ABSN Requirements

While previous healthcare experience is not necessary to enroll in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track at the University of the Incarnate Word, you must meet certain ABSN requirements before beginning the admissions process.

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UIW ABSN Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for admission into the UIW ABSN track, students must:

Have a non-nursing baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
OR 60 college credits from an accredited institution
AND meet the UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum requirements

Additionally, applicants must:

Submit a completed application through NursingCAS
All applicants are required to take the HESI Admission Assessment Exam (HESI A2), an assessment tool used to evaluate prospective students’ readiness and potential for successful program completion. The HESI A2 assesses an applicant’s general academic knowledge and evaluates key concepts from prerequisite math, science and English courses.
- Minimum score requirements* to be considered for admission:
  - The minimum total score to apply to the UIW BSN program is 75%
  - The target score for each required section of the exam is 75% or higher
- Required sections:
  - Math
  - Reading Comprehension
  - Vocabulary and General Knowledge
  - Anatomy and Physiology
  - Biology
- Both the total score and individual section scores are evaluated during the admissions process.
- HESI A2 exam scores must be dated within twelve months prior to application submission.
- Applicants must complete the HESI A2 exam before completing their application. Failure to meet this deadline will result in the admissions committee reviewing the application as submitted without the HESI A2 requirement.
- Applicants may take the HESI A2 exam up to two times per application cycle.
- If you take the exam twice, there must be at least three weeks between attempts. Scores from both attempts must be submitted. The exam with the highest composite score will be used for admission consideration.

*All test score requirements are subject to change.

Complete the Acknowledgement for Legal Requirements form and submit as instructed to begin the background check process.
Complete all of the prerequisite courses.
Provide official copies of transcripts for all schools attended.

Grounds to not be considered for admission vary. More information can be found here, as well as what to include in your application if you were previously enrolled in a different nursing program.

Note: The ABSN track is currently not accepting applications from international students. Only U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents are eligible.

Preparing for the HESI Admission Assessment Exam

The School of Nursing & Health Professions partners with Elsevier and ProctorU for online proctoring of the HESI Admission Assessment (A2) exam. You have two testing options:

In-person at the UIW Testing Center
Online through ProctorU with Elsevier. To create an account and register for the exam, follow the registration instructions. It is important to follow these instructions carefully and as listed. Failure to complete the HESI registration accurately may delay registration or communication of your scores to the School of Nursing.

Additional Academic Support

Applicants who do not meet the minimum target scores in any individual section may be required to complete supplemental academic success assignments, specific to the content areas, before starting the BSN program.

HESI Exam Versions

First-time UIW applicants must register for Version 1 of the exam.
If you are retaking the exam, register for Version 2.
If you require additional time for testing, you must have accommodations on file with UIW's Student Disability Services office prior to scheduling your exam.

Ready to Test?

There are two options for testing: in-person at the UIW Testing Center, or virtually, via ProctorU. To schedule your exam, select one of these options:

Test in-person at UIW

Test Remotely via ProctorU

Requirements Upon Admittance

Following admission into the Accelerated BSN track, students will need to provide:

Complete immunization record
Documentation of CPR certification (American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers or American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers)
Documentation of First Aid certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross)