University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Program Length & Format

• 15-month 
• Total of 120 credit hours required
• On-campus coursework with theory, laboratory, and clinical practice scheduled mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, and weekends

Admission Requirements

• Completed bachelor's or graduate degree in a non-nursing discipline required
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on all college coursework (including transfer work)
• Minimum grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses before program entry
• No more than two attempts allowed per course for eligibility
• Science courses over five years old may require evaluation for eligibility
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended must be submitted

Deadlines

• Application deadline: March 1 annually

Application

• Complete university admission requirements
• Submit official transcripts
• Submit application by specified deadline for program admission

Selection Process

• Based on meeting admission criteria; competitive ranking often uses GPA
• Admission contingent on space availability
• Additional documentation required before fall entry:
  • Student Health Statement/Medical Release Form
  • Proof of immunizations
  • CPR Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
  • Criminal background check
  • Drug screen
• Clinical facility requirements for criminal background check and drug screening can impact continuation in program

Prerequisites

• English Composition: 6 credit hours
• Speech: 3 credit hours
• Mathematics: 6 credit hours including MATH 1403 or equivalent and STAT 2503
• Lab Sciences: 16 credit hours including BIOL 2503/2501, BIOL 2203/2201, BIOL 2213/2211, CHEM 1303/1301
• Fine Arts: 3 credit hours
• Humanities: 3 credit hours
• History/Government: 3 credit hours
• Social Sciences: 6 credit hours including PSYC 1163 and SOCI 2753
• Health Sciences:
  • HLTH 3103 Pathophysiology
  • HLTH 4103 Research in Health Sciences
  • NUTR 2523 Nutrition
  • PHAR 3203 General Pharmacology
  • PSYC 2963 Developmental Psychology: A Life Span
• Minimum grade of C in each prerequisite course

Progression & Graduation Requirements

• Must maintain minimum 75% average on competency performance assessments
• Satisfactory clinical performance required
• Minimum grade of C in all major courses
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in major and overall coursework
• Completion of at least 40 upper-level credit hours
• Students who discontinue nursing sequence must petition for readmission, which is not guaranteed

Cost & Financial Aid

• Estimated total additional costs beyond tuition and fees: $11,175.50
• Program-specific fees include:
  • Registration: $264
  • Lab and Clinic Fees: $500
  • Distance Education Fees: $500
  • Nursing Program Fee: $4,200
  • Assessment Fees (including NCLEX prep): $776
  • Nursing Skills Bag: $200
  • Exam Soft: $182.50
  • HURST Review: $410
  • Trac Pac: $200
  • Nursing Pin: $50
• Additional expenses include:
  • Books: $2,990
  • Stethoscope: $175
  • National Board/Licensure/Certification Exams and Fees: $345
  • Uniforms: $250
  • Criminal Background Check/Drug Screen: $135

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical rotations and lab practice offered within local healthcare systems and approved clinical sites
• Clinical schedule includes mornings, afternoons, evenings, nights, and weekends

Credit Transfer

• Transfer credit policies follow Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS)
• Applicable credits guaranteed to transfer between Arkansas public colleges and universities, except courses labeled "No Comparable Courses"
• Science courses over five years old require evaluation for eligibility to transfer

Contacts

• Admissions Coordinator, College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences: (479) 788-7284

The University of Arkansas (Forth Smith) LPN program is approved by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. The program is a twelve month full time program which measures student achievement on the basis of predetermined minimum levels of achievement against a competency based criterion referenced system. The program will supplement classroom instruction with clinical experience.

Admissions Requirements:

1. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
2. ACT or COMPASS (taken within the last four years)
3. Have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for all college course work
4. NLN PAX-PN score: 105
5. Clean state and federal criminal background check. People convicted of crime will need to obtain permission from the Arkansas State of Board of Nursing before sitting for the licensure exam.

Students will be selected on the basis of quality points earned for courses on LPN degree plan and score earned on the NLN PAX-PN.

The application deadline for enrollment into the program in the fall semester is the 1st of June.