Are you ready to apply? Find out here.
Sentara College of Health Sciences is a great place to obtain your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree. If you’d like to join our highly motivated student body, you’ll first need to acquire your general education prerequisite classes at an accredited institution of your choice. Sentara College focuses on nursing classes and does not teach general education courses. However, you can apply for our program before completing all prerequisites. We encourage you to apply as soon as you meet our minimum requirements, because our program is a very competitive one. Here’s how:
Step 1: First off, do you already have a degree?
If you already have an Associate of Art, Associate of Science, Associate of Art & Science, or a Bachelor’s Degree, then you may have certain prerequisites waived. Skip to “Second Degree Seeking” in the next step to see which ones.
If this is your first degree, or you have an Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Occupational Science, then skip ahead to find your general education prerequisites under “First Degree Seeking” in Step 2.
Step 2: Obtain these minimums to apply
Requirements for First Degree Seeking Students
If you are a First Degree Seeking student (as defined above), you can apply as soon as you meet these requirements:
You must have all of these general education courses to apply:
- Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
- Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
- Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- English Composition I (3 credits)
- English Composition II (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
... and at least 10 additional credits from these general education classes:
- Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
- Fine Art Elective (3 credits)
- Health, Medical, Bio, or Social Ethics (3 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Humanities Elective (3 credits)
- Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
- Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
- Oral Communication (3 credits)
Note that you’ll need to finish all of the courses listed here with a “C-” or better prior to beginning class at Sentara College.
As you review your completed coursework, please note:
- All coursework must be completed with a grade of “C-” or higher from an accredited college or university
- Sentara College does not expire general education courses
- The general education courses listed here are not offered at Sentara College
If you are a Second Degree Seeking student (as defined above), you can apply as soon as you finish these requirements:
Requirements for Second Degree Seeking Students
You must have completed all of these general education courses to apply:
- Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
- Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
- Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- English Composition I (3 credits)
- English Composition II (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
In addition, you will need to have completed the following three courses prior to beginning class at Sentara College:
- Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
Step 3: Submit your application and transcripts
If you meet the minimum requirements above, then you’re ready to take the next step. Simply click here or anywhere you see Apply Now.
After submitting your application, send your transcripts to applications@sentara.edu or to the address at the bottom of this page. Note that the application deadline is June 15 each year for the classes beginning the following January.
Step 4: Take your pre-admission test
The pre-admission test for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is called the ATI TEAS. You may take this test up to two times prior to the June 15th deadline.
To register for the ATI TEAS:
- Go to www.atitesting.com/teas/register
- Click “Register Now”
- Follow the registration guide for “In-Person” or “Remote Online”
Step 5: We take it from there
After you submit all of your application materials, test results, and transcripts, we’ll send you a confirmation note. If you’re accepted into the program, you will know by June 30. If accepted, a required non-refundable fee of $170 is due by July 15 to hold your seat.
Need to have your transcripts reviewed?
For transcripts reviews, please join us for an academic planning and information session or you can send your transcripts to recruitment@sentara.edu.
Please click here for information about local college general education equivalents
Any transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a NACES approved organization first.
General Requirements
- A high school diploma or equivalent is required and you must be 18 years of age by the first day of class
- Applicants should possess basic computer skills
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the USA
If English is your second language, see important information here.
Prospective applicants and students must demonstrate appropriate, responsible, respectful, and professional behavior/conduct throughout the entire admission process and in all interactions and communications with the College. The College reserves the right to deny admission or rescind acceptance to anyone who does not conduct themselves in this manner
Admissions Note
Sentara College of Health Sciences seeks to admit qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability, provided the applicant is qualified to perform the tasks necessary to meet the requirements of the Program/Course with or without reasonable accommodation.
Important Information About Nursing Prerequisites
If you’d like to apply to the Nursing Program, learn more about the requirements and prerequisites here to find out if you are eligible.
1) General education courses are not taught at Sentara College and must be taken at an institution accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the Secretary of Education of the U.S. Department of Education.
2) General education/prerequisite courses will be evaluated and will be accepted only on evidence that the course content and instruction meets the requirements for the Sentara College program of interest.
3) Course descriptions, and/or syllabi may be requested by the College to evaluate general education/prerequisite course requirements.
4) You do not have to submit an application to have your transcripts reviewed. There is no obligation or charge for this service. Send transcripts to recruitment@sentara.edu.
5) Before registering for general education courses, consult with an admissions representative at Sentara College to ensure you are registering for the appropriate general education courses.
6) There is no expiration on general education/prerequisite courses.
7) Dual enrollment courses taken in high school are acceptable. Official college transcripts of these courses must be produced for review and acceptance.
8) Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II: Thomas Nelson Community College’s BIO145, 5 credit course, is not acceptable for Sentara College’s A&P I & II with lab requirement for Traditional BSN applicants.
9) Each science general education course must reflect a minimum of 4 credits. Nursing admissions will review the course if it does not reflect the credit minimum.
10) Courses are considered on a course-by-course basis instead of an hour-by-hour basis with regard to the content of the course. For courses taken in quarter hours, the credits will be converted to semester hours with one quarter hour being equal to two-thirds of one semester hour.
11) Applicants requesting approval for general education or prerequisite credits from institutions outside of the United States must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation by an approved NACES agency and submit the NACES review to the College along with the foreign transcript.
General Education Course Equivalents at Select Colleges
Here you can find out which courses at local and online colleges will satisfy Sentara College’s general education prerequisites. These lists are intended as helpful quick reference guides only. Sentara College has no control over the curriculums of other schools, so the information may change. Your review of this information does not take the place of a transcript review from Sentara College. Other courses at these colleges may satisfy our general education course requirements. We will assist you with approval of general education courses that do not appear on the lists here.
All coursework must be completed with a “C-” or higher.
Select your college to see which courses satisfy our general education prerequisites:
- American Public University System (APU-AMU)
- Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC)
- Christopher Newport University (CNU)
- CLEP, IB, AP, and DANTES/DSST Tests
- College of the Albemarle (COA)
- ECPI University (ECPI)
- Geneva College-Portage (GP)
- George Mason University (GMU)
- James Madison University (JMU)
- Norfolk State University (NSU)
- Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
- Old Dominion University (ODU)
- Radford University (RU)
- Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC)
- Tidewater Community College (TCC)
- University of Virginia (UV)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
- Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC)
- Virginia Tech (VT)
- Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)
Please contact our Admissions Advisor at 757-388-3654 or by email at admissions@sentara.edu if your course, college, or university is not listed and you need assistance checking the transferability of a course.
General Education AP, CLEP, and DANTES Equivalents
Some general education courses may also be taken through Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, and DANTES exams.
- AP courses with a score of 3 or better will be accepted.
- Find out the transferability of CLEP, AP, DANTES, and IB tests here.
- Our code for CLEP scores is 5504
