerated BSN as major)
• NursingCAS application must reach "Verified" status by the NursingCAS deadline
• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions required; updated transcripts required after Fall and Spring grades post, if applicable
• High school transcript required only if used to document required U.S. history unit
• Applicants still enrolled must submit current transcripts to NursingCAS and a second updated transcript after Fall and/or Spring grades post

Selection Process

• Admissions decisions issued on a rolling basis until seats are filled; first round decisions expected in September
• Selection factors listed in catalog include cumulative GPA, prerequisite GPA, number of course withdrawals and repetitions, grade improvement over time, probability of completing prerequisites prior to fall, and availability of space
• Admission offers contingent on completion of prerequisites with required grades and admission to the university

Wait List Policies

• Waitlist is used; applicants will be notified by email if placed on the waitlist
• Admission offers continue until seats are filled

Cost & Financial Aid

• In-state ABSN tuition and fees (Year 1): $32,295 total
• Out-of-state ABSN tuition and fees (Year 1): $62,461 total
• UTMC ABSN Scholarship: $12,776 awarded per student; recipients must commit to work at UTMC for three years; eight scholars admitted annually; scholarship application deadline March 1; funds disbursed in fall and spring semesters contingent on required acknowledgement letter

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical placements at hospitals, community clinics, health departments, schools, and other health care facilities in the Knoxville/East Tennessee region
• Most clinical locations are a 30-minute drive or less from campus
• Accredited simulation laboratory facilities used for skills and simulation experiences
• Clinical, lab, and course schedules vary by term and are posted one to two weeks before each semester

Credit Transfer

• Transfer credit accepted from regionally accredited 2-year or 4-year colleges when coursework is equivalent to UT courses
• Transfer equivalency must match UT course equivalency; use UT transfer equivalency guide to confirm equivalency
• Credits marked as "UD" in transfer table do not meet prerequisite requirements; "LD" or missing entries may require further evaluation
• Transfer credit evaluations typically completed several weeks after admission
• Credit by exam courses are not accepted for ABSN prerequisites

International Students

• International students accepted
• International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved credential evaluation service and UT will process an application only after receiving the evaluation report

Contacts

• College of Nursing Student Services / Office of Student Services email: [email protected]
• College mailing address: 1200 Volunteer Blvd, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Program Length & Format

• 15-month
• Full-time only, cohort-based
• Available on three campuses: Jackson, Germantown (Memphis), Hendersonville (Nashville)
• Curriculum total credit hours: 63

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must be non-nurses with a bachelor’s degree in another field, or non-nurses age 24 or older who have completed general education requirements
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 for the most recent 60 semester hours (specific 60-hour calculation rules apply)
• Grades of C or higher required in all prerequisite courses
• Applicants with two or more Ds or Fs in nursing courses are not eligible
• No nursing courses will transfer from another university

Entrance Exams

• TEAS (ATI) proficiency: applicants with overall GPA 2.75–2.99 will be considered if TEAS score is at the proficient level
• International applicants from non-English native countries must provide English proficiency scores: TOEFL 560 (paper) or 80 (internet), IELTS 6.5, or iTEP 4.4

Prerequisites

• Applicants with an earned bachelor degree:
  • BIO 221 Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credit hours; must be within 5 years)
  • BIO 222 Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credit hours; must be within 5 years)
  • BIO 201 Microbiology (4 credit hours)
  • PSY 213 General Psychology (3 credit hours)
  • PSY 219 Developmental Psychology (3 credit hours)
  • MAT 114 Elementary Statistics and Probability (3 credit hours)
• Applicants without an earned bachelor degree (age 24+):
  • Christian Studies (Old Testament & New Testament surveys) 6 hours
  • English Composition I & II 6 hours
  • Humanities (including 3 hours World Literature) 6 hours
  • MAT 114 Elementary Statistics and Probability 3 hours
  • Laboratory Sciences (Microbiology prerequisite) 4 hours
  • Anatomy & Physiology I & II (8 hours; both within 5 years)
  • Social Sciences (World History, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology) 9 hours
  • Lower-level electives 13–14 hours; upper-level electives 3 hours

Deadlines

• Jackson campus admits once per year for Fall start: application deadline July 15, 2025
• Germantown and Hendersonville admit twice per year:
  • Spring start: application deadline November 30 (annual)
  • Fall start: application deadline July 15, 2025
• Admissions on a rolling basis; the school encourages you to apply early

Application

• Apply via NursingCAS; official transcripts must be submitted directly to NursingCAS (address: NursingCAS, P.O. Box 9201, Watertown, MA 02471)
• Complete Union supplemental BSNA application in the applicant portal
• Two references required (academic or professional) via NursingCAS
• $50 non-refundable application fee (waived for virtual preview day or in-person tour)
• $600 non-refundable deposit to secure cohort spot; deposit applied to tuition
• Required prior to program start (as communicated by campus coordinator): American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification, physical exam and immunization record, urine drug screen, criminal background check, mandatory orientation attendance

Selection Process

• NursingCAS application must be verified before full review; allow 2–4 weeks for verification
• Application review follows rolling admission procedures
• Two references required for review
• Deposit required to secure admission offer once extended

