Admissions Criteria
Grades and Completed Courses
Candidates need to have a cumulative high school or college GPA of 2.5 or higher to apply. If transferring credits from other colleges or universities, the Office of Admissions requires a separate official transcript from each college the student has attended.
College science courses must be less than five years old at time of application. (If science courses are older than five years, but applicant had been working in a profession that utilizes current science information, the student may fill out a petition to have courses older than five years considered.)
Required Biology courses must be designated for science majors. For example, Biology 1306 and Biology 1307 courses that are required are courses for science majors.
If a student is taking Microbiology at UTPB, they need to take Chemistry as a prerequisite. However, if the student is taking Microbiology at a college that does not require Chemistry as a prerequisite, the student can substitute an elective into the Chemistry requirement on the degree plan.
Pathophysiology is a Nursing course that is part of the sequence of courses and must be taken at UTPB.
The Statistics requirement can be satisfied with PSYC 3301 Introductory Statistics.
Immunization Requirements
All applicants need to submit their immunization records. Students admitted to the UT Permian Basin Nursing Program must be immunized and provide information reflecting immunization against the following:
- Current immunization for COVID-19
- ANNUAL FLU VACCINE - Must be within 12 months of clinicals start date.
- BACTERIAL MENINGITIS - Effective January 1, 2012, if you are under 30 years of age, are a new student or if you were not enrolled at UTPB during the fall of 2011, you will be required to show evidence that you have received the bacterial meningitis vaccination or that you are eligible for an exemption prior to enrolling.
- HEPATITIS B VACCINE (HBV) with dates of each injection, proof of positive antibody titer OR declination of vaccine completed. Three (3) HBV injections are needed.
- TUBERCULOSIS SKIN TEST - TB test or approved blood assay. If a prior positive reactor to skin test, submit a negative chest x-ray and be free of productive cough, night sweats or unexplained loss of weight AND annual TB testing. (Must be within 12 months of clinicals start date.)
- VARICELLA (Chicken Pox) - Proof of immunity by documented history of chicken pox, OR proof of Varicella immunization dates OR positive antibody titer.
- Tetanus-Diphtheria (TD or TDAP) within the past five (5) years. The CDC now recommends TDAP for anyone 18 years and older.
- MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA (MMR) – Proof of two (2) MMR vaccines if born after January 1957.
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Guidelines: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine MMR vaccination for the following groups of people:
- all children, beginning at age 12-15 months.
- adults born in 1957 or later without documentation of vaccination.
- healthcare workers, who lack evidence of immunity, regardless of age.
- non-pregnant women of childbearing age without evidence of immunity to Rubella.
- ACIP recommends a second dose of MMR for any adult born during 1957 or later who:
- is a student in a post-secondary educational institution
- is a healthcare worker
- plans to travel internationally
- Additional information on MMR Guidelines can be found on the Immunization Action Coalition
Urine/Drug Screens are required each semester prior to participation in clinicals.
Criminal Background Check
Criminal background checks are performed on all applicants who are offered admission to the UT Permian Basin School of Nursing Program. All students will be required to provide contact information to begin the criminal background check process. Information about the process is available at the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) website at http://www.bon.state.tx.us/. The BON cannot accept fingerprint cards or criminal background check results mailed by the applicant, or results that were completed for another facility, even if the previous check was completed through the DPS and the FBI.
After the background check is completed, the student will receive a blue postcard from the Texas Board of Nursing. Student must submit a copy of this blue postcard to UT Permian Basin Nursing Admissions.
Declaratory Order Process
Students who must pursue the Declaratory Order process with the Board of Nursing to confirm Eligibility for Licensure will need to set an appointment with the Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance to discuss starting this process. Results of this Declaratory Order must be submitted to the Nursing Program. In addition, some clinical agencies require background checks to meet their corporate policies.
If you answer “YES” to any of the questions below or think something may come up on your criminal background check, please contact the Nursing Program for assistance.
1) [ ] No [ ] Yes For any criminal offense, including those pending appeal, have you:
- been arrested and have a pending criminal charge?
- been convicted of a misdemeanor?
- been convicted of a felony?
- pled nolo contendre, no contest, or guilty?
- received deferred adjudication?
- been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty?
- been sentenced to serve jail, prison time, or court-ordered confinement?
- been granted pre-trial diversion?
- been cited or charged with any violation of the law?
- been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action?
(You may only exclude Class C misdemeanor traffic violations.)
2) [ ] No [ ] Yes Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency investigation?
3) [ ] No [ ] Yes Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, canceled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license, certificate or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?
4) [ ] No [ ] Yes *Within the past five (5) years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?
5) [ ] No [ ] Yes *Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder?
If “YES” indicate the condition:
[ ] schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorders,
[ ] bipolar disorder,
[ ] paranoid personality disorder,
[ ] antisocial personality disorder,
[ ] borderline personality disorder.
*Pursuant to Occupations Code §301.207, information regarding a person’s diagnosis or treatment for a physical condition, mental condition, or chemical dependency is confidential to the same extent that information collected as part of an investigation is confidential under the Occupations Code §301.466. If you are licensed as an LVN in the State of Texas and are currently participating in the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses, you may answer “NO” to questions #4 and #5.”
NOTE: Expunged and Sealed Offenses: While expunged or sealed offense, arrests, tickets, or citations need not be disclosed, it is your responsibility to ensure the offense, arrest, ticket or citation has, in fact, been expunged or sealed. It is recommended that you submit a copy of the Court Order expunging or sealing the record in question to our office with your application. Non-disclosure of relevant offenses raises questions related to truthfulness and character. (See 22 TAC §213.27)
NOTE: Orders of Non-Disclosure: Pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.142(b), if you have criminal matters that are the subject of an order of non-disclosure, you are not required to reveal those criminal matters. However, a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure may become a character and fitness issue. Pursuant to Gov’t Code chapter 411, the Texas Nursing Board is entitled to access criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure. If the Board discovers a criminal matter that is the subject of an order of non-disclosure, even if you properly did not reveal that matter, the Board may require you to provide information about any conduct that raises issues of character and fitness.
6) Are you currently suffering from any condition for which you are not being appropriately treated that impairs your judgment or that would otherwise adversely affect your ability to practice nursing in a competent, ethical, and professional manner?
7) *Are you currently a participant in an alternative to discipline, diversion, or a peer assistance program? (This includes all confidential programs.)
NOTE: Any positive response will remain confidential and not subject to public disclosure unless required by law.
8) Have you ever been granted the authority to practice nursing in any country, state, province,
or territory?
NOTE: This does not apply to any nursing license(s) issued by another US state or territory, excluding Puerto Rico. If you were licensed in Puerto Rico, you should be answering yes.
*Pursuant to the Texas Occupations Code §301.207, information, including diagnosis and treatment, regarding an individual’s physical or mental condition, intemperate use of drugs or alcohol, or chemical dependency and information regarding an individual’s criminal history is confidential to the same extent that information collected as part of an investigation is confidential under the Texas Occupations Code §301.466.
In addition, some clinical agencies require background checks to meet their corporate policies.
Degree Information
Applicants to the Nursing Program must meet UT Permian Basin degree requirements before a baccalaureate degree is conferred.
The application below is a sample of what you will see when you complete your application online at:
https://www.utpb.edu/academics/colleges/cohshp/nursing/application.
Please complete your application ONLINE rather than submitting a hard copy. If you need assistance with the online application, please email nursingadmissions@utpb.edu or call 432-552-2505.
