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Student nurses speaking as a group.

Concurrent Enrollment Program: What you need to know


The Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) gives you the opportunity to earn an associate degree from a community college and finish your bachelor’s degree from NAU at the same time. This page provides information for the Arizona Community Colleges.

Undergraduate students in N A U's nursing program explore the library on the N A U Yuma campus.

About the Concurrent Enrollment Program

Join NAU’s Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) and fast-track your nursing career. Earn both your Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the same time. NAU partners with community colleges across Arizona to offer flexible CEP pathways for statewide students. CEP is a true concurrent program, meaning you finish your community college and NAU nursing courses simultaneously. Upon graduating from both programs, you can get licensed and apply for employment as a registered nurse (RN).

“The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or post-graduate APRN certificate program at Northern Arizona University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.”

Program information and requirements

NAU CEP offers a 90/30 credit split, this means that you can transfer in 90 credits from the community college, and you will need to complete just 30 credits at NAU to meet the BSN requirements. NAU is the only CEP partner that will accept 90 community college transfer credits. All NAU CEP classes are completed online.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for participation in the CEP, the following is required:

  • Completed attendance at an in-person or online community college Nursing CEP Information Session.
  • Completion of all community college Nursing prerequisite requirements.
  • Acceptance into a community college Nursing program for CEP

Community college course prerequisites/co-requisites

  • First Year Composition
    • (ENG 101 & 102 or ENG 107 & 108)
  • Chemistry (CHM 130/130LL) or one year high school Chemistry
  • Biology (BIO156 or 181) or one year high school Biology 201
  • Critical Reading (CRE 101) or test exempt
  • College Math (MAT 142)
  • Introduction to Psychology (PSY 101)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II (BIO 201 & BIO 202)
  • Microbiology (BIO 205)
  • Humanities Elective (2 credits)
  • Nurse Assistant (NA) Course

***Courses may vary per community college. NAU may award transfer credit per course equivalency.

NAU co-requisite courses

  • Statistics (PSY 230 or MAT 206)
  • AGEC or remaining NAU liberal studies requirements or baccalaureate degree

Steps to success

  • Register for and attend a CEP information session.
  • Seek advisement through community college nursing about course requirements for the associate degree in nursing and transcript evaluation.
  • Seek advisement through NAU about CEP scholarship opportunities.
  • Complete community college nursing requirements, apply and be accepted into the community college nursing program and to CEP.
  • Upon CEP acceptance, you will need to accept your placement by completing the steps outlined in your acceptance email.
  • Attend the mandatory virtual NAU Orientation Session.
  • Successfully complete all community college Nursing ADN and NAU BSN classes.
  • ADN and BSN will be awarded, and you will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN.

Health and safety requirements

Community college nursing and NAU’s College of Nursing have health and safety requirements that must be met prior to enrolling and participating in any clinical experiences. Healthcare agencies throughout the state require vaccinations, titers, and other healthcare related requirements. Examples of these requirements are background checks, CPR, drug and nicotine testing, etc. These requirements are subject to change per healthcare agency contracts with the educational institution and students must be compliant with agency requirements prior to and throughout the program. These are part of the community college nursing requirements, and you will supply your documentation to your community college nursing advisor.

Tuition and fees

University tuition and fees are managed by Student and Departmental Account Services. The university also manages the college fees students are required to pay.

Scholarship opportunities

A Northern Arizona University nursing tudent working in a patient room.

Students who are applying to the CEP may qualify for the 2NAU Scholarship. Sign up to participate in 2NAU as early as possible to qualify for the 2NAU Scholarship and receive maximum benefits of this college pathway program.

You may also qualify for the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship.

Scholarship awards can be combined. Please meet with your NAU representative to discuss ways to maximize your scholarship opportunities.

Credit courses required

All of the information regarding credits and courses required can be found on the Academic Catalog.

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is an EEO/AA institutions and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information in their programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns regarding NAU, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: 928-523-3312. For additional information, Visit NAU Equity and Access for additional information.