VN Transfer Credit Policies

Vocational Nurse students who have been admitted to the program must indicate all previous coursework taken at other institutions on Stanbridge University’s “Request for Transfer or Competency-based Credit” form. Students may request an evaluation of their previous coursework for possible transfer credit, provided that before the beginning of their program at Stanbridge University, they provide the Registrar of the university with an official transcript of record from a school that is:

  • regionally or nationally accredited;
  • or a program that is approved or accredited by a state board of practical, vocational, or registered nursing;
  • or a course of study or training in the Armed Forces of the United States.

In addition, students requesting evaluation of their transcripts must provide a course syllabus or outline for each course for which transfer credit is requested.

Transfer credit will be granted only for those courses:

  • which have been completed within the last five calendar years of the start date of the program;
  • for which a grade of “C” or better was earned; and
  • which are determined to be equivalent in credit hours, content, and academic level as those required in the student’s program at Stanbridge University.

Students will not be required to take an examination to determine whether transfer credit will be granted if transfer credit is granted. A student, however, may be tested to determine whether specific deficiencies still exist that require remediation.

Official transcripts can be mailed directly from a school or delivered in person by the student and must be sent or given to the Registrar of Stanbridge University. To be considered official, a transcript must be received by the Registrar of the university in an envelope with an unbroken seal, and the transcript must bear the official seal and/or signature of the Registrar of the school sending the transcript. For military veterans, the DD214 and accompanying documentation will serve as a transcript for the evaluation of a course of study or training in the Armed Forces. Under no circumstances will an unofficial transcript be accepted for evaluation of possible transfer credit.

If a student chooses to decline credit for any course for which the student is eligible to receive transfer credit, the student will document the declination of credit on the “Declination of Equivalent Credit” form to be filed in the student’s record. The student must accept or decline transfer credit before commencing the program for which transfer credit was requested.

Competency-based credit will be granted on the basis of a written examination for theory courses and a demonstration of the mastery of clinical objectives and a written examination for clinical courses. Each student requesting credit for previous work experience will meet with the Director of Nursing, who will describe the specific tasks, work environment, and time-frames for the written examinations for theory courses and the written examinations and demonstration of mastery of clinical objectives for clinical courses. The amount of credit which is granted will be determined on a case-by-case basis and documented in the student’s record.

Prior to taking written examinations or demonstrating mastery of clinical objectives to determine whether competency-based credit can be granted, students will be charged a one-time, non-refundable fee of $50 for each written examination and a one-time, nonrefundable fee of $100 for each demonstration of the mastery of clinical objectives. A student may appeal a denial of competency-based credit by providing a written appeal to the Director of Nursing within 3 business days after a notification of denial of credit. The Director of Nursing will review the appeal and provide the student with a copy of the decision in writing within 3 business days after receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Director of Nursing is final.