The University of New Mexico
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Admission Process

Hold a bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.S.N.) from an accredited (N.L.N.A.C. or C.C.N.E.) nursing program, with an upper-division major in nursing. (Graduates from non-accredited programs and R.N.s with a baccalaureate degree in non-nursing fields are considered on an individual basis.) R.N.s with non-nursing baccalaureate have one opportunity to pass a Community Health test prior to the application deadline. Results of the exam must be received within 5 days of application deadline.

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for baccalaureate work.
  • Registered nurse licensure (or eligibility for licensure) in New Mexico.
  • A minimum of one-year work experience as a registered nurse. (May vary with concentration.)
  • R.N.s with a non-nursing baccalaureate must pass a Community Health test prior to admission.
  • Community Health Test Guide (Click here to download the guide)
    • Note: The Community Health test is only offered by arrangement. You must have the results submitted within 5 days of the application deadline, so you must plan ahead. Please contact the advisement office for information regarding administration.
    • Cost is $35; payment must be made before the test is ordered. Contact Sara Frazier to schedule the test. SaFrazier@salud.unm.edu

For Application Deadlines click here and select Master's Program.

Note: Early application is recommended. Most courses cannot be taken until the student is accepted into the program and is eligible for licensure in New Mexico.

Overview of Materials Needed to Apply

Admission to the College of Nursing requires two separate applications; one to UNM Admissions, and one to the College of Nursing.

  1. UNM Application/Residency Form and official transcripts to be submitted to UNM Office of Admissions at http://www.unm.edu/apply. Please apply to UNM for graduate study for the semester that corresponds with the concentration that you are applying for. The MSN for Advanced Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Nurse-Midwifery (MIDW) admit only to the summer term. Nursing Administration (NADM) and Nursing Education (NUED) admit only to the spring term.
  2. Online application for the College of Nursing at http://hsc.unm.edu/consg/misc/applications.shtml
  3. Transcripts: submit one official transcript from EACH academic institution you have attended. This includes the University of New Mexico, although for UNM an unofficial UNM transcript will suffice.
    • Do not assume that any transcript is irrelevant to your proposed program of study.
    • Request that your previous institution(s) send the transcripts directly to you in a sealed envelope. You will be requesting 2 copies – one for Office of Admissions and one for the College of Nursing. When you call to request your transcripts make sure the individual transcripts are provided in 2 separate envelopes. DO NOT OPEN THE TRANSCRIPT ENVELOPES. Those that have been opened or tampered with will be considered unofficial and will delay the admissions process.
    • Please order your transcripts early, so that you do not miss the departmental deadline! Do not have your transcripts sent directly to the College of Nursing. Make sure you order them early enough as you will submit them all together in one packet to the College of Nursing by 5 p.m. (MST) on the deadline date. Transcripts received after the College of Nursing deadlines will not be considered, and you will need to re-apply.
  4. Letter of Intent: This is your opportunity to tell the program faculty about yourself. It need not be extremely detailed, but should provide information about your areas of interest, previous experience, and goals. This will be submitted within the online application process. We have included tips for writing the letter of intent within the online application process.
  5. Recommendations: Within the online application process you will be asked to provide contact information for 3 recommendation providers who will complete and submit a recommendation form on your behalf.
  6. Your current Resume will be submitted within the online application process.
  7. A copy of your RN License is to be sent to the College of Nursing along with your official transcripts.

Note: RNs with a non-nursing baccalaureate degree have one opportunity to pass a Community Health test prior to the application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the Nursing Advisement office has received a copy of the results within five days of the College of Nursing application deadline. The Community Health Test Guide, and test scheduling procedure, is available within the online application process. Cost is $35.

For more information contact:
Student Advisement Office
College of Nursing
MSC09 5350
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Phone: (505) 272-4223