Application Timeline
Post Graduate Certificate candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year. However, application by the early application dates will enhance your potential for admission and for arranging financial assistance.
Early Application Dates:
- Priority Date #1 : December 1
- Priority Date #2 : January 15
- Priority Date #3: March 15
Final Deadlines:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – April 30 (9:00pm Pacific Time)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – April 30 (9:00pm Pacific Time)
Applications submitted after the early application dates will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Processing time may take up to 3-4 weeks.
Application Process
Applications are processed through NursingCAS, a nationwide centralized application service for graduate programs. All official transcripts must be submitted to NursingCAS, not PLU.
Follow the steps below to submit your application. If you have questions, contact the Graduate Application Counselor.
Step 1: Start your application
- Create your application account via the online application portal (preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox)
- Select the following items to start
- Term – The term when you plan to begin the program
- Institution – Pacific Lutheran University
- Program – the nursing program you are apply for
- Complete all required application questions.
- Complete Nursing licensure information and questions
Step 2: Submit all required supporting materials
- Provide two references via the online application portal.
- This will send an email notification to your recommenders to follow a link and submit their letters of recommendation. References may be academic or professional.
- Upload professional resume
- Upload your statement of professional goals. The essay should be two pages, double-spaced, 12pt font, Times New Roman. Please upload your statement in a Microsoft Word or PDF file. Please address the following questions:
- How will the Post Graduate Certificate meet your career goals?
- How will becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner meet your career goals?
- What knowledge do you have of the NP role you are applying for?
- Have you had any experience with the role and what aspects of the role appeal to you professionally?
- Pay the nonrefundable application processing fee.
Step 3: Submit official transcripts to NursingCAS
Official Transcripts (for US and English-Canadian Schools)
- Official transcripts must be sent to NursingCAS from all US and English-Speaking Canadian institutions you listed in the College Attended section of your application. (For international and French Canadian transcripts see the next section.)
- PLU graduates also need to submit PLU transcripts to NursingCAS.
- See NursingCAS instructions for sending official transcripts.
Credential Evaluation (for coursework outside the US)
If you attended a school or earned your degree outside of the United States, you are required to submit your coursework to World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course US equivalency report. This report should then be sent directly to NursingCAS from the evaluation service along with the official transcripts sent by the schools. Visit World Education Services (WES) website to follow its instructions and arrange for your documents to be delivered to WES.
Sending Transcripts Electronically (for US and English-Canadian transcripts)
- NursingCAS only accepts electronic transcripts from Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. If your school does not offer either of these services, your transcript must be sent by mail. NursingCAS cannot accept transcripts sent via email.
- When selecting the recipient, choose Educational organization, and then select NursingCAS.
- Include your full NursingCAS ID number when entering the NursingCAS mailing address.
- See NursingCAS instructions for sending electronic transcripts
Sending Transcripts by Mail
Download and print the Transcript Request Form under each school you listed in the College Attended section of your application. Send the Transcript Request Form to your school.
Your registrar should mail your paper transcript to the following address:
NursingCAS
P.O. Box 9201
Watertown, MA 02471
Step 4: Provide other documents
This is not a part of the online application. You will be invited to complete the background check via CastleBranch if admission is offered. School of Nursing will provide you the instructions at that time.
In addition to the documents listed in the above sections, please also submit the following materials:
- Credential Evaluation – If you attended a school or earned your degree outside of the United States, you are required to submit your coursework to World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course US equivalency report. This report should then be sent directly to NursingCAS from the evaluation service along with the official transcripts sent by the schools. Visit World Education Services (WES) website to follow its instructions and arrange for your documents to be delivered to WES.
- English translation is also required if the documents are in a language other than English. Translation must be provided by a university, government official, organization, or a certified translation service, example: American Translators Association.
- Proof of English proficiency
- Submit official TOEFL or IELTS score report through NursingCAS. Score requirements can be found here.
In order to be sent a form I-20, admitted international students must:
- Pay the enrollment deposit (if admitted)
- Submit a Passport picture page
- Submit the Declaration of Finance form and Proof of financial support dated within 12 months. English translation is required if the documents are not issued in English.
If you or your recommenders have any questions or technical problems with the online application portal and recommendation process, status, navigation, missing credentials, etc., visit the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center website.