Prelicensure Application Process

Dean of Students 3

Students who wish to enter the prelicensure nursing major must submit a School of Nursing Supplemental Application by February 15th in order to be considered for fall admission. Late or incomplete prelicensure applications will not be considered. The prelicensure program admits students for the fall semester only. Admission to the School of Nursing prelicensure program is highly competitive. Applicants are notified of the admissions decision in April.

Students must also apply for admissions with Old Dominion University if they are not already an active student. Applications to the university can be completed and submitted online.

Scheduling your HESI Appointment

The Credentialing Center opens up appointments one month at a time only. For each month, appointments will open starting the third week of the preceding month. For example, October appointments will not appear as available until the third week of September. There will appear to be no appointments available for upcoming months; however, please note that this is not the case and that appointments will be released on this monthly schedule.

Please do not register for an appointment unless you are fully intent upon utilizing that appointment time. Late appointment cancellations prevent the Credentialing Center from operating efficiently. The Credentialing Center is aware that intended nursing students need to take the HESI by February 15, 2023. There will be plenty of appointments for the HESI made available and extra appointments will be added as needed. If no appointments appear available by the third week of the month, or the only appointments available are at times that conflict with your schedule, please call the Credentialing Center for help at 757-683-6089.

Follow these steps to apply

1) Apply for ODU Admission

Apply to be an enrolled student with Old Dominion University.

2) Review the Catalog

Explore the classes and requirements for the program with our online catalog.

3) Evaluate Transfer Credits

Determine how credits earned in other colleges/universities may transfer to ODU. You must log out of MIDAS.

4) Apply for Nursing

Complete the application for the Prelicensure program.

Ready to Apply? Evaluate Your Application.

All non-nursing courses required for the BSN that need to be completed prior to beginning the nursing program. Refer to the University Catalog for a full list of degree requirements.


Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Four Year Plan

NOTE: All ODU degrees require completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. The Prelicensure BSN program requires 66 credits of NURS coursework. A minimum of 54 credit hours must be completed prior to enrolling inthe BSN program.

Upper Division General Education Requirement:

Satsified by a previous bachelor's degree, a minor or Option D (minimum of 6 credits at the 300/400 level from outside of the college of your major and not required by the degree - any 300/400 level credit EXCEPT in courses in subjects: CHP, CYTO, DNTH, ENVH, HLTH, HLSC, MLS, NURS, PUBH)

Transfer Students: Please use the Transfer Equivalency Degree Audit tool to determine how the academic credits you have earned at other institutions can be used to meet nursing program requirements at Old Dominion University. VCCS students should refer to the VCCS Curriculum Sheet for a full list of prerequisite requirements and VCCS equivalencies.

NOTE: Lower Division General Education requirement may be satisfied by an associate's degree.

VCCS Associate Degrees and Transferring to ODU

Non-VCCS Associate Degrees including Out of State degrees

Questions? Contact the Health Sciences Advising Center

  1. Complete an online application to Old Dominion University as a degree-seeking student.
    1. Transcripts to support your online university application must be official, mailed from your previous institution to Old Dominion's Admissions Office at Old Dominion University, Office of Admissions, Rollins Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529.
    2. Already an ODU student? No need to reapply.
  2. Complete a supplemental application to Old Dominion University School of Nursing.

    1. ODU Students: Coursework completed at ODU will be reviewed based on your student record in Leo Online. Attach unofficial transcripts (or photocopies) for any college level credit completed at another higher education institution outside of ODU, including dual enrollment credits.
    2. Transfer Students: (new to ODU): Attach unofficial transcripts (or photocopies of all college level credit completed at another higher education institution outside of ODU.
    3. Complete the HESI A2 Entrance Exam: Test dates are limited. Schedule early. Transcripts must be submitted with your nursing application. Learn about completing this test at ODU. 

      Please note: All areas of the HESI A2 exam are required except for Physics.

      Study for the exam with this tool.  (Please note: This course is no longer free.)

      Students may also opt to complete the HESI A2 Entrance Exam at Prometric test centers located across the country. Locate a Prometric test center near you or register for the exam, visit this link https://evolve.elsevier.com/ and click on Hesi Secured Exams. Students will be required to log in and must include our Department ID. The ID is 199784.

