For questions about this section please contact CON-Compliance@usf.edu.  

Start with this video: Grad Compliance Orientation Video 8-25.mp4 | Powered by BoxPreview

All students entering the USF College of Nursing are required to open a DISA/Castle Branch profile online. The cost is $201.49. This profile must always be kept current to remain in compliance with the College of Nursing and clinical facilities. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

• You will purchase DISA/Castle Branch using an in-state or out-of-state package code. 

  • If you are residing in the state of Florida at the time you are completing DISA/Castle Branch, use code UE05
    
    

  • If you are residing outside of the state of Florida at the time you are completing DISA/Castle Branch, use code UE05osfp

  • Important: out-of-state is considering where you are physically residing at the time you purchase DISA/Castle Branch and not your state of residence.  If you are currently residing out-of-state, you must purchase with the out-of-state code.

• Once purchased you will receive instructions from DISA/Castle Branch within 48 hours.

For technical questions regarding your package order, please contact DISA/Castle Branch at 1-888-666-7788.  

Please note: If you are a student from another university who previously used DISA or Castle Branch, you are required to create a new account under the USF code.

For questions about this section please contact CON-Compliance@usf.edu. 

Please download the Technical Standards form here and upload it to your DISA/Castle Branch account. This form must be completed by a medical provider and submitted by the Friday of the first week of classes. Failure to submit the completed form prior to the deadline may result in your admission to the program being rescinded. Note: If you do not have a medical provider, you can see student health services. Please note that their services will not be available to you until the first week of classes.

You must complete your background check, drug test, and fingerprints immediately upon being admitted to the College of Nursing.  You must meet the deadline given in your onboarding email or your admission may be rescinded.  All other DISA/Castle Branch requirements must be completed by the first day of the semester.

• There is no additional cost for the fingerprint. The cost was included in the purchase of your DISA/Castle Branch account.  You should be able to complete the process in two days.

• The urine drug test must be completed within 72 hours after receiving your instructions

• If the drug test is not completed within 72 hours of purchase, an additional cost will be required as the drug test package will need to be re-purchased

Please refer to the Guide to Castle Branch 2025 Guide to Castle Branch MSN Fall 2025 (Version 11).pdf | Powered by BoxPreview for complete instructions on completing all DISA/Castle Branch requirements. 

IMPORTANT: If you have an item that is rejected by DISA/Castle Branch, please read their comments on why it was rejected and how to correct.

For questions about this section or process please call Student Health Services at (813) 974-2331 or (813) 445-4976. 

*Please Note: This is a USF requirement to be completed through Student Health Services before you can register for classes. This process is separate from the College of Nursing's DISA/Castle Branch requirements. The two entities do not share information. This MUST be completed separately from DISA/Castle Branch. 

Per USF Policy 33-002, it is mandatory for USF students to submit all required immunization documentation in English and/or the completed Medical History Form prior to course registration. A hold preventing registration in hybrid and in-person classes will remain on your account until you have fulfilled the following requirements. This hold will not restrict registration in fully online classes.  Therefore, it is recommended you register for your online classes as soon as possible and, if applicable, go back and register for any hybrid or in-person classes you have once the IM hold is removed. 

1. Measles & Rubella Immunity (Required):

   • Submit proof of 2 MMRs given after 1st birthday, or

   • IgG quantitative lab report (performed within last 5 years). Lab report must include result and reference range.

2. Hepatitis B Immunity (Recommended): 

   • Submit proof of immunity to Hepatitis B by providing 3 vaccine dates or

   • Quantitative lab report  or

   • Waive this recommended vaccine through your student Studnet Self Service or MyBullsPath account (for Tip Sheet: click here) or on the USF Medical History form.

   • For important information on Hepatitis B from the CDC click click here

3. Meningitis Immunity (Recommended):  

   • Submit proof of Meningitis vaccination administered after 16th birthday or 

   • Waive this recommended vaccine through your student Student Self Service account or MyBullsPath (for Tip Sheet: click here) or on the USF Medical History form.

   • For important information on Meningitis from the CDC click here

4. TB Screening: Per USF Policy 33-003, Tuberculosis Screening required for all students who use an international address at the time of application. Screening must be done within 6 months prior to the 1st semester you physically attend classes on any of the USF campuses. See this example of Tuberculosis screening document.

Click here to review an Immunization Guide. 

If you are missing any vaccine and/ or labs, please contact your current healthcare provider or schedule an Immunization Compliance Appointment by clicking here. 

For an exemption request, please contact Student Health Service office directly at the number listed above. 

