Transfer Credits

Applicants who have completed courses that are different from, but are the equivalent of, those required for admission, should submit transcripts and course descriptions to their Admissions Advisor for review.

Credit Transfer to Denver College of Nursing

Denver College of Nursing generally does not accept nursing courses from another nursing program, unless the transfer is related to the Colorado Nursing Articulation Model or other approved articulation agreement. Requests for transfer will be reviewed by the Dean of Nursing Education Programs or designee on a course- by-course basis. Any nursing courses approved for transfer must have been completed within three (3) years of start date at a state board of nursing approved program (note: this particular requirement is not relevant to the RN-BSN or MSN programs). Denver College of Nursing accepts transfer credits if the credits meet the following requirements:

• Previous institution was either accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the College determines that the postsecondary institution has equivalent accreditation standing as a foreign institution.
• The content of the course is similar in scope.
• The unit of credit is comparable.
• A GPA of 2.0 or better and with grades of C or above (C- or below are not acceptable) for all listed prerequisite courses.
• Listed prerequisites must be from an accredited institution.
• All specific prerequisite courses must come from a U.S. Institution
• Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Pathophysiology courses cannot have been completed more than seven years prior to the applicant’s Denver College of Nursing start date.

Transfer credits are recorded as hours earned toward the program without counting toward a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). General education credits are transferred if they meet “general education” standards as defined by Denver College of Nursing. Unofficial transcripts verifying all prerequisite course completion must be received by the College before the start of the first quarter. Official transcripts must be received before the end of the first quarter of the program. No transfer credits will be accepted after the first quarter.

Transfer of Veterans Administration (VA) Credits

A Veterans Administration (VA)-funded student enrolling at Denver College of Nursing with prior credit from another school or military education or skills training will be evaluated according to the Transfer Credit Policy for all students. Previous transfer credit evaluation for VA students is not an option, all veterans and other students eligible for VA funding must apply for credit for previously completed training. The College will evaluate and grant credit, if appropriate. Training time will be adjusted appropriately, and tuition reduced proportionately if credit is granted for previous training.

The VA and the student will be notified in writing of the outcome of previous transfer credit evaluation. The College must receive and evaluate official transcripts from all postsecondary school(s) previously attended by a Veteran and the Veteran’s military transcripts before enrollment can be certified. It is the Veteran’s responsibility to request all transcripts and pay any fees assessed by the previously attended school(s).

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students who have achieved required credit-granting scores of College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams can earn college credit. CLEP examination credit is not given where it duplicates credit previously earned by the student or accepted for work done elsewhere. To obtain credit or placement for subject exams, a student must receive a score of 50 (Computer Based Testing [CBT] scale) or higher. To obtain credit for College Composition, a student must receive a standard score of 610 (1978 scale), 500 (1986 scale), or 50 (CBT scale). This is a scaled score, equivalent to a grade of C in the corresponding course.

Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardization Test (Military or Approved Government Personnel)

Credits may be awarded to current and former members of the armed forces upon submitting documents received from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Department of Defense. Additional credit may be awarded to veterans of military service who have attended military service schools. This credit is evaluated by the Office of Admissions according to suggested guidelines by the American Council of Education.

Advanced Placement (AP) Examination

Denver College of Nursing accepts Advanced Placement (AP) credit only when it appears on a college transcript as “Transfer Credit Applied.” Students who have performed satisfactorily in special college-level courses while in high school, and who have passed appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) examinations conducted by the College Entrance Examination Board may have official scores submitted directly to the Office of Admissions for consideration for college credit. This office, in consultation with the appropriate department chair, determines the amount and nature of the credit and/or advanced placement granted. Students should contact www.collegeboard.com or 866-630-9305 to request official AP scores; the code for Denver College of Nursing is 7419. Documentation may be requested that verifies credit has been applied. Score must be “three or higher” to receive credit.

NOTE: All prerequisite course work listed above must be completed from a U.S. Institution.

Transfer of Credits Obtained Outside of the United States

Applicants that have completed course work in a country other than the U.S., must provide an equivalency statement from a member agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). This statement must be found equivalent or higher than a U.S. high school certificate or associate’s or bachelor’s degree equivalency from a regionally accredited institution and is subject to the approval by the Denver College of Nursing.

Transfer of Denver College of Nursing Credits to Another Institution

Transfer of credit is always the decision of the receiving college or university and is controlled by that institution. Accreditation does not guarantee transfer of credits. Students interested in transferring credits earned at Denver College of Nursing should check with the receiving institution directly to determine to what extent, if any, credits can be transferred. Denver College of Nursing does not guarantee the transferability of its credits to any other educational institution.

Criteria

In order to be considered, the institution where the credit was previously earned must be accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) at the time the student earned the credits. If students earned educational credits at a post-secondary institution outside the United States and not accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education at the time the student earned the credits, then that postsecondary institution must have equivalent accreditation standing with the central accrediting body in its country of residence at the time the student earned the credits.

Courses for which applicants would like to request transfer credit must meet the applicable criteria listed below:

• All courses must have a grade of “C” or higher on the transcript from the awarding institution.
• Learning objectives or competencies of courses submitted for transfer credit must be comparable to the courses at Denver College of Nursing in order for transfer credit to be awarded.

Additional Requirements for Transferring Credits for Specific Programs

With the exception of the RN-BSN program, nursing courses completed at another postsecondary institution are not eligible for transfer credit (i.e., a course with an “NUR” or “PNR” prefix). The only exceptions are nursing courses completed at Fortis-affiliated nursing programs. Acceptance of these nursing credits is subject to approval by the Dean of Nursing. Evidence of skill competency may be required.