How to Apply to the RN-BSN Program

back to RN to Bachelor of Science Nursing

Application Steps

1. Review the Application Requirements to ensure you meet the requirements.
2. Consult with an academic advisor at the campus where you plan to apply.
3. Complete NursingCAS Application. Review the application support documentation below. Watch our tutorial videos if you get stuck.
4. Review the post-submission process.

What is NursingCAS?

NursingCAS is the Centralized Application Service for Nursing that provides accredited nursing colleges an admissions platform to manage application reviews efficiently.

Need Help?

If you are in the process of applying and are not sure where to get help, please reach out to our team at nursing.admissions@wsu.edu for triage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1.
Review Application Requirements

Make sure you meet all of the application requirements for the RN-BSN program. Also make sure that you are within range of the application timelines and deadlines. For planning purposes, note that we typically will respond in 6-8 weeks.

Step 2.
Consult with an academic advisor

Undergraduate Advisors

Step 3.
Begin NursingCAS Application

• Navigate to Nursing CAS website. Select the term that you are applying for. Click apply to set up your account. Check your junk mail and spam folder for the initial account confirmation to ensure that NursingCAS emails are safely going to your inbox. Whatever email you use for your application is the email that we use to communicate if there are issues, so check it regularly.
• You have two ways that you can find WSU applications that are currently available:
  • Once you have either created or signed in to a NursingCAS account you may use this link to view available programs.
  • Alternatively, Select “Add a Program.” Search for “Washington State University.” Select “RN-BSN [TERM].” Depending on when you apply, there might be additional applications open for WSU, so it’s important you select the “RN-BSN” with the correct start term so your application goes to the right place.
• Once you’ve found the program(s) you’re looking for, click the blue ‘+’ to add them to your application.
  • If you wish to remove a program, you’ll do so from this list. Click the green checkmark next to the program and it will ask if you’d like to delete that program from your application.
• Note: In NursingCAS, all WSU campuses are combined as Vancouver/Spokane/Tri-Cities, WA. After you begin the application, you will be able to select up to two campuses you want to apply for. The campus selection is a required question so you will have to answer it. You only need to choose one campus, but you are allowed to indicate a second campus if you like. Once you submit your application, your campus decision(s) cannot be changed.
  • To help determine which campus(es) to pick, please check out our campus overview
• Select the “My Application” tab to begin filling out your application

Personal Information

• Fill out all 7 sections. Make sure you click “save and continue” at the bottom of each section.
• Ensure that your contact info is accurate – your email is what we use to contact you for issues and info.
• This information is captured for Nursing CAS’s end. They recently added in a section about COVID and how the shutdown affected you. If that is still being asked, and remains optional, you do not need to fill that out for WSU.

Academic History

• For Transcript Entry, input every course exactly as it appears on that institution’s transcript. NursingCAS will reject an application if the transcript entry does not match the transcript.
• We recommend pulling up an unofficial transcript so you can copy over the classes accurately.
  • Note: We do not recommend using the Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) function as it takes far too long and may delay your application, causing you to miss the deadline. If you do use the Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) paid feature, please allow a large amount of time for CAS to finish that process. If you are late on a deadline or miss something due to PTE the responsibility is still with you. After you receive notification from NursingCAS that the PTE is complete, you must log back into your application and approve the coursework entry before your application will be submitted.
  • Note: Do your best with the course subject drop-down. It will not cover every option possible, and as long as it is close enough we will know what you are going for. The same goes for freshman/sophomore class standings. Those are not reviewed. The prefix, title, grades, and credits sections are the most important to us.
• Once you have completed the transcript entry, choose to review and finalize your transcripts.
• Ensure that you accurately indicate repeated classes. Type out exactly what is on your transcript.
• For the prelicensure BSN program, we require a TEAS test score of 70 or higher. In the Academic History section, select Standardized Tests. Scroll down to TEAS. Click the pencil to add in your TEAS score (scores are good for 12-months from time of submission). Be aware that you will also need to upload your TEAS Individual Performance Profile in the Documents section located in Program Materials.
• This section is the longest to fill out and often the most complicated. Do not hesitate to follow along on our video guide or reach out to nursing.admissions@wsu.edu if you have any questions.

Supporting Information

• For the RN to BSN program we do not consider this as part of the review, so we recommend that you opt out of all 3 sections to save yourself time. However, if you are also applying to another school that needs these sections, it does not hurt you to have information in there. We will just not review it either way. To opt out, click the “I am no adding any achievements, experiences, or licensure/certification” button at the bottom of each respective section.

Program Materials

• Review the home tab first, then fill out the remaining 3 tabs (Questions, Documents, Prerequisites)
• For Questions, thoroughly read through each and answer appropriately – if you answer yes to a question, and later it turns out you should have answered no, you risk ineligibility.
• For Documents, the Other section has information for documents that may be relevant to you:
  • If you are an international student please upload a copy of your passport.
  • If you are an enrolled member of a Native American tribe, please provide a copy of your tribal enrollment card.
• For Prerequisites, select the assign course button to match your courses to each specific prerequisite course. Use the prerequisite descriptions to make sure you are including all that you need to include.
  • Note: Use your best matching possible from what you have taken, but we will correct it after you submit your application if we notice a better prerequisite course fit. This helps you get a first rough idea that you have finished what we need. If you are unsure about whether or not a class will count as a prerequisite, reach out to your WSU Nursing campus advisor as they can provide input if the course may meet our prerequisite requirement.

