Which states does Walden not approve nursing practicum in?
Walden's College of Nursing does not approve practicum experiences for certain programmes in certain states. Connecticut, New York and North Dakota are restricted for nursing programmes generally. Louisiana is restricted for all nurse practitioner specialisations, as are US territories and locations outside the United States, with an exception for US citizens on military bases abroad.
Why this outranks cost, format and reputation
Because it is binary. Tuition can be budgeted for, a term calendar can be worked around, and a school's reputation can be weighed. A practicum that cannot be approved where you intend to practise cannot be solved by any amount of planning.
An accredited programme you are unable to complete locally is still a programme you are unable to complete. This is a five-minute check, and it is the first one worth doing.
The three tiers of restriction
All nursing programmes. Connecticut, New York and North Dakota. Walden notes an exception for eligible students enrolled in Connecticut before 11 April 2024, separate restrictions for non-residents in New York, and that currently enrolled students in North Dakota may still be approved.
All nurse practitioner specialisations. Louisiana, across MSN, Post-Master's Certificate and DNP. Also US territories and countries outside the United States.
Named programmes only. Roughly fifteen further states restrict particular routes — Alaska restricts the PMHNP certificate and the Nurse Executive, Nursing Education and Nursing Informatics master's tracks; Arizona restricts PMHNP at certificate and doctoral level; Nevada restricts the paediatric NP routes; Kansas restricts post-master's NP certificates from Summer 2026 catalogue terms, and the BSN.
The trap in how it is worded
Read carefully: the restriction attaches to where the practicum happens, which is not always where you live. If you live near a state border, or intend to do clinical hours at a site in a neighbouring state, the answer may differ from the one you assumed.
It also attaches to your programme and catalogue year, not just to nursing broadly. Alaska's restriction covers the non-practitioner master's tracks rather than the NP ones, which is the opposite of what most people would guess.
What to do with this
Check it before tuition, before format, before comparing schools at all. Then get the answer for your exact programme and catalogue year in writing from Walden, because the list is revised without notice and several entries carry effective dates.
If your state is restricted, that is not the end of your plans. It is the end of these plans, discovered at the only point where changing them is free.
Common questions
Which states does Walden not approve nursing practicum in?
Walden lists Connecticut, New York and North Dakota as restricted for nursing programmes generally, Louisiana for all nurse practitioner specialisations, and named programmes in roughly fifteen further states.
Can I do a Walden nursing practicum in Connecticut?
Walden lists Connecticut as restricted for all nursing programmes, with an exception for eligible students who enrolled before 11 April 2024.
Does the restriction apply to where I live or where I do clinical hours?
It applies to where the practicum takes place. If you intend to do clinical hours in a different state from the one you live in, check the state where the site is located.