VNS Health/Touro University Associate Nursing Degree Scholarship Program: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

(Click on any of the questions below to go directly to that question and answer on the page)

1. What is the VNS Health/Touro University Associate Nursing Degree Scholarship program?
2. How may semesters is the Program?
3. When does the Program start?
4. What days of the week are the Touro classes offered?
5. If I am a current VNS Health HHA, will I still be able to work?
6. Do you have to have worked at VNS Health any number of years to be eligible to apply to the Program?
7. Is this opportunity only available to current VNS Health team members?
8. Is this Program open to LPNs?
9. I graduated from high school but never attended college, can I apply to the Program?
10. I graduated from college, what do I need to do apply to the Program?
11. How does the actual payment part work? Does VNS Health pay my tuition and educational fees directly to Touro University?
12. So, VNS Health will cover the costs of my tuition – and my books?
13. What educational expenses doesn’t VNS Health cover?
14. If I’m accepted into the Program, can I also apply for financial aid?
15. How do I apply to the Program?
16. If I complete the application process and I qualify to be in the Program, does that mean I’m guaranteed a spot in the Program?
17. Are there any minimum requirements that I need to fulfill in order to remain in the Program once I have been accepted and started taking classes?
18. What requirements do I need to fulfill to receive scholarship benefits through the Program?
19. If I’m hired as a summer intern by VNS Health, will I receive wages? How about as an employee by VNS Health?
20. If I become employed with VNS Health after I complete the Program but then I’m terminated before satisfying the two-year work commitment, will I be required to repay any of the Scholarship Benefits that I received from VNS Health?
21. If VNS Health terminates my employment during a summer internship, or pursuant to the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement within two years following licensure, will VNS Health require repayment any portion of the Scholarship Benefits received?
22. Will I have to pay taxes I received for scholarship benefits through the program?
23. I’m interested! How do I get started?

If you have any other questions about the Touro University program, please email the Director of the Nursing Department at Touro University directly at [email protected].

Q1: What is the VNS Health/Touro University Associate Nursing Degree Scholarship program?

A: VNS Health will partner with the Department of Nursing, New York School for Career and Applied Studies at Touro University (Touro) to offer qualified individuals the opportunity to enroll in the undergraduate nursing program with a concentration in home health care – the “Program.”

Students will graduate with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing, not a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After graduating with your AAS in Nursing, you will be qualified to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which leads to New York State RN licensure Currently in New York State, AAS graduates have 10 years from date of graduation to also complete their BSN. VNS Health welcomes AAS nurses into our workforce.

In return for tuition and educational fees paid for by VNS Health, students enrolled in the Program will pledge a 2-year paid work commitment to VNS Health, to start after graduation and upon passing the NCLEX-RN certification exam and obtaining an RN License.

Q2: How may semesters is the Program?

A: The Program is 5 semesters. The first semester consists of courses not specific to nursing; these are referred to as your pre-requisite courses. Depending on your prior academic study, you may be able to skip taking these courses. The 4 remaining semesters include courses specific to nursing and include 3 seminars specific to home health nursing taught by VNS Health instructors.

Q3: When does the Program start?

A: We expect the first cohort (group of students) in the Program will start their first semester at Touro in September 2024. Touro holds new student orientation in late August. The next cohort would start January 2025 and each September and January to follow.

Q4: What days of the week are the Touro classes offered?

A: The Program is full-time, and classes are offered during weekdays. Classes for this Program are held on the Touro campus at 3 Times Square, New York City. There is no online component of this Program. 

Typically, Monday is 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for classes and 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for the clinical lab. In some cases, the clinical lab may be available on Sundays. Tuesday is typically all day for classes, Wednesday is typically a half day. Touro may start evening courses for the Program in Valhalla, Westchester, in January 2025.

To view the Fall, September 2024 class schedule, email Jordan Yakoby, at [email protected].

Q5: If I am a current VNS Health HHA, will I still be able to work?

A: Depending on your employment situation at VNS Health, you and your manager may be able to create a flexible work schedule that will allow you to continue to work as a HHA while you pursue your nursing degree in the Program. For most semesters, expect to be engaged in some kind of on-campus activity (class or clinical lab) each Monday  through Thursday. 

Please note that during the summers while classes are not in session, students who have signed the scholarship agreement with VNS Health will work as a paid summer nursing intern at VNS Health Home Care.

Q6: Do you have to have worked at VNS Health any number of years to be eligible to apply to the Program?

A: No, there is no requirement related to the number of years you have been employed by VNS Health. Any employee at VNS Health is eligible. In fact, you do not even need to be a VNS Health employee to apply to the program.

