If you’re trying to figure out how to transfer credits to nursing school — or wondering “do nursing schools accept online prerequisites or other transfer credits?” — you’re not the only one! Many nursing schools accept transfer credit and getting your nursing school credit transfer approved can save you a ton of time and money on your way to becoming a nurse!
Whether you’ve taken classes online, at a community college, or are looking to take courses through StraighterLine, transfer credit can help you skip repeat coursework and fast-track your program.
In this post, we’ll cover exactly how to transfer your credits step-by-step including how to seamlessly transfer your StraighterLine courses to nursing programs (more than 180+ partner schools and 3,000+ institutions have accepted our courses)!
Consider this your quick and easy guide to understanding how nursing transfer credits work.
Get Guaranteed Credit Transfer for Nursing Prerequisites with StraighterLine
StraighterLine makes it easy to get credit for your nursing prerequisites. More than 3,000 colleges and universities accept StraighterLine courses, including 180+ schools that partner with us for direct credit transfer — meaning you can get started on your nursing journey with confidence.
TL;DR A Guide to Transfer Credit for Nursing Students
Wondering how nursing schools evaluate transfer credit? It’s usually a combination of where the course was taken, whether it matches their own syllabus, and if the class level matches requirements for your degree program.
The step-by-step process for getting transfer credit for nursing students includes finding out if your school accepts transfer credits, completing your course, and submitting your transcript for credit.
Lots of schools accept StraighterLine credit for nursing prerequisite courses! Enrolling with a partner school or submitting your course for pre-approval is the best way to guarantee that your credit will transfer.
How do nursing schools evaluate transfer credit?
Before you start sending out transcripts, it’s important to understand how nursing schools actually evaluate transfer credits. Most programs look at a few key factors:
Where the course was taken
Whether it matches their own syllabus,
If the class level (intro, intermediate, lab required, etc.) lines up with their requirements
Accreditation also matters — a lot. Nursing schools typically prefer credits from institutions that are regionally accredited or from course providers that they've already vetted. If you’re bringing in online prerequisites, this is usually the first box they check. All that said, even courses that meet the criteria might not get approved for transfer to your nursing school. Some schools might have limits around older credits, in-person lab courses, or course equivalency. That’s why getting a credit evaluation is so important!
Why Get Transfer Credit with StraighterLine?
The StraighterLine Transfer Advantage
Are you looking at taking some of your nursing prerequisites online? All of StraighterLine’s healthcare courses are ACE-recommended, meaning the American Council on Education has reviewed and recommended them for college credit. Our credits are also accepted by 3,000+ schools, with transfer guaranteed at any of our 180+ partner schools. With a transfer guarantee, you can trust that your coursework will apply to your degree in just a few clicks!
A Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring Your StraighterLine Credit for Nursing School
Step 1. Find Out If Your School Accepts Your StraighterLine Course for Credit
Is your nursing school a StraighterLine Partner College? Transfer with confidence! Our 180+ Partner Colleges have pre-approved transfer credit on agreed-upon StraighterLine courses so you can sign up for your course right away. Explore partner schools.
Does your school accept ACE Learning Evaluations? All StraighterLine courses are ACE-approved and more than 3,000 colleges and universities accept ACE Learning Evaluations. Get in touch with your school’s admissions or registrar’s office to ask if they accept ACE Learning Evaluations.
Can you ask your nursing school for a course transfer review? If your school isn’t a StraighterLine partner and doesn’t readily accept ACE Learning Evaluations, you can still email your academic advisor or university registrar to request a course transfer review. We can help you do this.
Step 2. Enroll and complete your StraighterLine course with a score of 70% or higher
You can get started with your learning as soon as you confirm your school accepts StraighterLine courses for credit! StraighterLine has healthcare online courses that make completing your general general education or prerequisite courses for nursing school more flexible and affordable.
When you complete your course with a passing score of 70% or higher, your course will be eligible to transfer.
Step 3. Request your transcript — we’ll send it directly to your school!
Once you’ve completed your StraighterLine courses, you can get your transcript from StraighterLine or ACE. Be sure to send the transcript that’s accepted by your school to avoid any delays! You can do this through your Student Dashboard.
