Transfer Information

Transfer nursing students, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and other applicants with health profession backgrounds should see the Biola University Catalog for the transfer/challenge policies.

Additional Information for Applicants:

LVN/LPN

It is highly recommended that students proceed through the traditional BSN degree program.

LVN/LPN to RN NCLEX (preparation-only option)

"30 Unit" Non-Nursing Degree Program

1. Permits California Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) to complete only those nursing and science theory and clinical hours required by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) for a candidate to sit for the NCLEX registered nurse examination.
2. The California BRN states that the LVN who becomes a RN in this manner may not be able to practice in another state or territory and may not be able to proceed into graduate school.
3. The LVN who successfully completes the required courses at Biola is not awarded any nursing or academic degree from Biola University and cannot claim to have graduated from Biola University or the Biola University nursing program.
4. Successful completion of the required courses does not guarantee passing the NCLEX examination or employment as a registered nurse.
5. Biola University requires the LVN to NCLEX student to be a professing evangelical Christian for admission into the option.
6. Applicants are required to pay all university and department fees and tuition.
7. Entry into the nursing courses is dependent in earning a minimum grade of “C” in the physiology and microbiology courses. Progression through the nursing courses is dependent on earning a minimum “C” in all courses. A grade of “C” requires earning minimum of 73% in each course. In all of the above, a “C-“is, for nursing students, a failing grade.
8. Nursing theory and clinical courses are co-requisites. Progression into and through the LVN to NCLEX option requires successful passing of both theory and clinical in the same semester. Students who fail a course at C- or lower may repeat the course one time if there is space available the following year. Both theory and clinical must be repeated even if the student was successful in one of the two areas.
9. Only 30 students are admitted each semester of the clinical nursing program. Successful passing of a semester’s courses does not guarantee automatic progression. Throughout the option, placement in the theory and clinical courses is dependent on space available.
10. There is no guarantee that the required science or nursing courses will be offered every semester. Students may have to wait until the following academic year to progress.
11. For the traditional Biola nursing student, 4 units chemistry is a required pre-requisite for physiology. To require the LVN to take 4 units of chemistry out of 30 maximum allowed units would have negative impact on what the LVN needs to know to sit for NCLEX. However, the LVN taking this option without having had chemistry is at an increased risk of failing the Biola physiology course.
12. 30 units of Bible are required and Christian biblical and theological truth and principles are embedded throughout all nursing courses. Therefore, without a history of academic biblical study, the LVN taking this option is at an increased risk of failing the Biola nursing courses.

Admission Criteria:

The LVN 30-unit option, non-degree applicant is required to:

1. Sign the university's faith statement.
2. Submit official high school transcript with documentation of graduation or GED certificate.
3. Submit official transcripts with documentation of completion from LVN program.
4. Submit a copy of current California LVN license.
5. Submit all department and clinical agency documents, including but not limited to, a criminal background check, drug screening, CPR for healthcare professionals, physical examination and immunizations and a valid California driver's license.
6. Submit an academic and work experience portfolio. Applicant will be given credit for previous successful completion required courses at another accredited institution. Additional prerequisites may be required and are determined on an individual basis.
7. Be subject to writing, theory, skills and math testing and additional faculty costs for indicated remediation.

LVN to NCLEX Non-Degree Option Courses

Total units= 28.5*

*30 units are not required in the 30-unit option

Please contact the Department of Nursing at nursing.department@biola.edu for any questions about the application or program.

Military Personnel

Military Education and Experience — Portfolio Evaluation/Challenge Process

1. United States (US) Veterans with military education and experience planning to enroll into nursing courses must first be accepted by and fulfill all matriculation requirements of Biola University. The Department of Nursing should be contacted at the time of application to the University. All university requirements must be met for graduation.
2. A separate application is made to the nursing department. Applicants must complete all pre-clinical nursing requirements and be accepted into the clinical nursing program, meeting the same eligibility requirements as other applicants. Placement into clinical nursing is on a space available basis.>
3. All applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all college-level courses taken.
4. All required non-nursing prerequisites as outlined in the Standard Curriculum Chart for the nursing major should be completed before entering clinical nursing courses. Transfer credit for non-nursing courses will be granted by the Registrar's Office as indicated in the university catalog.
5. Generic military credit is not given. If admitted to the clinical nursing program, veterans may submit a portfolio to demonstrate theoretical and clinical learning, and work experience. The portfolio will be the basis of determining challenge eligibility.
6. The portfolio will include the following:
   
   • Documentation of Military Health Care Occupation (Basic Medical Technician Corpsman (Navy HM or Air Force BMTCP), Army Health Care Specialist (68W Army Medic) or Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician (IMDT 4N0XIC) with an honorable discharge
   • Official military transcript with ACE recommendations
   • Copy of any licenses or certifications
   • Two references: One from a commanding officer and one work recommendation from an immediate supervisor who has worked with the applicant for at least 5 months.
   • Educational and work resume of accomplishments outside of the military
7. Per university policy, a minimum of 30 credits must be taken at Biola with at least 15 credits of upper division courses in the major field. The challenge student will take a NURS 300 Professional Nursing Seminar which is a personalized arranged course in which to complete requirements unique to Biola such as the Writing Competency Exam (WCE) and transition into the BSN role.
8. The Basic Medical Corpsmen will usually be eligible for the LVN challenge option of NURS 209 Nursing of the Patient / Family I Theory, NURS 212 Nursing of the Patient/Family I Clinical and NURS 213 Nursing Application Lab (skills lab).
   • NURS 209 Nursing of the Patient/ Family I Theory will be challenged through a written test. Upon challenge confirmation students will be given course materials (syllabus, content outline, bibliography/textbook list).
   • NURS 212 Nursing of the Patient/Family I Clinical will be challenged through simulation scenario(s), based upon the clinical expectations for the course, after passing the pharmacological math requirement.
   • NURS 213 Nursing Application Lab challenge will require, but is not limited to validation of the following skills: medication administration via oral, gastric, IM, and subcutaneous injection methods, bedside glucometer, nasogastric tube flushing and feeding. This must be completed before the clinical challenge is started. When the student contacts the instructor regarding the validation process, any further requirements will be discussed at that time.
9. The Advanced Army Medic, Independent Duty Corpsman, or Advanced Air Force Medic may be eligible for additional challenge credit to be arranged on an individual basis.
10. The cost of the Portfolio Evaluation/Challenge Process will be $350.