Cost & Financial Aid

• Tuition rate 2025–2026: $725 per credit hour
• Estimated full program cost for the 15-month Accelerated BSN: $53,000 (includes student fees, materials, uniforms; subject to change)
• 2025–2026 Estimated Financial Aid Budget (Cost of Attendance) examples:
  • Direct costs: Tuition $34,800 (based on 48 credits), Mandatory Fees $410, Total Direct $35,210
  • Total COA 2025–2026: $74,258
• 2024–2025 COA example:
  • Direct costs: Tuition $33,696 (based on 48 credits), Mandatory Fees $350, Total Direct $34,046
  • Total COA 2024–2025: $66,000
• Additional program expenses listed as indirect costs include housing, food, books, transportation, loan fees, certification/licensing fees, and out-of-pocket program requirements

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical and practicum courses included in curriculum (examples and credit hours):
  • NUR 309 Skills Practicum (3)
  • NUR 310 Health Assessment (3)
  • NUR 307 Foundations of Nursing (5)
  • NUR 421 Adult Health I (6); NUR 425 Adult Health II (6)
  • NUR 423 Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (5)
  • NUR 318 Childbearing (OB) (5); NUR 418 Pediatrics (5)
  • NUR 440 Community Health Nursing (4)
  • NUR 309 and other clinical courses require clinical practica as part of course requirements
• Program offered at Jackson, Germantown, Hendersonville campus locations

Credit Transfer

• No nursing courses will transfer from another university

International Students

• All international transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited evaluating agency listed at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website
• Applicants from non-English-native countries must provide proof of English proficiency: TOEFL 560 (paper) or 80 (internet), IELTS 6.5, or iTEP 4.4
• International transcripts must include WES evaluations as specified

Contacts

• Admissions contact listed: Chris Sumner
• Undergraduate Admissions Specialist for international documentation: Melissa Higgins, [email protected]
• NursingCAS mailing address: NursingCAS, P.O. Box 9201, Watertown, MA 02471

Program Length & Format

• Four-semester (18 months)
• 60 credit hours in the nursing major
• On-campus delivery at the Memphis campus
• Pre-licensure program eligible for NCLEX registration upon graduation
• Fall cohort only (accelerated cohort size: 40)

Admission Requirements

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution prior to application
• Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the previous degree
• Minimum Nursing Program prerequisite GPA of 3.0 (calculated from the specified prerequisite courses)
• Admission to the University of Memphis required prior to application to the nursing major
• All college transcripts from every institution attended must be submitted to UofM Admissions

Prerequisites

• Required courses (each with lab where listed): CHEM 1010/1011 or CHEM 1110/1111; BIOL 2010/2011; BIOL 2020/2021; BIOL 1230/1231; MATH 1530 or equivalent; NUTR 2202 (or NUTR 3202); EDPR 2111; PSYC 1030 or Intro Sociology/General Psychology as listed across materials
• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better
• Only one nursing prerequisite course may be repeated once; the second grade is used in prerequisite GPA calculation
• Science prerequisite courses must be completed within five years of LCON admission; in-person delivery preferred for BIOL and CHEM courses
• AP credit accepted for CHEM 1010/1011 and MATH 1530 with an AP score of 3 or higher

Deadlines

• Application opens: September 15
• Application deadline (Fall entry only): February 15
• Admission decision notification: emailed approximately six weeks after the application deadline

Application

• Step 1: Apply to the University of Memphis and select Academic Focus-Health Professions (pre-nursing)
• Step 2: Complete the Loewenberg College of Nursing online application via the UofM portal using UofM credentials
• Required documents: official transcripts, one-page letter of intent/interest, current resume, two letters of recommendation
• Transfer applicants from another nursing program must include a letter of good standing from the Dean/Director of the previous nursing program

Selection Process

• cohort size: 40 students (Fall entry only)
• Applicants in-progress with prerequisites receive provisional acceptance pending final grades; failure to meet requirements after final grades will rescind acceptance
• Admission decisions communicated by email approximately six weeks after application deadline
• Meeting minimum published requirements does not guarantee admission

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical content and practicums across the lifespan and settings, including maternity/obstetrics, newborn, pediatrics, adult, older adult, acute care, ambulatory care, community and population health
• Practicum components are embedded in multiple nursing courses across the four semesters
• Program materials list 300+ clinical affiliations

Credit Transfer

• All transcripts from every college attended must be sent to UofM Admissions for evaluation
• AP credit accepted for CHEM 1010/1011 and MATH 1530 with AP score of 3 or higher
• Transfer students from other nursing programs must submit a letter of good standing from the Dean/Director; letters from registrars are not accepted
• Transfer applicants with less than a grade of C in a nursing course are not eligible for transfer into the nursing major

Contacts

• Academic Advising Center: 212 Wilder Tower; 901-678-2062; aac@memphis
• Norma Neal, Academic Service Coordinator II, Undergraduate Nursing Program: 901-678-3514
• Dr. Danielle Gunter, Undergraduate Programs Director: 901-678-5798
• Dr. Jeremy N. Whittaker, Associate Dean for Student Success: 901-678-2879
• University of Memphis main phone: 901-678-2000; address: Memphis, TN 38152