      • If you have taken the HESI A2 within the last five years, the School of Nursing will accept you previous score(s). Applicants must submit their score on all required areas of the HESI A2 with their completed application in order for it to be evaluated.
    4. Mail application and transcripts to: Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Old Dominion University, School of Nursing, 1881 University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. Application Deadline: February 15.
  3. Wait for notification.

    1. You will receive separate notifications from the School of Nursing and the Office of Admissions. Admission to Old Dominion University does not guarantee acceptance to the School of Nursing. BSN students must be admitted to the university as a degree-seeking student and to the School of Nursing.
  4. Accepted students will receive a confirmation form with the School of Nursing notification. Please return the confirmation form to the School of Nursing by the deadline indicated. The form will reserve your space in the class if you will attend in the following fall. If you have decided not to attend at this time, the confirmation form letting us know that you are not planning to attend will allow another qualified applicant to attend.

  5. Meet with your ODU nursing program advisor and register for nursing classes.

The Prelicensure applicant review is based on the following criteria:

  1. Departmental GPA from your prerequisite courses

  • GPA is determined by your highest grades earned in the prerequisite courses:
    • Written Comm. Skills (ENGL 110C OR 211C/221C/231C) - 3 credits
    • Developmental Psychology (PSYC 203S) - 3 credits
    • Introduction to Sociology (SOC 201S) - 3 credits
    • College Chemistry I (CHEM 105/106N or CHEM 121/122N) - 4 credits
    • Microbiology (BIOL 103 OR 150/151) - 4 credits
    • Human Anatomy I (BIOL 240 OR 250) - 4 credits
    • Mathematical Skills (STAT 130M) - 3 credits
  1. Course Completion and GPA Requirements

    To be eligible for admission, applicants must have completed all of the above courses at the time of application with grades of C or better; C- will not be accepted. A Departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher out of these 7 prerequisite courses is required for application. A Departmental GPA of 3.6 or higher is considered competitive.

  2. Admission to the University.

  3. Pre-admissions aptitude testing (HESI A2) **

    Preference is given to students with a minimal score of 80. Applicants may repeat the test twice within a 12 month period. Register for HESI A2.

    Please note: All areas of the HESI A2 exam are required except for Physics.

    Study for the exam with this tool.  (Please note: This course is no longer free.)

  4. Healthcare related experience (i.e. minimum of 25 volunteer hours documented, CNA or LPN) makes the applicant more competitive.

  5. Previous bachelor's degree makes the applicant more competitive.

  6. A minimum of 30 credit hours completed before applying to the program.

  7. Beginning with Fall 2023 admissions, applicants may be asked to respond to written and verbal prompts.

All non-nursing courses required for the BSN that need to be completed prior to beginning the nursing program. Refer to the University Catalog for a full list of degree requirements.


Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Four Year Plan

NOTE: All ODU degrees require completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. The Prelicensure BSN program requires 66 credits of NURS coursework. A minimum of 54 credit hours must be completed prior to enrolling inthe BSN program.

Upper Division General Education Requirement:

Satsified by a previous bachelor's degree, a minor or Option D (minimum of 6 credits at the 300/400 level from outside of the college of your major and not required by the degree - any 300/400 level credit EXCEPT in courses in subjects: CHP, CYTO, DNTH, ENVH, HLTH, HLSC, MLS, NURS, PUBH)

Transfer Students: Please use the Transfer Equivalency Degree Audit tool to determine how the academic credits you have earned at other institutions can be used to meet nursing program requirements at Old Dominion University. VCCS students should refer to the VCCS Curriculum Sheet for a full list of prerequisite requirements and VCCS equivalencies.

NOTE: Lower Division General Education requirement may be satisfied by an associate's degree.