For questions about this section or process please email CON-GradAdvising@usf.edu . 

• The purpose of this form is to verify students' previous academic clinical hour information to be applied towards completion of the DNP program at the USF College of Nursing.

• Degree and Clinical Hour Verification Form

For questions about this section or process please email CON-GradAdvising@usf.edu. 

Course permits for Fall 2026 will be provided beginning middle of July

All courses for the Grad Clinical program are permit-restricted and your Academic Advisor will provide you with permits to your Student Self Service account prior to registration opening each semester. (We do not send permit codes via email). The permits in Student Self Service are for a particular section(s)/course(s) and are based on both your Program Plan as well as your concentration. For help on how to locate your permits in Student Self Service review this link. Finding CRNs and Registering for Courses in SSS.pdf | Powered by BoxPreview  You must enter the codes on the registration screen to complete your registration. We do not pre-register students for courses; Students are responsible for their own registration. Course permits for Fall 2026 will be provided the middle of July. 

If you do not have a ticket time when registration opens, e-mail registrarupdates@usf.edu. You were given an academic program plan in the email offering you admission to the USF College of Nursing. (The email comes from donotreply@webadmit.org.) Please save the academic plan as a guide to help register for your courses throughout the program. Failure to adhere to the program plan can delay your graduation date.

Instructions on how to register can be found here: https://www.usf.edu/registrar/register/ REMINDER: You must use the permit codes provided in Student Self Service.

Students are responsible for confirming their registration. To confirm your registration please refer to Week at a Glance or Student Detail Schedule. You can use this link for step-by-step instructions. Steps begin on Page 12. 

Remember to note the on-campus dates required for Fall 2026. In order to find the on-campus dates for your courses you must:

1. Open the student schedule search. Select the correct term.

2. Input the Subject and Course Number only. (ex. Subject-NGR, Course Number- 6002c). Hit Search.

3. Click on your permit approved CRN to view on campus dates. The dates will appear directly under the course name information like the picture shows below. (Please note the dates in this photo are not specific to you.)

   Open

   

4. Mark all dates within your calendar.

You can also view a tutorial here: https://youtu.be/t6v5X1Xgnk4

Registration Tips: 

• If you do not have a time ticket to register, please email registrarupdates@usf.edu.

• If you received a “student attribute” error, please make sure you have completed Step 4! If you have, contact Student Health Services regarding Immunization holds: shs-info@usf.edu. This error will prohibit you from registering for hybrid and in-person classes (ex. NGR6002c).  You can still register for online classes with the restriction.  Therefore, it is recommended you register for your online classes as soon as possible and, if applicable, go back and register for any hybrid or in-person classes once the IM hold is removed.

• You can view registration holds in your MyUSF>Student Self Service>Student>Student Records>View Holds. Only the office that placed the hold on your account is authorized to remove the hold. Therefore, if you have questions regarding how to remove a hold, please directly contact the office that placed a hold.

• Classes with meeting times marked "N/A" or "TBA" are online classes.  There will be no future meeting times announced.

• If your course is coded as "AD" it is an all-distance course and does not meet on-campus. If the course is coded as "PD" it is primarily distance course and may have on-campus dates. Please plan accordingly. 

• If a class has a specific meeting day and time (i.e. Mondays from 3pm-5pm), you will need to be available during that time for in-person or synchronous learning. Generally, students can expect to be on campus one day a month. On-campus dates are listed within the registration details of the class.  Please refer to class syllabi for other in-person/on-campus requirements.

• Review the How to Check Registration Time & Holds document to understand your registration date and times, as well as what holds you may have on your account.  

For questions about this section or process please email admissions@usf.edu. 

When you apply to the university, your initial residency classification is determined by the Office of Admissions based on the information you provide with your application. If you don’t provide sufficient information to determine your residency, you will be classified as a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes. It’s very important to respond to requests for information about your residency as soon as possible. Please review your official acceptance letter to ensure that your residency classification is accurate.

You have until the last day of classes in your first term to request a re-evaluation of your initial residency status (Links to an external site.) by providing sufficient documentation. If your residency status is listed as non-Florida at the time that classes begin, you will be assessed out-of-state tuition charges.

Once you have completed your first term at USF, you can request a reclassification of your residency status from the Office of the Registrar.

For questions about this section or process please email financial aid via one of the links below. We would recommend the USF Health Financial Aid option for nursing students. 

Need financial aid? Remember to submit your FAFSA before the January 1 priority deadline to be considered for the most types of aid possible. Many scholarships are needs-based and require a FAFSA.  Therefore, it is recommended you complete a FAFSA regardless of whether or not you will be applying for loans.

