The College Network, Inc. (TCN) has recently been informed that the Virginia Board of Nursing made changes to its regulations governing the practice of nursing education. The regulation change applies to all students enrolled in a campus-based or distance learning nursing education program. Regulation VAC 90-20-120 (e) calls for all RN nursing programs to provide a minimum of 500 hours of supervised direct client care. Any student who enrolled in a distance learning nursing education program on or before April 2, 2008, that does not meet the clinical requirements, must complete the program by December 31, 2009 in order to be eligible for RN licensure by examination or endorsement in Virginia.

As a result of this regulation change, TCN was informed that Excelsior College's^® associate degree nursing program does not meet the clinical requirements of 500 hours of supervised direct client care as required by 18 VAC 90-20-120 (e).

TCN is notifying you of this situation based on our interpretation of the information provided by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Please refer to http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/nursing/guidelines/90-20%20Distance%20Learning.doc for additional information. Students who enrolled in the Excelsior College associate nursing degree program before April 2, 2008 and graduate before December 31, 2009 will not be affected by this ruling and will remain eligible for RN licensure in Virginia.

Any students who have enrolled in the Excelsior College* associate degree nursing program since April 2, 2008 will not be eligible for licensure by examination or endorsement in Virginia and will need to make alternative arrangements to earn their RN degrees.

For those of you who have already obtained your Virginia RN license, the information in this letter does not pertain to you.

If you have not yet enrolled with Excelsior College*, please contact TCN's Academic Support department at 1-800-634-1443 or academics@college-net.com to discuss the current options available to you.