(1) The first phase of establishing a new nursing education program is Phase I, notice of intent. The applicant shall notify the board of the intent to establish a new or expanded nursing education program by providing the following information:

(a) results of an assessment of the need for the proposed nursing education program, including identification of potential employment opportunities for program graduates;

(b) type of educational program and proposed timetable for initiating the program;

(c) total proposed student enrollment;

(d) list of proposed faculty positions and faculty qualifications;

(e) description of proposed clinical opportunities that will meet expected outcomes for student training needs in each course with a clinical component;

(f) identification of financial, physical, personnel, and other resources necessary for the planning, implementation, and continuation of the program;

(g) proposed procedure for marketing program to potential students and eligibility requirements for student admission to the program;

(h) proposed transition plan for students who may transfer to the program;

(i) description of how the proposed program may affect existing nursing programs that share the proposed clinical sites, and indication that plans and the needs assessment regarding the proposed program have been shared with the directors of existing affected programs in the state;

(j) letter of commitment from the governing institution that outlines financial, physical, personnel, and other resources that will be devoted to the proposed nursing education program; and

(k) letters of support for proposed program from communities of interest.

(2) Board approval of a Phase I application permits the applicant to continue planning, but does not assure subsequent approval of Phase II.

(3) The next step is Phase II, application for admission of students. The applicant shall provide the following information to the board:

(a) name of a qualified nurse administrator who has been appointed to administer the nursing education program;

(b) list of sufficient qualified faculty, CRRNs, and administrative staff to initiate the program;

(c) name of qualified consultant(s), if applicable, who has worked with nurse administrators and faculty to develop program and curriculum;

(d) overview of total curriculum, including:

(i) course descriptions appropriate to each level of education provided; and

(ii) course sequence and schedule.

(e) contracts for each clinical site;

(f) description of use of each clinical site by other nursing education programs;

(g) numbers of students to be placed at each clinical site;

(h) rationale for choice of each clinical site, including description of anticipated student experiences;

(i) initial program evaluation plan; and

(j) student policies for admission, progression, retention, and graduation.

(4) The board shall conduct an onsite program inspection prior to Phase II approval.

(5) For programs under the jurisdiction of the Montana Board of Regents, the board will notify the Montana Board of Regents of pending board approval of the proposed program and, after receiving notification of the program's approval from the Board of Regents, will finalize Phase II approval.

(6) Following board approval of Phase II application, the program may admit students. The board shall notify NCSBN for NCLEX testing purposes. Students graduating from a program under Phase II approval are eligible to sit for the NCLEX examination.

(7) The last step is Phase III, continued program approval. The board shall grant continued approval of a nursing education program upon:

(a) submission by the program of a self-study report and completion of a site survey by the board, following the graduation of the first class of students; and

(b) a board finding that the program is in substantial compliance with the nursing education program rules.

(8) When the board does not grant continued program approval in Phase III, the program is subject to conditional approval or denial of approval, as outlined in ARM 24.159.640.