Next Steps in the DNP or PhD Admissions Process
Congratulations accepted UCF College of Nursing doctoral students! You have completed the first step in practicing at the highest level with a DNP or PhD degree from UCF.
Please complete the following steps prior to beginning your first semester. Note that DNP students will have an additional step of completing clinical requirements (see below).
To reserve your place in the program, all admitted students must accept admission and complete the online Admissions Offer Reply Form.
All students are required to create a Knights email account. This will be your official UCF email account that you will use to communicate with faculty and College of Nursing staff.
Additionally, all nursing students are required to purchase a UCF Nursing student ID badge. (Note: This is NOT the same as your UCF ID with your library card number on it.)
If you do not already have one, go to the UCF card office in the John T. Washington Center located on UCF’s main campus or at one of the Card Offices at select UCF Connect Centers. You must take a photo ID with you.
Distance-learning students may order a badge through the mail.
For applicable students, complete FAFSA and view the process through UCF Office of Financial Assistance.
Some important links to review:
Federal Financial Aid Eligibility, Credit Hour Limits for Federal Aid, Excess Credit Hour Surcharge, Aggregate Loan Limits
Currently, there is more than $200,000 in scholarship aid available to nursing students – including graduate students. Learn more about Scholarships & Aid.
Every new student admitted to UCF must submit a completed Immunization Form with UCF Health Services. Students enrolled in online-only programs need to submit the waiver only.
You will not be able to enroll in courses until this is submitted.
Since DNP programs include clinical hours, all DNP students will need to complete the clinical requirements in CastleBranch (select UA 76).
The College of Nursing uses CastleBranch to collect, review, and document all required student immunizations and documents. CastleBranch is a secure platform that allows you to order your background checks, fingerprints, medical document manager and drug test online.
Upon admission, upload the following in CastleBranch:
- Immunization records
- Completed background check
- Completed drug screen
- Completed fingerprinting
- Copy of RN license
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of CPR certification (ACLS for AGACNP program; BLS for AGPCNP and FNP)
- Proof of HIPAA training (to be completed during online orientation)
Held prior to the start of classes, online orientation will provide you with information about resources available to you as a UCF student as well as an opportunity to navigate through our online class platform (Canvas).
You will receive an invitation for online orientation via your Knights email. Once you have registered, it will be available to you in webcourses.
You are required to purchase a one-time subscription to our student database, LEAP*RN. LEAP*RN will store course work, portfolios, plans of study, clinical placements, clinical hours, logs, and all evaluation data. The one-time subscription fee will allow you to access these documents for free, even after graduation.
You will receive an email with detailed instructions and a link to purchase the subscription. Please purchase it in a timely manner as you will not be able to enroll in courses until it is paid.
Once you have completed the steps above, you are eligible to register for the courses in your plan of study. If you have any questions about your plan of study or have problems registering for classes, please contact your academic advisor.
After you have registered, you will need to order course materials. You may do so by searching for your courses at the UCF Bookstore. Please note: you are not required to purchase course materials from the UCF Bookstore.
Post-Bachelor’s DNP program is taught primarily in Florida. If there are online components allowed during this degree program, you may enroll in these online components as long as you will be physically located in a Nurse Licensure Compact state for the duration of your education.
UCF College of Nursing faculty are authorized to teach in Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) states. Due to nursing education restrictions imposed by non-NLC states, UCF is unable to offer courses, clinicals, or other educational services regardless of modality within non-NLC states. Should you be physically located within a non-NLC state for more than a vacation or brief visit, regardless of your legal state of residence or the type of license you have, you will be unable to apply or continue your nursing degree program at the UCF College of Nursing. This includes, but is not limited to, students accepting traveling nurse positions in a non-NLC state. Although Colorado is a NLC state, the UCF College of Nursing cannot enroll students who will complete clinical practice hours there due to Colorado statute requirements for worker’s compensation insurance coverage.
Post-Bachelor’s DNP students may contact the College of Nursing’s Assistant Dean of Students with any questions regarding non-NLC states.
Please note: The Nurse Licensure Compact does not apply to PhD programs.
Post-Master’s DNP students must be physically located in a Nurse Licensure Compact state for the duration of their education.
UCF College of Nursing faculty are authorized to teach in Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) states. Due to nursing education restrictions imposed by non-NLC states, UCF is unable to offer courses, clinicals, or other educational services regardless of modality within non-NLC states. Should you be physically located within a non-NLC state for more than a vacation or brief visit, regardless of your legal state of residence or the type of license you have, you will be unable to apply or continue your nursing degree program at the UCF College of Nursing. This includes, but is not limited to, students accepting traveling nurse positions in a non-NLC state. Although Colorado is a NLC state, the UCF College of Nursing cannot enroll students who will complete clinical practice hours there due to Colorado statute requirements for worker’s compensation insurance coverage.
Post-Master’s DNP students may contact the College of Nursing’s Assistant Dean of Students with any questions regarding non-NLC states.
Please note: The Nurse Licensure Compact does not apply to PhD programs.
Please note: Online programs do not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. If you have questions, please contact UCF Global at global.ucf.edu or call 407-823-2337.