Consistent with our mission to increase educational access and belief that sound public policy should be predicated on evidence, Excelsior College has advanced and supports the proposed regulatory amendment. The amendment will serve to restore Virginia's policy of licensing Excelsior College graduates by examination and endorsement, without additional stipulations, as had been done for a quarter century prior to 2008.

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to provide objective indicators of quality to assure that graduates of non-traditional, competency-based nursing programs have met rigorous academic standards and are well prepared as candidates for RN licensure. It will renew access to a longstanding, proven alternative path to becoming an RN for professional, working adult Virginians with appropriate healthcare experience.