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Admissions

Requirements

• 

  Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an accredited graduate institution as a registered nurse.
• Completed online application that includes:
  • BS in Nursing from an accredited institution; a GPA of 2.9 or above on a 4.0 scale for baccalaureate nursing degree and subsequent graduate work.
  • An unencumbered Georgia State RN license.
  • Verification of a basic health assessment course.
  • Verification of a statistics course.
  • AHA Certification: a current copy of ACLS or AWHONN A1 Obstetrics Patient Safety certification.
  • A pre-admission interview.
  • Comprehensive background check.
  • Student Health Requirements: Proof of physical examination within one year of application, student NP liability insurance, and health insurance, current immunizations for MMR, Chickenpox, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis.
  • In addition to the admission requirements listed, additional admission requirements for applicants holding an MS degree will include:
    • Be a graduate of an accredited nursing master's degree program or holds a related master’s degree to nursing

CASPer

CASPer™, a 90-minute online situational judgment test, is required starting Fall 2026. This assessment complements our holistic admissions process by evaluating non-cognitive skills and key personal attributes such as ethics, empathy, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, resilience, and adaptability. Please note that CASPer™ scores are valid for one admissions cycle only. Applicants who have previously taken the test must retake it for the current application cycle.

CASPer™ Testing Information

Letters of Reference

Applicants are required to submit three letters of reference directly through NursingCAS. These letters should speak to the applicant’s qualifications and potential for success in graduate study.

Recommended references include a nurse or physician mentor, an academic professor, and a current employer. If the applicant has been enrolled in a nursing program within the past five years, a letter from a program director or faculty member from that institution is required. For self-employed nurse leaders, a peer leader reference will be accepted.

All three letters must be received by NursingCAS for the application to be considered complete. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

GRE

The Morehouse School of Medicine Graduate Education in Nursing Admissions Committee does not require standardized test scores for admission. However, applicants who wish to have their GRE scores considered must have taken the exam within the past five years.

Official scores must be sent directly from ETS to NursingCAS using the GRE Institution Code 2552.

Nursing Clinical Experience

Applicants to the MSM Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of direct patient care experience. Prior to beginning clinical coursework in the fall of the second year, a minimum of two years of current clinical nursing experience is required.

Applicants must also submit a résumé or curriculum vitae that includes:

• Detailed work history with employment dates listed by month and year.
• Evidence of community service.
• Examples of leadership experience and professional commitment to nursing.
• Memberships in professional nursing organizations.

Clinical Hours Verification Form

Prerequisites

Advanced Placement and Transfers

All courses and academic activities are required. There is no provision for  part-time participation, advanced placement or transfer of academic credit at this time.

Gap Analysis Procedure 

The APRN Consensus Model mandates that all advanced practice nursing students complete advanced coursework in pathophysiology across the lifespan, health assessment, and pharmacology, known as the APRN Core.

For post-graduate certificate programs, the required number of credits and direct care clinical hours are determined through a gap analysis. This analysis includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

1. Review of transcripts, course syllabi, and clinical experiences from the applicant’s Master's degree program in their initial NP population.

2. Evaluation of completed courses to assess comparability to the courses required for admission to the post-graduate certificate program.

During the admissions process, the Chair of Nursing will review the applicant’s transcripts, syllabi, clinical hours, and experiences submitted for consideration. The review will assess their alignment with the Graduate Program's requirements and relevant national population competencies.

Courses may be waived if the applicant's transcript shows that the required NP course or its equivalent has already been successfully completed. The decision to waive coursework will follow the completion of the gap analysis.

After the gap analysis, a tailored matriculation program of study will be created for the applicant. The Chair of Nursing Programs and lead faculty will then make a recommendation for admission or declination. Finally, the recommendation will be submitted to the Admissions Committee for final approval.

Transfer Applicants 

Transfer admissions are rare. However, applications are accepted from students in CCNE accredited U.S. schools of nursing, who are currently enrolled in good academic standing in such a school and have a cogent reason for requesting transfer. Admission is contingent upon space and clinical preceptor availability therefore, academically qualified applicants can still be denied admission due to lack of space and/or clinical placements. MSM does not accept applications for transfer beyond the first two semesters. Therefore, transfer of clinical hour related content is not possible. Applicants pursuing transfer must hold good academic standing at their previous institution, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in all previous coursework to be considered for acceptance. 

Transfer of Graduate Credits 

Eligibility Requirements: Graduate credits may be transferred to the MSM GEN Program under the following conditions: 

• A maximum of six (6) units of graduate credit may be transferred from a CCNE accredited program 

• You must have received a grade of at least B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) in these courses 

• You must have already earned a minimum of six (6) units of graduate credit at MSM GEN  

• You must submit a written request for  gap analysis by December 30th of the first semester. 

• You must submit a syllabus or detailed course description for each course you wish to transfer prior to the end of the second semester of study 

• A gap analysis evaluation conducted by the Chair or program director provides an explanation deeming the transferred course(s)  as equivalent to the MSM course for any course accepted in lieu of an APRN core, NP role, CNM roles or population focused course.  

• All transfer credit requests require approval from the program director, Chair or Sr. Associate Dean & Chief of Clinical and Academic Education. 

Prerequisite Coursework

Verification of a basic health assessment course is required. Verification of a statistics course is required. As you will be in clinical setting AHA Certification: a current copy of BLS or AWHONN A1 Obstetrics Patient Safety certification is required.

Application Checklist

DNP (FNP) Application Checklist

Before submitting your application through NursingCAS, ensure you have completed the following:

☐ Application Materials

☐ Completed NursingCAS application

☐ Official transcripts

☐  Must hold at least a Baccalaureate degree in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing from an accredited program

☐ Minimum 2.9 or above on a 4.0 scale GPA requirement met

☐ Current unencumbered Georgia RN license

☐ Professional resume or CV

☐ Three letters of recommendation

☐ Verification of Basic Health Assessment course on transcript

☐ Verification of Statistics course on transcript

 ☐ Current AHA BLS and/or ACLS certification

☐ Complete CASPer™ assessment

Admissions Process

Need additional details about our Admissions process? Attend one of our Information Sessions.