Program Clearance Requirements

The offer of admission is contingent on an acceptable criminal background check and drug screening. Specific pre-enrollment requirements vary by academic program and must be completed successfully prior to matriculation. Each student is considered on an individual basis. There are no criminal convictions or impairments that are an absolute bar to application or admission. However, admission to a program does not guarantee progression. Further, completion of an educational program does not guarantee eligibility for registered nurse licensure or specialty certification.

Additionally, should any of the program clearance requirements be returned with an incident reported, further action will be required by the student. The Office of Student Services will contact all individuals with an incident reported on their report and request additional documentation and information. Once the information is submitted, it is forwarded to the assistant dean for additional review and approval. All expenses incurred throughout the program clearance requirement are the student’s responsibility.

AHA Basic Life Support

All entering students must have a current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider card demonstrating successful completion of AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers training. This training must be valid for the duration of the student’s program and a copy of a current certification must remain in the student’s file at all times throughout enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the Office of Student Services with a current copy of their AHA certification.

Training Modules

Clinical Core Orientation and Post-Test. As a mandatory compliance requirement, all students enrolled in the ABSN Program are required to review the Clinical Core Orientation PowerPoint presentation and upload the completed certificate into the online credentialing system. Review of Clinical Core and certificate of completion is required upon matriculation and then annually during program progression.

The Clinical Core Orientation has been developed by the Consortium for Clinical Education and Practice, a professional component of the Wake Area AHEC (Area Health Education Center). Clinical Core fulfills the majority of clinical compliance requirements for agencies in which ABSN students are placed. Students may be required to complete additional agency-specific requirements prior to the start of a clinical rotation. Students will be notified of any additional requirements at the time clinical placements are announced each semester. Students enrolled in the MSN Program may be asked to complete this requirement on an individual basis depending on their clinical placement assignment. Further instruction on completion of this requirement will be given by the Office of Student Services and the Clinical Placement Office.

Community Health Training. All students enrolled in the ABSN Program are required to complete the Community Health Engagement Training module. This will be completed at the time of pre-enrollment and confirmation of completion will be verified by the Office ent Services. Should a student not complete the program or need to take a leave of absence, renewal of the module will be required upon re-entry into the program.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

Licensure Requirement

Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in an individual’s primary state of residence is required for matriculation as students in the MSN Program and DNP Program and for matriculation as post-graduate certificate students.

Professional Licensure in North Carolina and the Nurse Licensure Compact

Information about licensure procedures for the State of North Carolina can be accessed through the Licensure/Listing tab on the North Carolina Board of Nursing website. Information about the Nurse Licensure Compact, including a list of all participating states, can be accessed through the Nurse Licensure Compact section of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.

Verification of Licensure

Procedures for verification of licensure in the state where a student is licensed are as follows:

  • All students licensed by the state of North Carolina will have their licenses verified via the North Carolina Board of Nursing Online Licensure Verification Service.

  • All students from states participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact must provide proof of licensure on an annual basis to the Office of Student Services.

  • All distance-based students must provide proof of licensure on an annual basis to the Office of Student Services.

  • Any student who begins core courses while awaiting licensure must verify licensure prior to beginning the first major-specific course. If an enrolled student fails to obtain licensure after taking the N-CLEX, the student may choose to take a leave of absence for up to one year and return upon obtaining licensure or be administratively withdrawn.

Additional Certification Requirements (MSN and DNP)

Additional certification is required for admission to the Duke University School of Nursing MSN and DNP Programs in certain majors:

  • Neonatal nurse practitioner students are required to have Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification.

  • Pediatric nurse practitioner – acute care major students are required to have Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.

  • Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner – acute care major students are required to have Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.

  • Nurse Anesthesia students are required to have Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.

  • Each of these certifications must be valid for the duration of the student’s program. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation of valid certification status to the school at admission and upon renewal.