ABSN Requirements

An accelerated nursing education is not for everyone. While you do not need prior nursing or health care experience for our 16-month ABSN program, you must meet a series of ABSN requirements for admittance.

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To be eligible to apply to PLU's ABSN program, you need the following:

  • A minimum of 60 non-nursing college credits OR a non-nursing bachelor’s degree
  • A minimum grade of B- in every ABSN prerequisite course
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Transfer students who matriculate to PLU and the School of Nursing simultaneously must meet the cumulative transfer grade point average as determined by the Registrar’s Office.)

Submit Your Application

Once you satisfy our ABSN requirements, it is time to put your application together, targeting a February, June or September start date in the nursing program. Before submitting your application, ask your admissions representative to review it to ensure nothing is missing. After all, your representative is your champion and wants to help you submit the most competitive application possible.

Please be aware that applicants are required to choose between applying for one of the following programs: our Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at our Tacoma campus, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in Lynnwood, or our Entry Level Master’s of Science in Nursing (ELMSN) program at our Tacoma campus. As part of our admissions process, applicants are not permitted to maintain active applications for multiple programs simultaneously.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program for?

Our ABSN program prepares individuals to earn a nursing degree sooner than traditional Bachelor of Nursing programs. It is geared towards people who have non-nursing college experience. Perspective students with at least 60 non-nursing college credits or a bachelor’s degree in a field not related to nursing are welcome to apply. Our ABSN program will prepare graduates for entry-level nursing practice in a variety of healthcare settings and prepare them to confidently sit for the NCLEX so they can become Registered Nurses (RNs).

What ABSN prerequisites do I need?

Our ABSN program has seven prerequisite course requirements, including microbiology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, lifespan psychology, nutrition, and statistics. You must show the successful completion of these courses before you can begin nursing school.

Does PLU offer admissions support?

Our dedicated admissions representatives are available to answer any questions and support you throughout the entire admissions process. When you begin the process, you will be assigned an admissions representative to guide you through each step, such as identifying which prerequisites you must complete and creating a plan to complete them before your desired start date.

For More Information

Contact us to learn more about our ABSN requirements.