Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How long has Concordia University - Portland had a Nursing program?
    The Nursing program at Concordia was started in June 2005.
  2. Is Concordia University's Nursing program an Associate's degree or a Bachelor's degree?
    Concordia University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. When students are graduated from the program, they are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become a Registered Nurse in the State of Oregon (or any U.S. state of their choosing).
  3. Is Concordia University's Nursing program accredited, and through whom?
    Concordia University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Concordia's Nursing program is fully approved by the Oregon State Board of Nursing and is working towards full national accreditation.
  4. Does Concordia University's Nursing program require fulltime attendance, or is part-time to three quarters time available?
    Concordia University's Nursing program is a full time program.
  5. Can students in Concordia University's Nursing program work at least part-time?
    The Nursing program at Concordia University, as with most schools, is very demanding. Therefore, students are encouraged to subsidize their schooling with grants, scholarships, loans, and other financial aid. Working part-time is discouraged and working full-time will be impossible.
  6. How long does Concordia University's Nursing program take to complete?
    Concordia University offers a four year (Bachelor of Science) Nursing degree. The first two years consist of General Education Requirements and Nursing Pre-Requisite courses. If you are transferring in credits it may not take you two years to complete Pre-Requisite courses. Once those requirements are completed (either at Concordia University or another college), the Nursing Cohort program is two years of full-time attendance (including Summers).
  7. How many students are accepted into Concordia University's Nursing program each year?
    Concordia University typically accepts 40 students each year. Historically, about a 3/4 of these students have been CU students, entering via the Freshman Advantage or the Sophomore Advantage (Admit to Major).
  8. How does Concordia University's Nursing program prioritize applicants?
    1. Concordia University Freshman Advantage students who meet all of their benchmarks
    2. Concordia University Sophomore Advantage students who meet the 3.0 Cumulative GPA benchmark to qualify for the Admit to Major Process
    Students who must complete the full BSN Application through the Office of Admission (including external candidates)
  9. Do I have to complete Religion courses before I can apply to Concordia University's Nursing program?
    No. Religion is the only General Education Requirement that does not need to be completed prior to entrance into Concordia University's BSN cohort. Students who do not have their religion coursework completed will fulfill this requirement during the summer sessions, in addition to their Nursing courses. World Religions can be completed at any accredited college, whereas REL 221: New Testament must be completed at Concordia University.
  10. If I tested directly into Statistics, do I have to complete a College Algebra course?
    Yes. All nursing students must complete the equivalent to Concordia University's Math 123: College Algebra in addition to Math 231: Research & Statistics. For equivalent courses at your college or university, please review the Concordia University Transfer Guide.
  11. Will my Speech or Literature courses count toward the Communications requirement?
    No. Writing Composition courses and higher level Writing courses (Technical Writing) are the only courses that will fulfill the Communications requirement for Concordia University Nursing students. For equivalent courses at your college or university, please view the Concordia University Transfer Guide.
  12. What counts as a Humanities course?
    Concordia University accepts courses in Literature, World Civilization, Non-US History, Art History, and Music History to fulfill the Humanities requirement. Foreign Language courses do not count as Humanities courses.

About CNA Requirements

  1. I noticed that CNA training is required. If I have my certification, will that meet this requirement? What if my certification is not current? What if it is not from Oregon?
    Applicants to Concordia University's Nursing program must show proof of completing an approved CNA course (CNA I level, not CNA II). This training must be completed no later than the first day of classes for the Fall semester of the BSN cohort program. It is strongly recommended, however, that this requirement be met prior to application to the BSN cohort. Students who do not have their CNA certificate prior to the Fall semester of the BSN cohort will not be allowed to continue in the program.

    State certification is not required by Concordia University but will satisfy CU's requirement. Additionally, certification is essential if a student wishes to work as a CNA. In the Fall semester of the BSN cohort, students are immediately expected to capably practice basic personal care skills in a long term care setting so that professional nursing skills can begin to be developed. Therefore, training should be recent. Certification from a state other than Oregon is acceptable.

  2. When is the absolute latest that the CNA needs to be completed by?
    You need to be completed with your CNA training no later than the first day of classes for the Fall semester of the BSN cohort program.

  3. When is the best time to complete my CNA?
    The best time to complete the CNA is the summer before your sophomore year. The reason is that the CNA training takes a significant amount of time (75 hours of clinical experience in a nursing home and/or other medical site plus 75 hours of in-class training, in Oregon). At Concordia University, the BSN cohort starts the summer after you complete your prerequisites. Ideally, you do not want to work on your CNA and take your first nursing class at the same time.

    Additionally, once you complete the CNA training you have the option to take the licensure test and work as a CNA. This is strongly recommended and can add to your well-roundedness as a BSN candidate. The sooner you complete the training course, the sooner you can take the licensure test and the more work experience you can accumulate.

  4. Do I need to take the test and get my CNA License?
    No, however gaining work experience as a CNA is always recommended (as noted above). The only requirement is that you complete CNA training from a site that is approved by the state the program is in.

  5. Where can I find a list of approved CNA sites?
    The Oregon State Board of Nursing website has a list of approved CNA programs for the state of Oregon. From the menu on the left side of the screen, select "Educational Programs and Pass Rates." In the third column, under "NA/MA/CNA2 Programs," click on "a list of currently offered programs."

    If you are looking for an approved program in the state of Washington, you may visit https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/Professional/nat/search.aspx

    If you do not live in Oregon or Washington, you may check with your State Board of Nursing for recommended programs.