Entry Requirements

The following are required to start the nursing curriculum at St. Luke’s School of Nursing:

• Official transcripts showing completion of high school or an official GED, and meeting the secondary education requirements. Read more...
• Official transcripts from all colleges, universities and post-secondary institutions attended, showing completion of the required eight prerequisites with a grade of C+ or better. Read more...
• A completed application with the $35 application fee, submitted online. Read more...
• A satisfactory score on the entrance exam. Read more...
• Two references, utilizing the official form. Read more...
• On-campus interview for qualified applicants. Read more...

Please download this checklist to assist you with the application process. Feel free to contact the admissions office if you have any questions!

Admission criteria for each requirement are detailed in the next sections.

Secondary Education

Requirements:

Entry requirements are passing a minimum of 16 units, 12 of which must include:
4 units of English, 3 units of Social Studies, 2 units of Mathematics (1 of which is Algebra) and 2 units of Science with a related laboratory or the equivalent. View the State board of Nursing link § 21.101. Selection and admission standards.
 

Application items required:

• All applicants must submit official high school transcripts and/or official GED transcript. Partial high school transcripts are required if more than one institution was attended.
• Applicants who attended high school outside of the U.S. must submit an official equivalency evaluation from WES, ECE, or must submit an official Secondary Diploma for having 30 college credits completed. Please contact the admissions office for more details about this requirement.

Post-Secondary Education Requirements

Requirements:

Prerequisite courses taken at an accredited college or university, or an institution in pursuit of accreditation, with a grade of “C+” or better shown on official transcripts prior to starting the program (C is not accepted) are considered to fulfill the required prerequisite college courses, providing the content and credits are equivalent to the courses in the Curriculum Plan. This document contains the list of prerequisites and course IDs for local colleges/universities.

• Grades of ‘C or C-‘ do not meet the admission criteria.
• The number of attempts in prerequisite courses, and the number of credits taken concurrently are considered.
• There is no ‘time limit’ on courses, but applicants are encouraged to take refresher courses in preparation for the nursing curriculum.
• The highest qualified applicants are admitted, therefore, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee entry into the program.
• Acceptable courses from area colleges/universities are listed here. Applicants should verify transferability of courses not listed with the admissions office prior to registration for courses or application.

Application items required:

• Applicants must submit official transcripts from ALL college, universities and post-secondary institutions attended, even if prerequisites were not completed at the institution. An application will be incomplete if all transcripts are not submitted.
• Applicants who completed college coursework outside of the U.S. must submit an official equivalency evaluation from WES even if the courses completed do not satisfy prerequisites. Please contact the admissions office for more details about this requirement.

Admission Application

Requirements:

• The admission application is designed to provide a complete background of the applicant.
• All fields on the application should be filled out truthfully and completely.
• Please set aside one hour to complete the application.

Application items required:

• The admission application is available online, and the $35 application fee is payable online via credit card. Checks and money orders made out to “St. Luke’s School of Nursing” can also be mailed to St. Luke’s School of Nursing, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015. To avoid processing delays, please submit the fee with the application.
• Applicants will not be eligible for enrollment consideration until all required prerequisite courses are completed.

Entrance Exam

Requirements:

• This exam is designed to test one’s ability to use good judgment, reasoning and to think in a logical and orderly way. There is no study guide or preparation available.
• All applicants must complete the required exam at the St. Luke’s School of Nursing prior to the application deadline, as the exam is part of the admission criteria.
• Other entrance exams will not be accepted, and the test cannot be taken off-campus.
• Applicants are permitted only one retake of the exam.
• Exam retake sessions must take place 30 or more days after the initial testing date.
• Retakes after the application deadline will not be accepted.

Application items required:

• After submitting an application, applicants will be contacted by the Admissions Team to schedule their testing session.
• The testing fee for the exam is $35 payable by check, money order, or cash (exact change only) on the day of the exam.

References

Requirements:

Two professional references are required. Suggestions are teachers and/or employers. Relatives, colleagues, and peers are not acceptable. If an applicant has attended another nursing school leading to RN licensure, one reference must be from the most recent nursing instructor, or the nursing program’s director.

Application items required:

References must be submitted on the required form. Letters of recommendation or explanation can be submitted with the completed form.

On-campus Interview

Requirements:

Applicants who submit all required application items and meet or exceed the admission criteria will be scheduled for a face-to-face interview. Members of the faculty, staff and administration will conduct the applicant interview.