Submitting Your Application

• Navigate to “Submit Application” on the top of the page and pay application fee. Note that the deadline time is 11:59pm EST of that date
• Please continue to monitor your email as we will also reach out to address issues or questions on your application throughout the review.
• Remember – Email us early on if you anticipate any issues. We know it is a lot of steps and are happy to help!

Step 4.
Review the post-submission process

• DO NOT apply to WSU at this time. Your NursingCAS application suffices as an application to both Nursing and WSU itself. You do not need to submit a secondary WSU application if you are admitted.
• Wait to hear from us. We typically send information about interview offers within 6-8 weeks.
• Consider applying for financial aid. The Deadline to apply to larger WSU scholarships is January 31 for the following academic year. WSU’s FAFSA code is 003800.
• If you do not complete all requirements in your last semester/quarter prior to admission with a 2.0 grade or higher, or if you fail a prerequisite course that you had in progress, your admission may be revoked.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Application & Admissions Questions

1. How often are students admitted?
   1. WSU College of Nursing admits students for the Fall (beginning in August), Spring (beginning in January), and Summer (beginning in June) terms.
      
2. When is the application deadline?
   1. We admit students three times per year for summer, fall, and spring terms. Contact an RN-BSN advisor at the campus location you plan to apply to for additional information and for assistance with the application process.
      
3. What is the University Writing Portfolio?
   1. The University Writing Portfolio is a mid-career diagnostic to determine if students’ writing abilities have advanced in ways that can handle the writing demands of upper-division courses and courses in their majors. Specific submission guidelines and forms are online and available for download as pdfs. They include step-by-step instructions on how to complete the writing portfolio. Visit the University Writing Portfolio page for more information.
      
4. Do all WSU students have to complete the writing portfolio?
   1. No. Students with a previous bachelor’s degree are excused from the writing portfolio.
      

NursingCAS FAQs – General

1. How will I hear about decisions or issues with my application?
   1. All communication happens to the email you have on file with your NursingCAS account. Make sure you create an account with an email you check regularly, and check spam and junk emails regularly as well. Verify your information is accurate in the Personal Information section as well. Both WSU and NursingCAS can/will contact you through the email you provided when applying.
2. What happens if I get an email about issues I have?
   1. If the issues with your application are minimal and not duplicitous, we will reach out via email and give approximately 2 business days to update your application with fixed information. Again, for that reason, regularly check for emails from NursingCAS itself and in all folders.
      
      Replying to that email will put you in contact with your reviewer, so if you do not understand what you need to fix, or have fixed what you needed to, please let your reviewer know. This will continue the review process of your application. There is often something called an Academic Update needed, which can take time. Letting us know you’ve seen what you need to do and are working on it is good practice.
3. I was asked a question on how COVID impacted my life, why was this asked?
   1. That was a question included by NursingCAS itself. We will not use the answer in our admissions process, so you may opt out of answering that if you so wish.
4. Why am I not able to submit my application?
   1. There could be a few issues. First, double check that everything is filled out (all 4 quadrant circles are green) to show you’ve completed everything. If that is the case and you still are not sure, contact your campus advisor who can look over it with you.
5. How do I reach out to NursingCAS?
   1. If you look at your name on the application, there will be a “?” icon next to it. If you click that you will be connected with the CAS helpdesk as well as find their contact email.

NursingCAS FAQs – Academic History & Transcripts

1. What if I took classes in high school, like dual enrollment classes or running start college credit?
   1. Those are technically college credits and will be included in your history as well. Make sure you list that institution and order transcripts from them as well.
2. What if I did AP credit instead?
   1. You will also need to enter these so we know. It can be tricky as you combine them into one sum of units. For example, if you took AP U.S. History and AP English Literature, and you got 3 units of work for history and 4 units of work for English, you would list it as: “AP Credits” for 7 units total for your first term for the school that granted you the credit. For the grade you may put CR to indicate it is for credit.
3. Do I really need to order official transcripts from everywhere I’ve been?
   1. Yes. We need CAS to verify your coursework before we can take a look as reviewers, and CAS only verifies once they have everything. We recommend ordering your transcripts as soon as you can to mitigate issues.
4. How do I order my transcripts then?
   1. For 99% of institutions, you will be able to order them through the application on NursingCAS. If your college is not listed within CAS, please contact us.
5. Where do my transcripts go to? What if there is a mail delay?
   1. You want to make sure your transcripts go to NursingCAS, and NOT to WSU. We are unable to pass them to CAS if you send them to us. Please make sure that transcripts are ordered at minimum 6 weeks before the start of the term as well.
      
      Additionally, we understand that life does happen, and tech issues may rarely occur. We recommend that you save ordering receipts for this reason. Further, you are able to submit your completed CAS application with pending transcripts if this does happen.
      
      Lastly, it can take a few days for CAS to process your transcripts. It is normal to get confirmation they were sent, then have a few days before CAS notes them as received on your account. If it has been more than a week between sending and receiving, please reach out, otherwise the timing is normal.
6. Do I need high school transcripts too?
   1. Luckily no! CAS will ask you where you attended, but you do not need to provide proof or transcripts for that section.
7. When I put in my classes, what do I pick for the status?
   1. You can do your best guess here. If you were taking it early on, it’s okay to put first year/freshman there. Same thing if it’s been about a year you can put sophomore. We do not look in detail at this section, so you do not need to worry about mistakes here.
8. I took a random class, what do I put for the subject area?
   1. Subject is another part that doesn’t matter as much to us. Use your best guess as to what makes sense, and when in doubt you can pick the “Special Topics” option without issue.
      

If you have any other questions about the application email us!

nursing.admissions@wsu.edu