- The Professional Examination occurs after a majority of the program coursework is completed and/or prior to enrollment in the final semester of the DNP program.
- Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 credit hours in the term which the Professional Exam is completed.
- Students MUST apply in time to allow the advisor and College of Nursing to approve the application at least two weeks prior to the exam date. This is a hard deadline for the graduate school.
- The Professional Exam must be completed prior to the first day of the following semester as indicated on the Academic Calendar, for a student to progress towards graduation at the end of the following semester. Professional Exam must take place during university business hours. The Graduate School will allow an exam to start as early as 7:30am or as late as 3:30pm to accommodate the 2 hours needed for the exam. Exams may occur during academic breaks, but not when university offices are officially closed.
- Students who do not successfully complete the Professional Exam by the end of the current semester cannot graduate at the end of the following semester, and their time to degree will be extended.
- Students who plan to take the Professional Examination during summer are responsible for making certain that committee members are available.
- Students are not permitted to complete the Professional Examination in the same term as when the Final Project is defended.
Click here to view a Professional Examination timeline.