Your coursework here at the UTMB School of Nursing will require you to have access to a computer along with several software packages. Learn the recommended and required pieces of technology you will need to be successful during the program.

Standard Computer Requirements →

As a student at a medical health institution, you are required to maintain health insurance. Enrollment in the UT Student Health Insurance Plan is automatic at the time of course registration, and the cost of the policy is included in your tuition and fee bill.

UTMB students holding comparable coverage may be eligible to waive enrollment in the UT Student Health Insurance Plan by visiting Academic Health Plans. The waiver submission period varies each semester.

The UT System student health insurance requirements comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The UT Student Health Insurance Plan exceeds the requirements of the new law, and we believe it is a good value for coverage. The Academic Health Plans website contains more information about the UT Student Health Insurance Plan and using health insurance in the United States. Additional information on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is available from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Please remember that insurance coverage is mandatory, and failure to complete this requirement will prevent your enrollment for courses at UTMB. If you have any questions concerning health insurance, please visit Enrollment Services or call (409) 772-9815.

All new students must submit an official transcript for any courses completed after applying. New BSN students must ensure that all 60 prerequisite hours have been completed. Transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to Enrollment Services.

CastleBranch - A notification will be sent to students' UTMB email when submission can begin.

BLS for Health Care Providers - All applicants selected for admission must complete a BLS course for Health Care Providers which covers infant, child, adult, and two-man CPR. Please visit the American Heart Association web site to locate a course in your geographical area.

Immunization Requirements - Evidence of immunizations required by UTMB must be submitted to Student Health for verification and processing, including documentation for COMPLETED three dose series of Hepatitis B vaccines and a positive Hepatitis B antibody titer. All immunization requirements must be met to proceed in a clinical course. Students who are not in compliance with the above policy will not be permitted to participate in clinical activities. All evidence of immunizations for BSN ONLY needs to be submitted to Student Health, for Graduate students all immunizations must be sent to CastleBranch.

UTMB School of Nursing Criminal background checks have been introduced into hospital and school affiliation agreements in keeping with a Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) standard. Individual institutions have been given the responsibility for mandating this clearance for students. Therefore in keeping with this policy, all UTMB students will be required to undergo a security clearance for enrollment at UTMB. UTMB has designated CastleBranch to complete the background check required for the security clearance of all new students. Results from any other company will not be accepted.

The UTMB SON has also designated CastleBranch to conduct drug testing for all new students. A notification will be sent to students' UTMB email when registration for both requirements can begin.

Traditional BSN Students ONLY — Texas Board of Nursing Background Clearance

The mission of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON or Board) is to protect and promote the welfare of the people of Texas by ensuring that each person holding a license as a nurse in the State of Texas is competent to practice safely. The BON is required to obtain criminal history record information for a person accepted for enrollment in a nursing educational program that prepares the person for initial licensure as a registered nurse by requiring the person to submit to the board a set of fingerprints that meets the requirements of Subsection (a), S.B. No. 1058.

The BON requires applicants to complete a background clearance prior to acceptance/enrollment in all schools of nursing in Texas. The UTMB SON will initiate this background process and the BON will conduct the background/fingerprint check. An email will be sent from the BON vendor, IdentoGo, with instructions for registering for fingerprinting.

Please note: To ensure you can be accepted by a nursing school and take the NCLEX exam upon completion, applicants who can answer "Yes" to any of the following questions or criminal offenses, including those pending appeal, may be contacted by the BON to submit paperwork for a Declaratory Order after their fingerprints are submitted.

• been convicted of a misdemeanor
• been convicted of a felony
• pled nolo contendere, no contest, or guilty
• received deferred adjudication
• been placed on community supervision or court-ordered probation, whether or not adjudicated guilty
• been sentenced to serve jail or prison time? court-ordered confinement
• been granted pre-trial diversion
• been arrested or have any pending criminal charges
• been cited or charged with any violation of the law
• been subject of a court-martial; Article 15 violation; or received any form of military judgment/punishment/action (You may only exclude Class C misdemeanor traffic violations.)
• Are you currently the target or subject of a grand jury or governmental agency investigation?
• Has any licensing authority ever refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, cancelled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license, certificate or multi-state privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?
• Within the past five (5) years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder which impaired or does impair your behavior, judgment, or ability to function in school or work?
• Within the past five years have you been addicted to and/or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug?

Instructions for the Declaratory Order are available on the Board of Nursing website. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Texas Board of Nursing.