You may be required to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT), the Pre-Nursing and Guidance Examination, or the Entrance Examination for Schools of Nursing. Besides having a high school diploma, other educational requirements are needed such as the completion of certain subject areas—English, Math (algebra, geometry), Science (chemistry, biology, physics) and Social Studies (psychology, sociology, economics), as well as a foreign language in some cases.

Selecting a Nursing School

South Florida has many nursing schools that can be a great fit for a wide range of prospective students from those finishing high school to adults with college degrees interested in a career change. Some schools offer evening classes, others offer online instruction. Some schools are attached to well known colleges and universities and have been in existence for 50 years or more, while others are new stand-alone programs. Those interested in pursuing a nursing education will no doubt consider many factors in selecting a school including proximity to home, clinical sites where students obtain their clinical experiences, when classes are offered, and the cost of tuition. Prospective students would also be wise to consider how well a school's graduates perform on the nurse licensing exam (NCLEX-RN), and whether a nursing school or program is accredited prior to registering in a nursing program. Colleges and Universities may be accredited by a number of regional and national accrediting bodies, but nursing schools may only be accredited by one of two accrediting bodies, AACN-CCNE or ACEN. Attending a nursing program that is not accredited may impede a graduate's ability to pursue additional nursing education in the future.

The State of Florida posts NCLEX-RN pass rates on their web site. To view passage rates by school by quarter, please click here, and scroll down to (NCLEX) Quarterly Report Florida Passage Rates.

Want additional nursing school information?

Please click on the following member institutions to learn about their nursing programs.