Frequently Asked Questions

Elon ABSN participates in the Central Application System for Nursing (NursingCAS). All applicants will apply online using the NursingCAS application. To apply, visit the NursingCAS website.

Note: Candidates who have already applied via NursingCAS to other programs, may use their existing NursingCAS application and designate Elon.

Your application must be verified by NursingCAS. Note: The NursingCAS verification process can take up to four weeks.

Once verified, the Office of Graduate Admissions will receive and process your application file. All applicants will receive an email from the Office of Graduate Admissions, including confirmation of receipt and login instructions to their Elon Application Status Page. It is the applicant’s responsibility to review the progress of their application by monitoring their status page.

Please allow up to two weeks from verification for your application file to be processed. If you do not receive an email within this timeline, please first check your spam/promotions tab for the sender ‘Elon University Office of Graduate Admissions.’ If you have still not received an email, please contact our team at gradadm@elon.edu for assistance.

All applicants who submit a verified NursingCAS application to Elon will receive a personalized Elon Application Status Page outlining the status of required materials. It is the applicant’s responsibility to review the progress of their application via their Elon Application Status Page. All applicable next steps and admissions decisions will be shared in the Elon Application Status Page as well.

*If you have any questions about the verification process or missing documents, please contact NursingCAS first. After speaking with NursingCAS, if you still have questions, please contact the Graduate Admissions Team at 336-278-7600 or gradadm@elon.edu.

Elon ABSN is committed to a holistic evaluation of each application file. Our program seeks to build a class of students who represent a variety of backgrounds and experiences in order to develop dedicated and empathetic healthcare professionals.

We are a competitive program and evaluate each application on its own merits. Admission decisions are based on all academic work (including undergraduate GPA), TEAs scores, health care experience, letters of recommendation, demonstrated service, and leadership ability. Motivation, maturity, interpersonal skills, knowledge of the nursing profession and the healthcare system, and the mission of the Elon nursing program are also considered.

Coursework (including prerequisites) receiving a pass/fail grade in the academic years of 2020 and 2021 will be accepted. No documentation is required from applicants.

Candidates who are offered admission and are choosing to enroll in the program must confirm their seat in the class by submitting the reply form and a $300 non-refundable enrollment deposit by the date listed in their acceptance letter. This deposit is fully credited to the student’s tuition upon matriculation to the program.

If I have outstanding prerequisites, when do they need to be completed?

Applicants may have one outstanding science prerequisite at the time of application. All prerequisites must be satisfied by the time of enrollment.

Is there a time limit on prerequisite coursework?

All science prerequisite courses must be successfully completed within 10 years prior to enrollment. For example, if you are applying to enroll in the Fall 2026 cohort, coursework must be completed in 2016 or later.

Where can I take prerequisite courses?

Prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. This includes courses taken at community colleges or online institutions.

You can update any coursework you initially marked as in-progress or planned, as well as add courses that are planned for the next term. You cannot update terms that are already verified or add terms from previous years (e.g., you forgot to add a term from 2020).

Note: you can only update your grades once during the Academic Update period. For example, if you’ve listed fall coursework as in-progress or planned, wait until that term is completed and you’ve received your final grades before you submit your Academic Update.

The ABSN Program follows the Elon University undergrad Academic Calendar. There will be an in-person orientation day the Monday before classes begin. Please plan accordingly.

Generally, you will have classes three days out of the week from 8:00-5:00 PM with the other days designated for clinicals. Clinicals operate on a rotating basis, though, so you might not have the same clinical every week. Weekend clinicals are possible based on space and availability.

Here is an example schedule from this past fall:

• Classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:30-5
• Clinicals every other Monday, Friday or Sunday (Depending on your clinical group)

In the ABSN Program, you will complete 540 clinical hours by the end of your program. These clinical hours will vary in location and specialty.

Students currently attend clinicals in the following healthcare organizations: Cone Health, UNC, Duke, NC Alamance Regional Medical Center, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Authoracare Hospice and other eligible facilities within a 50 miles radius of Elon University. Additional clinical sites are added on an annual basis.

Students are responsible for driving to clinicals and can carpool with other students.

Note: Clinical rotation locations are based on clinical availability and space, therefore, students will not know your clinical schedule until the first week of the semester. Clinical attendance is required for graduation, so please plan accordingly.

