Prospective Student Resources
We’re eager to watch your success as you embark on an exciting and rewarding nursing career! We’ve collected some helpful information to help you get started.
Carefully review the admission criteria and deadlines, then draft a timeline to stay on track. You’ll showcase your academic prowess by taking the TEAS exam as part of the nursing program admission process. Visit the Texas Board of Nursing website for valuable insight and advice.
Nursing Exams
As a nursing applicant, you must take the TEAS exam, which evaluate your essential academic success skills while helping nursing programs select the best students.
The TEAS exam allows nursing programs to test applicants in reading, mathematics, science, and English language and usage. By gauging students' academic readiness, nursing programs are able to admit the best prospective students into their program.
Check the ATI website for testing locations or virtual proctor instructions.
Admission Criteria and Deadlines
Acceptance into the East Texas A&M BSN program is highly competitive. Meeting minimum requirements (GPA and TEAS score) does not guarantee admission.
- Spring application period: August 1-September 15
- Fall application period: April 1-May 15
To be considered for admission to the East Texas A&M nursing program, you must:
- Be fully admitted to East Texas A&M by the application deadline. Admission to East Texas A&M does not guarantee admission to the BSN program.
- Application must be in “Verified” status in CAS by 11 p.m. CST on the deadline date. Applications can only be verified after transcripts, TEAS exam score and all payments have been received. Try to complete your application at least four weeks before the deadline to ensure your application is verified on time.
- Have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.
- Complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, and Human Development (Lifespan) courses with a grade of “C” or better in each. These courses must be complete by application deadline. The most-recent grade will be utilized for repeated courses. A minimum science GPA of 3.0 is required.
- Submit the TEAS entrance exam report with a score of 58% or higher to CAS by the deadline.
- Students for whom English is their second language must score an 84 or above on the TOFEL exam.
- Meet Department of Nursing essential eligibility requirements.
The following table illustrates the essential eligibility requirements for participation in the Department of Nursing and examples of necessary activities (not all-inclusive) which should be used to assist each applicant in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary.
| ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS | EXAMPLES OF NECESSARY ACTIVITIES |
| Abilities sufficient for clinical judgment. | Identify cause/effect relationships in clinical situations; develop nursing care plans. |
| Abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. | Establish rapport with patients/clients and colleagues. |
| Abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form. | Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret nursing actions and patient/client responses. |
| Abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small places. | Move around in patients' rooms, work spaces, treatment areas, and administer cardio-pulmonary procedures. |
| Abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care. | Calibrate and use equipment; position patient/clients. |
Abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. | Ability to hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, all auscultate sounds and cries for help. |
| Abilities sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care. | Observe client responses. |
| Abilities sufficient for physical assessment. | Perform palpation, auscultation, percussion and observational functions of physical examination and those related to therapeutic intervention, e.g. insertion of a catheter. |
ADA guidelines apply to all qualified disabled persons. A qualified disabled person is a person with a disability who—with or without reasonable modifications to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services—meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or the participation in programs or activities provided by a public entity and who can perform the “essential functions” of the position. Contact the Office of Student Disability Resources and Services for further information.
Students who meet minimum application requirements and have a CAS “Verified” status will have their name sent to the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) for a complete federal background check. View more information about the federal background check from the Texas Board of Nursing website.
A copy of Blue postcard or declaratory order sent to student by the TBON, indicating clearance must be submitted by first class day if accepted into program.
| Course Title | Minimal Grade | Minimal Credits |
| BSC 2401: Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | C | 4 |
| BSC 2402: Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | C | 4 |
| CHEM 1305: Survey of General Chemistry | C | 3 |
| CHEM 1105: General Chemistry LAB | C | 1 |
| BSC 2420: Microbiology with Lab | C | 4 |
| PSY 322: Lifespan Development | C | 3 |
| MATH 453: Essential of Statistics (may substitute Math 1342 or Psy 302) | C | 3 |
| Science and Math GPA 3.0 required |
Prerequisites required prior to enrollment in Nursing courses
| PHIL 360: General Ethics | C | 3 |
| HHPH 331: Nutrition | C | 3 |
Must be Texas Core Curriculum Complete (minimum grade of C in all courses).
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
- Students must have a single dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis toxoids). Booster is required within last 10 years.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
- Documentation of completion of the 2-dose series of MMR or laboratory evidence of immunity to each of the three diseases {lgG quantitative titers) is required.
- Hepatitis B (Note: may take 6 months to complete the series)
- Documentation of completion of the 2-dose or 3-dose series of hepatitis B vaccine or laboratory evidence of immunity to the disease (Hepatitis B quantitative antibody titer) is required.
- Varicella (Chicken Pox)
- Documentation of completion of the 2-dose series of varicella or laboratory evidence of immunity to the disease (lgG quantitative titer) is required.
Helpful links
Contact Us
- Department of Nursing
- 903.886.5315
- Nursing Health Science Building, 210
- 2210 Highway 24, Commerce TX 75429
- P.O. Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429-3011