Q7: Is this opportunity only available to current VNS Health team members?

A: No, it’s available to anyone who wants to become a nurse – so if you know someone who is interested in becoming a nurse, please let them know about this exciting opportunity!

Q8: Is this Program open to LPNs?

A: Yes.

Q9: I graduated from high school but never attended college, can I apply to the Program?

A: Anyone applying to the Program has to pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (“TEAS”) exam. This is a standardized, multiple choice entrance exam for students applying to nursing and allied health programs in the United States. You can learn more about the TEAS exam at ATI TEAS Exam | TEAS Prep | TEAS Registration | ATI (atitesting.com).

For admission into this Program, you must take the TEAS exam which is an in-person exam that you take at a testing site. You can take the exam at Touro’s midtown campus at 3 Times Square free of charge. An exam fee is charged at all other testing sites.

Q10: I graduated from college, what do I need to do to apply to the Program?

A: Once you have passed the TEAS exam, you may apply to the Program. Touro will determine if you satisfactorily completed your pre-requisite courses while in college, or if you need to take (or re-take) any of those classes. The pre-requisite courses include: Anatomy and Physiology 1, College Writing 1, Introduction to Chemistry and General Survey of Psychology. 

Don’t worry. If you have not taken any or all of these courses, they are offered by Touro in your first semester of the Program.

Q11: How does the actual payment part work? Does VNS Health pay my tuition and educational fees directly to Touro University?

A: Yes. Students who are accepted into the Program will have their total tuition and educational fees paid for by VNS Health. VNS Health has a special arrangement with Touro University – we will directly pay Touro University your tuition fees and educational costs for books. You don’t have to worry about making any tuition or other education-related payments.

Q12: So, VNS Health will cover the costs of my tuition – and my books?

A: Yes. VNS Health will cover the cost for you to attend a maximum of five semesters in the Program on a full-time basis. We’ll also cover the costs of your books, and all fees associated with a full-time student course load (up to $11,000) per semester.

Q13: What educational expenses doesn’t VNS Health cover?

A: VNS Health doesn’t cover the cost of your meals, lodging, or transportation while you’re at Touro.

Q14: If I’m accepted into the Program, can I also apply for financial aid?

A: Yes. If you’re accepted into the Program, you may apply for other forms of financial assistance. If you receive financial aid to cover tuition, books or fees, VNS Health will pay whatever of those costs is not covered by the financial aid you receive. For more information on financial aid, please visit https://nyscas.touro.edu/admissions–aid/financial-aid/.

Q15: How do I apply to the Program?

A: You can find the application for the AAS in Nursing at https://nyscas.touro.edu/academics/nursing.

Click on the “Apply Now” link towards the top of the web page.

Your application for the AAS in Nursing is the first part of your process to enroll in the Program. You may also be asked to provide other supporting information or documentation that Touro or VNS Health may require.

If you’re accepted into the Program, you will be required to sign a Scholarship Agreement with VNS Health. The agreement will explain the rights and obligations of both you and VNS Health once you have been accepted into the Program. To view the Scholarship Agreement with VNS Health, please email Michael Bernstein at [email protected].

Q16: If I complete the application process and I qualify to be in the Program, does that mean I’m guaranteed a spot in the Program?

A: No. Touro retains ultimate discretion to determine whether any individual is accepted into the Program. VNS Health also retains ultimate discretion to determine whether or not:

• To provide a Summer Internship to Program participants.
• To hire any student who participated in the Program into an employment position after they complete their nursing degree.
• To terminate any participant’s employment.

Q17: Are there any minimum requirements that I need to fulfill in order to remain in the Program once I have been accepted and started taking classes?

A: Yes. You must remain in good standing in the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree program at Touro University and comply with the expectations for student conduct as laid out in the Department of Nursing Student Handbook.

Q18: What requirements do I need to fulfill to receive scholarship benefits through the Program?

A: To qualify for scholarship benefits from VNS Health, you must:

• Maintain a full-time status course load in the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree program at Touro,
• Be awarded an Associate degree upon satisfying all degree requirements within a maximum of five semesters;
• Participate as a paid summer intern with VNS Health between academic years so that you gain practical work experience;
• Pass the NCLEX-RN certification exam and obtain an RN license and registration certificate from the New York State Education Department to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse;
• Begin employment as a Registered Professional Nurse with VNS Health within six months after you complete the Touro University Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree program, during which period you’ll be an employee of VNS Health, and maintain this employment for a minimum of two consecutive (2) years after licensure; and
• Remain in good standing as a Registered Professional Nurse with the New York State Education Department.