VCCS Associate Degrees and Transferring to ODU

Non-VCCS Associate Degrees including Out of State degrees

Questions? Contact the Health Sciences Advising Center

  1. Complete an online application to Old Dominion University as a degree-seeking student.
    1. Transcripts to support your online university application must be official, mailed from your previous institution to Old Dominion's Admissions Office at Old Dominion University, Office of Admissions, Rollins Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529.
    2. Already an ODU student? No need to reapply.
  2. Complete a supplemental application to Old Dominion University School of Nursing.

    1. ODU Students: Coursework completed at ODU will be reviewed based on your student record in Leo Online. Attach unofficial transcripts (or photocopies) for any college level credit completed at another higher education institution outside of ODU, including dual enrollment credits.
    2. Transfer Students: (new to ODU): Attach unofficial transcripts (or photocopies of all college level credit completed at another higher education institution outside of ODU.
    3. Complete the HESI A2 Entrance Exam: Test dates are limited. Schedule early. Transcripts must be submitted with your nursing application. Learn about completing this test at ODU. 

      Please note: All areas of the HESI A2 exam are required except for Physics.

      Study for the exam with this tool.  (Please note: This course is no longer free.)

      Students may also opt to complete the HESI A2 Entrance Exam at Prometric test centers located across the country. Locate a Prometric test center near you or register for the exam, visit this link https://evolve.elsevier.com/ and click on Hesi Secured Exams. Students will be required to log in and must include our Department ID. The ID is 199784.

      • If you have taken the HESI A2 within the last five years, the School of Nursing will accept you previous score(s). Applicants must submit their score on all required areas of the HESI A2 with their completed application in order for it to be evaluated.
    4. Mail application and transcripts to: Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Old Dominion University, School of Nursing, 1881 University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23453. Application Deadline: February 15.
  3. Wait for notification.

    1. You will receive separate notifications from the School of Nursing and the Office of Admissions. Admission to Old Dominion University does not guarantee acceptance to the School of Nursing. BSN students must be admitted to the university as a degree-seeking student and to the School of Nursing.
  4. Accepted students will receive a confirmation form with the School of Nursing notification. Please return the confirmation form to the School of Nursing by the deadline indicated. The form will reserve your space in the class if you will attend in the following fall. If you have decided not to attend at this time, the confirmation form letting us know that you are not planning to attend will allow another qualified applicant to attend.

  5. Meet with your ODU nursing program advisor and register for nursing classes.

The Prelicensure applicant review is based on the following criteria:

  1. Departmental GPA from your prerequisite courses

  • GPA is determined by your highest grades earned in the prerequisite courses:
    • Written Comm. Skills (ENGL 110C OR 211C/221C/231C) - 3 credits
    • Developmental Psychology (PSYC 203S) - 3 credits
    • Introduction to Sociology (SOC 201S) - 3 credits
    • College Chemistry I (CHEM 105/106N or CHEM 121/122N) - 4 credits
    • Microbiology (BIOL 103 OR 150/151) - 4 credits
    • Human Anatomy I (BIOL 240 OR 250) - 4 credits
    • Mathematical Skills (STAT 130M) - 3 credits
  1. Course Completion and GPA Requirements

    To be eligible for admission, applicants must have completed all of the above courses at the time of application with grades of C or better; C- will not be accepted. A Departmental GPA of 3.0 or higher out of these 7 prerequisite courses is required for application. A Departmental GPA of 3.6 or higher is considered competitive.

  2. Admission to the University.

  3. Pre-admissions aptitude testing (HESI A2) **

    Preference is given to students with a minimal score of 80. Applicants may repeat the test twice within a 12 month period. Register for HESI A2.

    Please note: All areas of the HESI A2 exam are required except for Physics.

    Study for the exam with this tool.  (Please note: This course is no longer free.)

  4. Healthcare related experience (i.e. minimum of 25 volunteer hours documented, CNA or LPN) makes the applicant more competitive.

  5. Previous bachelor's degree makes the applicant more competitive.

  6. A minimum of 30 credit hours completed before applying to the program.

  7. Beginning with Fall 2023 admissions, applicants may be asked to respond to written and verbal prompts.

Want to Transfer Credits?

Do you have college credits -- including CLEP -- that might apply toward your degree? Our advisors can assist in evaluating your earned credits and see if they apply to a nursing degree.