ABSN Requirements: University of St. Thomas Houston

Our 12-month ABSN program in Houston allows you to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing on an accelerated timeline, even without healthcare experience. To do so, you must first meet certain ABSN requirements.

Academic Requirements

In addition to transferring a minimum of 60 college credits or holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university, to be eligible to start the ABSN program at the University of St. Thomas, each student must:

  • Complete or develop a plan with an admissions advisor to complete the program’s prerequisites before enrollment.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    • GPA calculation must include outcomes from the four required UST prerequisite courses as well.
    • No student with less than a 2.8 cumulative GPA will be considered for admission.
  • Have a nursing-specific prerequisite GPA of 3.0.
    • This requirement is specific to four nursing-specific prerequisite courses.
    • If a 3.0 has not been earned, connect with an admissions advisor to discuss options.

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Additional ABSN Requirements

In addition to the ABSN GPA requirements, prerequisite courses must meet these qualifications to count as completed:

  • All four prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of B or better.
  • All four prerequisite courses are required to have been completed within five years of the student’s start date.

Applicants must also demonstrate a level of academic ability by passing either the HESI or TEAS Standardized Exam:

  • HESI — 80% in required sections; applicants can only retest within 30 days of first test.
    • Applicants are allowed two attempts at this exam; scores from further attempts will not be considered for admission.
  • TEAS — 78% in required sections; applicants can only retest within 30 days of first test.
    • Applicants are allowed two attempts at this exam; scores from further attempts will not be considered for admission.
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Clinical Compliance Requirements

If accepted, complete the medical clinical requirements before you begin your program. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Vaccinations (e.g., hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, etc.) and updated immunization records
  • Drug and health screenings
  • Background check
  • CPR certification

Some medical requirements take time, so you should begin the admissions process as soon as possible to ensure ample time to meet all ABSN requirements. Please contact your admissions advisor for details.

International Student Eligibility

Due to the accelerated nature of the ABSN program and clinical placements, background check qualifications, and licensure requirements of our hospital partners and the Texas Board of Nursing, eligibility for the ABSN track is limited to U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents. The following groups are currently ineligible for admission:

  • International applicants or those seeking a VISA status.
  • Asylum seekers and DACA recipients.
  • Students utilizing an ITIN in lieu of a Social Security Number.

The admissions team will review individual cases if eligibility is unclear based on documentation.

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If you’re ready to start your ABSN education or have questions regarding eligibility, contact our admissions team today.

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