Q19: If I’m hired as a summer intern by VNS Health, will I receive wages? How about as an employee by VNS Health?

A: Yes, if VNS Health does hire you to be a summer intern, you’ll be an employee and receive wages at a rate to be determined by VNS Health. However, being in the Program doesn’t guarantee that VNS Health will hire you as a summer intern between academic years or that you’ll be offered a job after you complete the nursing degree program.

Q20: If I become employed with VNS Health after I complete the Program but then I’m terminated before satisfying the two-year work commitment, will I be required to repay any of the Scholarship Benefits that I received from VNS Health?

A: Yes. If you’re hired by VNS Health and you fail to complete two consecutive years (24 months) of employment following licensure, you’ll be required to repay all Scholarship Benefits that VNS Health paid on your behalf, pro-rated between the number of months worked post-licensure and not worked post-licensure over the two-year work period. 

• For example, if you decide to leave VNS Health after working for 13 months after licensure, then VNS Health will be entitled to recoup the remaining balance(which in this case would be 11 months of the required total of 24 months) of the value of Scholarship Benefits that you received from VNS Health while you were in the program.

Q21: If VNS Health terminates my employment during a summer internship, or due to the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement within two years following licensure, will VNS Health require repayment of any portion of the Scholarship Benefits received?

A: Yes. If VNS Health terminates your employment during your summer internship, then you’ll be required to repay the entire amount of your scholarship benefit received to date. If VNS Health terminates your employment during the two-year period following licensure, then you’ll be required to repay a pro-rated share of the Scholarship Benefits owed to VNS Health, as explained in the answer just above.

Q22: Will I have to pay taxes I received for scholarship benefits through the program?

A: VNS Health has designed the Program so that the first $5,250 of scholarship benefits each year can be provided on a non-taxable basis. VNS Health will treat scholarship benefits that a student receives each year that exceed $5,250 as taxable wages that VNS Health is required to report to the IRS on a Form W-2.

VNS Health will gross-up any withholding taxes that a student would otherwise owe on any taxable scholarship benefits. This means that VNS Health will pay an additional amount to program participants sufficient to cover the cost of these taxes. In most cases, you will not have to pay out of pocket to cover any taxes on scholarship benefits.

If you are interested in applying for or participating in VNS Health’s Scholarship Program, please consult with your personal tax advisor about how these benefits could impact your personal tax situation.

Q23: I’m interested! How do I get started?

A: To qualify and take part in this opportunity, you need to follow these 4 steps:

Step #1: Take and pass the TEAS exam. Anyone applying to the Program must first pass the Test of Essential Academic Skills (“TEAS”) exam. This is a standardized, multiple choice entrance exam for students applying to nursing and allied health programs in the United States. You can learn more about the TEAS exam by clicking here.

For admission to this Program, the TEAS exam must be taken in-person at a testing site. You can take the exam at Touro University’s midtown campus at 3 Times Square free of charge. Please note that an exam fee is charged at all other testing sites.

Step #2: Apply to the Program. Once you have passed the TEAS exam, you may apply to the Program. You can find the application for the AAS in Nursing at https://nyscas.touro.edu/academics/nursing. Click on the “Apply Now” link towards the top of the web page.

Your application for the AAS in Nursing is the first part of your process to enroll in the Program. You may also be asked to provide other supporting information or documentation that Touro or VNS Health may require.

Step #3: Get accepted to the Program and sign a scholarship agreement with VNS Health. If you’re accepted into the Program, you will be required to sign a scholarship agreement with VNS Health. The agreement will explain the rights and obligations of both you and VNS Health once you have been accepted into the Program.

Step #4: Once you have started the Program, remain in good standing to continue to qualify for scholarship benefits from VNS Health. You must remain in good standing with Touro University and comply with the expectations for student conduct as laid out in the Department of Nursing Student Handbook.

To continue to qualify for scholarship benefits from VNS Health, you must:

• Maintain a full-time status course load in the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree program at Touro.
• Be awarded an Associate degree upon satisfying all degree requirements within a maximum of five semesters.
• Participate as a paid summer nursing intern with VNS Health Home Care between academic years so that you gain practical work experience.
• Pass the NCLEX-RN certification exam and obtain an RN license and registration certificate from the New York State Education Department to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse.
• Begin employment as a Registered Professional Nurse with VNS Health within six months after you complete the Touro University Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree program, during which period you’ll be an employee of VNS Health, and maintain this employment for a minimum of two consecutive (2) years after licensure.
• Remain in good standing as a Registered Professional Nurse with the New York State Education Department.