Admissions

The RN to BSN program has two admissions requirements:

• A current unencumbered FL or Compact RN license or be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5

Students that have received their pre-licensure nursing degree (AS/AA) from a non-regionally accredited institution must complete the following process to receive prior coursework credit.  

Prior to initial enrollment at LSSC, a student may request credit for coursework obtained at an institution that is not regionally accredited. The student must submit the appeal documentation directly to the Admissions and Records   Office for verification of all documents.

Required documentation includes:

1. A completed Request for Evaluation of Online Course form;
2. Official transcripts of coursework;
3. A course description from the term in which the course was taken which is recognized by the American Council on Education;
4. A course syllabus from the term in which the course was taken;
5. A statement on letterhead from the institution indicating the instructor of the course that was taken, the academic credentials of the instructor, the concentration of the instructor’s master’s degree or specific graduate course titles, and the institution from which the credentials/degree were earned.

Once all documents are received, the student’s request will be submitted to the appropriate academic administrator for evaluation. The academic administrator will determine if the instructor’s credentials meet those required by SACSCOC and if the course content is of equivalent value to a LSSC course. All coursework approved by the academic administrator will be evaluated using the same guidelines as those for regionally accredited institutions.  The academic administrator will determine specific course equivalency for a general education or major course or degree program requirement. Additionally, the equivalency may be granted towards elective credit. Approval of all evaluated coursework will be included in the LSSC official student transcript. Denied requests may be appealed in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Application Process

• Submit your online application and $30 application fee
• Submit high school/GED and prior college/university transcripts
• Complete the FAFSA and other financial aid forms

Outcomes

Outlook

• A BSN offers you a wider variety of job possibilities.
• You will be eligible to apply for the Public Health Nursing Certificate.
• You are also eligible for management positions and can begin working as a school nurse.
• A basic knowledge of nursing theory and research methods as well as community health nursing sets the BSN graduate apart.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that as of May 2024, Florida ranked 3rd in the nation for employment of Registered Nurses. The mean hourly wage for Registered Nurses in Florida is $32.50, and the annual mean wage is $67,610. This data highlights the strong demand for nursing professionals across the state.

Course Types Offered

All courses in the RN-BSN program will be offered in an online course type. The courses are offered in a 7-week format.

Learn more about course types offered at LSSC.

The Capstone course and the Community and Public Health courses include clinical hours. The design of these clinical components will allow students to self-schedule their clinical hours in their local communities.

Courses

For a detailed breakdown of the curriculum and degree requirements, visit the Catalog page.

Additional Program Information

For more program information and requirements, please see RN-BSN Student Handbook below:

RN-BSN Student Handbook

Accreditation

Florida State Board of Nursing (BON)

Program approval since 1983
floridasnursing.gov

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

The associate nursing program at Lake-Sumter State College located in Leesburg, Florida is accredited by the:

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000

The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the associate nursing program is Continuing Accreditation View the public information disclosed by ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org/accreditation.

College Accreditation

Lake-Sumter State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.