Step 4: Verification
Once your transcript has been sent, it may take a bit of time for your program to review transfer credits — a quick follow-up email or portal check-in helps keep things moving.
Step 5: Documentation
Be sure to save your communications throughout the process. Having clear documentation can help prevent any possible issues if something needs to be verified or re-reviewed later on.
Want more information about how to credit StraighterLine transfer? Download our PDF Credit Transfer Guide for complete details.
School Directory
Taking your nursing prerequisites with StraighterLine? Partner schools with guaranteed transfer offer the most straightforward path, giving you clear course maps and assurance that their credits will carry over. Here’s a list of StraighterLine partners with nursing programs.
Although every school decides individually whether they accept StraighterLine credit, many offer straightforward transfer policies. For example, state universities tend to follow broad policies, usually accepting most general education and core science courses as long as GPA requirements are met. That said, nursing program placement can still be competitive!
Private nursing programs often review credits more case-by-case, which can mean greater flexibility but also tighter standards for science and clinical coursework. Community college ADN programs typically accept transfer credits with a minimum grade and may require students to complete a certain portion of the program in-house before graduating. Hospital-based programs tend to have extra steps — like health clearances, background checks, or skill validations — making their transfer process a bit more specialized and program-dependent.
Success Stories from StraighterLine Students
Jason — a proud military veteran and father of six — needed the flexibility to balance family, work, and school. With StraighterLine's self-paced, ACE-approved courses, he completed a full year of prerequisites in just a few months. That momentum helped him move straight into a Master of Science in Nursing program — a mission accomplished on his own terms.
Here’s more about Jason’s experience getting his degree with StraighterLine.
Common Questions & Challenges of Transfer Credit for Nursing Students
When transfer challenges come up like credits being initially denied, it often helps to review the school’s policies, gather the right documentation, and follow their appeal process step-by-step. Many students succeed by submitting an appeal (submitting syllabi, learning outcomes, or transcripts that clarify course content) — StraighterLine’s support team can guide you through what to provide and how to communicate with your school.
Planning your credit transfer timeline is just as important. Ordering transcripts early, understanding processing times, and working backward from nursing program deadlines help you avoid surprises. This is especially true if you’re dealing with science course recency rules or expired prerequisites. If timing is tight, some schools offer expedited reviews or transcript processing, making it easier to stay on track for your intended start date.
Still need support? We’ve got Transfer Support Services
StraighterLine includes support that will make your transfer process much smoother. Our academic advisors can help you choose the best courses, while the transcript ordering service and transfer-verification follow-up ensure your documents reach the right place on time. If questions come up, the appeal support process can guide you through next steps and help you present the strongest case possible.
Have questions? Chat with an Enrollment Specialist to get the answers you’re looking for.
FAQs
How do I know if my credits will transfer?
Check your school’s transfer policy and course equivalency tools — most schools publish clear guidelines, and StraighterLine’s Transfer Specialists can help you confirm how your courses are likely to apply.
What if my school isn't a StraighterLine partner?
You can still submit your StraighterLine transcript for evaluation; many non-partner schools accept credits after reviewing the course syllabus and learning outcomes.
What documentation will I need?
Most schools just need an official StraighterLine transcript, but having syllabi or learning outcomes handy can speed up the review if they need more detail.
Can I transfer partial credit for a course?
Some schools allow partial or elective credit if the course content aligns to theirs, but it’s usually awarded on a case-by-case review of your transcript and syllabus.
What grades are required for transfer?
Most nursing programs require a C or higher for general courses and a B or higher for key sciences, but your school’s catalog will list the exact grade requirements.
What to do if credits are initially denied?
Start by asking for a clarification — often sending a syllabus or course breakdown is enough to resolve the issue and get the credit reconsidered.
What does an appeal process look like?
Appeals are usually simple: you submit a short request with your syllabus or learning objectives, and the registrar or department reviews it for a final decision.
How long does it take to transfer StraighterLine credit to my nursing school?
Once you order your transcript, most schools process it within 1–2 weeks, but checking your program’s deadlines and ordering early keeps everything on schedule.
