Arizona and University of Cincinnati nursing programs

What UC allows in Arizona

Arizona sits among the seven states UC closes to graduate clinicals, and it's one of two, with New York, where the RN-to-BSN survives as the lone UC program. Where UC allows clinicals lists the others.

Arizona's board wants programs approved first

Unlike Oregon, Arizona has a board rule aimed squarely at this situation. The Arizona State Board of Nursing regulates APRN programs as well as pre-licensure ones, and its APRN advisory opinion for schools outside Arizona, revised in November 2020, says every such program must apply to AZBN before any student starts an Arizona clinical. A streamlined review exists when the home-state board approved the track and the school holds national accreditation. Even then, the program tracks licensure for its director, faculty, preceptors and students, logs placements, and feeds data into annual surveys or audits.

UC doesn't publish why Arizona is closed, and that approval is sought by a program, not a student. Nothing you file with AZBN opens the door; only a change to UC's list would. Arizona's Preceptor Grant Program for Graduate Students also looks unfunded for fiscal 2026 and 2027, according to the legislature's budget staff.

The RN-to-BSN exception

UC's online RN-to-BSN is the one UC nursing program you can take from Arizona. Two of its courses, NBSN4081 Focus on Community and NBSN4068 Capstone, each run 14 weeks and ask for proof of a US RN license. UC calls the program online with a direct-care requirement but publishes neither the hour count nor who arranges the experience, so ask your UC advisor before approaching a site. UC's RN-to-BSN gathers what is published.

AZBN's advisory opinion is silent on RN-to-BSN programs. Arizona has belonged to the Nurse Licensure Compact since January 19, 2018, so an Arizona multistate license also works in other compact states.

Graduate applicants and students moving to Arizona

If you live in Arizona, UC's graduate programs can't take your application. If you're enrolled and planning a move, tell your CSC before you commit: UC can't allow clinical activity in Arizona, and its pages don't say whether a student living there may keep training elsewhere. Moving during UC clinicals covers the practical side.

Should UC agree to clinicals in another state, the license picture depends on the neighbor. Utah belongs to the compact, so an Arizona multistate license reaches it. Nevada and California don't, and each wants its own RN license; California adds a BRN preceptor form as well.

How we help Arizona nurses plan around it

UC's rule is plain: graduate clinicals stay out of Arizona, and our help starts from that fact. If you'll live and train in a state UC allows, such as Utah, we map the search early, sort out the license that state needs, and begin the preceptor search as soon as UC signs off on your plan, with the Preceptor Application ready for your CSC. For the RN-to-BSN, the program that is open here, we help you prepare for the direct-care work in NBSN4081 and NBSN4068 once your UC advisor explains how UC sets it up. Tell us your situation through the form on this page.