I am currently an Excelsior College nursing student, having found the program to have an excellent reputation and permitting appropriate credit for previous clinical experience.  When entering the program I had five years of hands on experience as an EMT/Paramedic both in EMS organizations (911 responding), Urgent Care and hospital settings representing about 2000 hours.  As part of my paramedic program I completed four semesters of precepted clinical training in three different hospitals and in various departments.  In addition I completed more than 50 precepted medic calls on a medic unit.  So, I think Excelsior's recognition of this considerable clinical experience, that easily meets, and in my case exceeds that obtained by a student nurse through a traditional RN program is well justified.  I know of numerous paramedics that have considered enrolling in the Excelsior program, until they learned that Virginia had blocked licensing for new graduates.  This is clearly a major loss to the state of Virginia's residents.  At the time the regulation was changed regarding Excelsior's gradutes it was unclear what the basis could have been for the change.  When I spoke with a person in the health department last year they did not know any details as to the basis either.  From my perspective I would like to know that there is some fact-based rationale for exclusion of Excelisor's students, such as statistically significant differences in test scores or license actions.  For me not being able to be licensed in Virginia is a major inconvience.  I will have to be licensed in another state, and work in another state or federal facility.  In any event I will be looking at commutes of one hour or more to work as a nurse.