Tuition payment or a university deferment is due on the fifth day of the semester.  Please ensure you have funds or a deferment in place to prevent being canceled from classes for non-payment. The university does not have a payment plan option. 

Questions regarding Financial Aid can be directed to a Financial Aid counselor.

• As a Nursing student, you may utilize the USF Health Financial Aid Office: https://health.usf.edu/well/financial-aid

• You may also contact the University's main Financial Aid Office: https://www.usf.edu/financial-aid/

For assistance or questions regarding payment, please contact the Cashier's Office: https://www.usf.edu/business-finance/controller/student-services/cashiers/index.aspx

The College of Nursing, Graduate Clinical Programs, will be hosting a mandatory Graduate Orientation. The mandatory, in-person orientation date is August 11, 2025 from 8am-4pm with check-in beginning at 7:30a. More details surrounding logistics will be sent via email. Orientation is your opportunity to meet your concentration director, academic advisor, and some of your professors. You will receive more information about the graduate program and have many opportunities to ask questions. 

Orientation Location: 

Morning session 

College of Public Health 

13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 

 Lunch and Afternoon Concentration Breakout sessions: 

College of Nursing, Tampa Campus 

12912 USF Health Dr, Tampa, FL 33612 

Attire- Business Casual

Parking- If you do not have a USF Parking Decal you will need to park in the College of Public Health Lot -38C or Laurel Garage- 5th or 6th Floor. The garage is located off of Holly Drive and USF Laurel Dr- Parking Map If you do have a USF decal you will need to reference the Parking Map for the closest parking location based off of your decal. 

https://www.usf.edu/parking/documents/parkingmap.pdf The parking garage is about a 10 minutes walk from the garage to the College of Nursing or Public Health. 

Laptop Checks:

You will need to bring the devices you intend to use during the program with you for computer checks (E.g. Laptop and mobile devices- cell phone/tablet).

Please reserve your seat for the College of Nursing mandatory, in-person orientation here.

Office of Graduate Studies Orientation 8/15 (Optional)

Additionally, please be aware that our programmatic orientation differs from the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) Orientation held by the main campus; The OGS orientation is optional. More information can be found here.

The Fall 2026 DNP White Coat Ceremony date is TBD

The DNP White Coat Ceremony is being sponsored by Tampa General Hospital (TGH) for all new DNP students! They are sponsoring the cost of new DNP student's white coat!  Since this is a sponsored event, in order to receive your white coat, you must be in attendance. We cannot hold, mail or distribute any coats outside of the ceremony. Now is a great time to visit the USF Bookstore to figure out your size. Doctoral coats come in UNISEX sizing.

A lab coat will be required for all labs and clinicals. Please DO NOT purchase/wear scrubs. If you are unable to attend the White Coat Ceremony, you will need to purchase a coat from the USF Bookstore. Please refer to the information below:

• Do not include any specific embroidery/name on your lab coat

• Students who previously completed their BSN with USF must purchase a new lab coat for the graduate program

• Sizing: Unisex

• The lengths of the coats are included on the order form. DNP/Doctoral should fall to your knees. Depending on your height, you may need to adjust the type of coat you get accordingly.

Books can be ordered via the USF bookstore website or by visiting the location on the Tampa campus. You can order books with your Student ID number or by entering your course information. 

Book information will be updated close to the of the semester. If you do not see your books initially please check back with the bookstore.

Parking permits are required anytime you are parking on campus. You can purchase a long-term permit or a daily pass for the days you are to be on campus. More information on parking permits is here. 

NOTE: You cannot back into any parking spaces at the university. Your tag serves are your permit so USF Parking Services needs to have access at all times. 

The Office of Admissions has an Admitted Graduate Student Checklist to assist with your transition to the University.  You will learn how to activate your Net ID, access your USF email, and more!

Every graduate student will be assigned a university email address. To ensure email communication remains private and secure it is recommended that all students use their university-issued email address for university communications. 

When sending emails you should always include your full name, unumber, and program with concentration. We recommend setting up an email signature within your student email account so this information is always included. Your email should appear as follows: 

John Doe

DNP-FNP student (or appropriate concentration)

Please click here if you need instructions on setting up your email signature. 

A few things to note:

• Your unumber will be requested to look up any student information. You may include this in the body of your email. 

• Do not include your unumber on any outside emails

• Do not provide your unumber to anyone outside of USF without proper authorization. 

• Do not include your number in the subject heading or any outside email. 

Please view  to gain access to our most frequently asked questions and a list helpful contact information.