Yes! Thank you for asking. After you have been accepted to the program, paid your deposit and completed Elon’s requirements, there are specific Nursing requirements you need to complete. These requirements are necessary for clinical experiences.

You will receive an email from the Elon Nursing Department in late May detailing all requirement processes.

Here is a snapshot of clinical requirements:

• Current American Heart Association BLS/Healthcare provider CPR certification
• Proof of required vaccines and immunizations
  • Tuberculosis test (2 step skin test or blood test)
  • Annual flu vaccine
  • MMR series (2 doses)
  • Varicella (2 doses)
  • Hepatitis B series (3 doses)
  • TdaP (must be less than 10 years old with at least dose given after age 14)
• Criminal Background check and Drug Screening at an approved site
• Site specific orientations

All requirements are listed in detail on the Moodle Orientation site that you will gain access to in late May after the final application deadline.

It is not recommended to work during the ABSN program. It is possible to work PRN or part-time during breaks, but the schedule and workload during the semester makes it challenging to work while school is in session.

There are a few materials that students are required to purchase before the program begins.

• Textbooks
• Elon Nursing scrubs – available in the campus Bookstore
• Lab accessories
  • Stethoscope
  • Pen light
  • Bandage scissors

Additional details of materials needed, including linked examples, are listed on the Onboarding Moodle site available after the final application deadline.

Elon’s location, in the beautiful Piedmont region of North Carolina, gives you the best of both worlds–a small, friendly campus surrounded by large metropolitan areas that offer plenty of opportunities for having fun, living healthy and taking advantage of cultural attractions.

• Learn more about Elon, North Carolina through Elon University’s webpage or The Town of Elon.

Visit the resource linked below to learn more about local area lodging options for when visiting campus.

• Local lodging and hotels.

Visit the links below for resources that may be helpful to you in searching for off-campus housing. This is not an endorsement of any property, but simply a list of available off-campus options.

• Off Campus Housing Options
• Today at Elon – Want Ads (Housing)

Many ABSN students commute from Greensboro or Mebane. Please keep in mind that clinical sites may vary up to 50 miles away from Elon and have start times as early as 6:30 AM.

An email from Graduate Admissions will be sent to your personal email with instructions to set up your Elon email address and multi-factor authentication (via Duo Security). You should receive the set-up email 24-48 hours after making your enrollment deposit. Remember to check your junk/spam folder for this important message. If you do not receive an email from Graduate Admissions to set up your account, please contact the office at gradadm@elon.edu or (336)278-7600 for assistance.

If you are having issues with activating your Elon account, please contact the Elon Technology Service Desk at (336)278-5200.

Important: Please set up your Elon email address and multi-factor authentication as soon as possible; all email communication will be sent to your official Elon email address.

The Elon University Department of Nursing uses ATI for computer-based testing. Therefore, all students need to have a personal electronic device that meets or exceeds the requirements for using ATI (i.e., the platform used by students to complete ATI assessments).

Recent experience suggests that most of our incoming students have laptops or similar devices that are already compatible with ATI.

Important: Only compatible Windows, Mac OS, iPad, and Android systems are supported.

Check your device to ensure it meets the basic ATI system requirements using ATI website.

Students regularly use laptops in class to take notes, but it is not required; however, all students will need to have a compatible device when a computer-based exam is administered. If an individual’s device fails during an assessment, the School of Health Sciences (SHS) will have several devices available for the student to use.

In addition, please review the Elon recommended computer specifications.

All students will be oriented to using ATI when you arrive on campus.

Student Technology Guide

Please review the Student Technology Guide for information on:

• Your Elon email account: All Elon students are provided with an Elon Account (username and password) that grants access to a variety of resources including email, Moodle, LinkedIn Learning, campus computers and more.
• Multi-factor Authentication with Duo Security: Elon University uses a multi-factor authentication method (MFA), Duo Security, for logging into some web applications. In addition to your Elon email username and password, MFA uses your mobile phone, tablet or a phone number to verify your identity. This prevents anyone but you from accessing your account, even if another person knows your password. This added layer of security also reduces the number of compromised accounts that impact the university community.
• OnTrack: Students may use OnTrack to register for courses and view schedules, grades and transcripts. Please remember that your OnTrack password is separate from your Elon Account username and password.
• Moodle: Moodle is the Learning Management System employed by Elon University. In the PA program, Moodle will be used to communicate course information and materials. To access you will use the same username and password as your Elon e-mail account.