Legal Question in Employment Law in Virginia

Can an employer require that you return to college to receive a higher level of education than you were hired with? I am a Registered Nurse with an Associates degree. There is discussion that my employer will soon require all nurses to obtain a Bachelors in Science of Nursing degree. I have been an employee here for 6+ years and have 10+ years of nursing experience overall. Can my employer require that I return to school to pursue a degree that was not required at the time of hire?


Asked on 11/21/10, 7:09 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Yes, quite likely, unless you are protected from such an imposition as part of the contract which you signed onto when you were first hired. However, if there was no such contract and you continue to work without the protection of one (or similar collective bargaining type agreement) which might be afforded by one or the other in the situation described, then your employer can likely impose whatever they might choose in regard to such educational requirements for its RNs (in my opinion).

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Answered on 11/26/10, 7:56 am


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