Graduate Programs - How to Apply

Application Procedure for Nurse Practitioner Programs

• Submit online application to the Graduate School.
  • Applications will not be processed by the graduate school until they are complete. A complete application includes a resume, statement of nursing professional purpose, and official transcripts. You may upload unofficial transcripts to expedite the process; however, your admission will not be finalized until official transcripts are received by the Graduate School.
    • Statement of Nursing Professional Purpose: include your past professional Registered Nurse experiences and abilities that align with your future Advanced Practice Nursing goals. Also, highlight future professional goals as they relate to your selected Nurse Practitioner concentration. Format includes your complete legal name, 500 words or less, in Microsoft Word, 1 inch margins, 1.5 or double spaced, and 11 point Arial font.
  • GRE scores and letters of recommendation are not required.
  •  All applicants must first meet the Graduate School admission requirements. The Graduate School evaluates your application and transcripts; then, forwards the application to the School of Nursing.There is only one UTEP Graduate application process.
  • Upon completion of the application via the Graduate School , it will be reviewed by the major/concentration program director. Due to the limited number of students we are able to accept, only qualified applicants will be invited to a personal interview (face-to-face or telephone). Following the interview, the admission recommendation will be relayed to the Graduate School. The applicant will be notified of his or her admission status by the Graduate School and a personalized degree plan will be provided by the School of Nursing, along with an acceptance letter which the applicant must sign and return.
  • Admissions are accepted in the Spring and Fall semesters. Unless a particular starting semester is requested by the applicant, all applicants will be expected to start in whichever semester is upcoming.

Application Deadlines 

It may take the Graduate School up to four weeks to process applications and forward to the School of Nursing. Please account for this time.

Admissions Requirements for Nurse Practitioner Programs

1. Hold valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license from the state of current practice.
2. Completed application for the Graduate School at UTEP.
3. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or equivalent education at a foreign institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0
4. Satisfactory score on TOEFL as defined by the Graduate School for international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not completed a university degree in the United States.
5. NP applicants must have current direct patient care experience.
6. Relevant clinical experience*:
   1. AGACNP- Two to three years of critical care (ICU/CCU ). ER does not count as critical care experience.
   2. FNP- Two years of medical surgical experience. ER does not count as medical surgical experience.
   3. PNP-PC- One to two years nursing experience (pediatric preferred).
   4. PNP-AC- One to two years pediatric critical care experience.
   5. PMHNP-One to two years nursing experience (psychiatric nursing experience preferred, not required).

*Effective Fall 2019

Other Information for MSN Applicants

1. Applicants must meet the Graduate School’s criteria and be formally admitted by the School of Nursing.
2. Official transcripts are submitted institute to institute.
   1. UTEP Graduate : You do not need to submit the official transcripts if your BSN or MSN is from UTEP, you only need to upload an unofficial copy of your transcript if you have one. If you do not have an unofficial copy of your UTEP transcript then you must upload a blank page with UTEP typed on the first line and the degree you earned on the second line.
   2. Non-UTEP Graduate: You will need a official transcript for each university you have attended even if no degree was earned. Upload non-UTEP unofficial transcripts pending official ones. If you did not attend UTEP and do not have unofficial transcripts from schools attended, upload a blank page with the name of the university and the degree earned.
      
3. Do not mail or email application information to the School of Nursing unless you are asked.
4. Applicants must be admitted to a major before enrolling in courses.
5. Applicants must be admitted to a major to receive financial aid; non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.
6. The Nurse Practitioner major is online with requirements to come to UTEP’s campus a maximum of three times per semester during specialty courses.
7. The Nursing Education major offers option for on campus experience.
8. The Nursing Administration and Management major is entirely online.
9. Due to limited clinical sites, nurse practitioner students may be required to travel 200 miles or more to fulfill appropriate clinical requirements.
10. Keep a copy of your records, including syllabi, degree plans, forms, emails, correspondence, etc.
11. Two Day- On campus New Student Orientation is mandatory for all students in NP major, and highly recommended for all students in NAM and NE majors.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at a Glance:

• Curriculum aligns with the Essential of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006).
• A student cohort will be enrolled each academic year in the full time, 5 semester long program.
• The prescribed curriculum has been designed for the working advanced practice nurse (APRN).

The on-campus classes are conducted one weekend a month (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) during fall and spring and over four weekends during the summer session.

How to Apply

Application Procedure

• Submit online application to the Graduate School.
  • Applications will not be processed by the graduate school until they are complete. A complete application includes a resume,  letter of intent, three letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. You may upload unofficial transcripts to expedite the process; however, your admission will not be finalized until official transcripts are received by the Graduate School.
  • Three Letters of recommendation are required: one from employer, supervisor, or manager; one from prior academic experience (faculty or mentor); and one from a peer or colleague.
  •  All applicants must first meet the Graduate School admission requirements. The Graduate School evaluates your application and transcripts; then, forwards the application to the School of Nursing.

Application Deadlines

Admissions Requirements for DNP Program (Post-Master's Degree)

1. Eligibility for admission to UTEP Graduate School (including completion of the TOEFL with a score of 550 or higher and all requirements for the Commission on Foreign Graduate Nursing Schools (CFGNS) for international students).
2. Completion of a master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or its equivalent in the case of foreign-prepared APNs.
3. GPA of 3.0 or higher from master’s degree course work.
4. Current unencumbered registered nurse license.
5. Approval by the Board of Nursing, or its equivalent, to practice as an advanced practice nurse in the state or country in which clinical practice will occur.
6. Current national or board certification by a nationally recognized credentialing organization as an advanced practice nurse.
7. Letter of intent (LOI) to apply identifying experience with underserved populations including community service, awareness and direct knowledge of cultural elements that impact healthcare along the U.S.-Mexico border, and current teaching in a Texas nursing program.
8. Current resume or curriculum vita.
9. A personal goal statement congruent with program goals.
10. Three letters of references attesting to the applicant’s academic ability and potential, including one from a professional colleague.
11. Completion of personal interview.