The education you need to become a nurse depends on which type of nursing role you’re pursuing, but every path requires at least a postsecondary program and a passing score on a licensing exam. You can enter the field in as little as one year as a Licensed Practical Nurse or invest four or more years to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and qualify for a wider range of registered nurse positions. Here’s how each pathway works, what it costs in time, and where it can take you.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
An LPN program is the fastest route into a nursing career. These programs typically take about one year to complete and are offered at community colleges, technical schools, and some hospitals. To apply, you need a high school diploma or GED. Some programs also require a minimum high school GPA or prerequisite coursework in math and science.
After completing the program, you’ll take the NCLEX-PN exam to earn your state license. LPNs provide basic patient care: monitoring vital signs, administering medications, assisting with bathing and dressing, and working under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians. The role is a solid entry point, and many LPNs later pursue additional education to become registered nurses through bridge programs designed specifically for that transition.
Registered Nurse: Three Degree Options
Registered nurses have three educational paths to choose from, and all three make you eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. The difference comes down to time, cost, and how employers view each credential.
Nursing diploma: Offered by hospitals, technical schools, and vocational programs, a diploma program takes roughly two years. It’s not a college degree, but it qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN and work as a registered nurse. These programs have become less common over the years.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): This is the most popular community college route, typically taking two to three years. An ADN is an entry-level college degree that covers the clinical and classroom training you need to pass the NCLEX-RN. It’s often the most affordable option for becoming an RN.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): A four-year university degree that includes everything in an ADN plus deeper coursework in leadership, public health, research, and community nursing. Many hospitals, especially larger medical centers and those pursuing Magnet designation, prefer or require a BSN for hiring. Some states are also moving toward requiring a bachelor’s degree. One notable example is a law requiring RNs to earn a BSN or higher within 10 years of becoming licensed in that state in order to continue practicing. Even where no mandate exists, the trend in hiring clearly favors BSN-prepared nurses.
Passing the NCLEX Exam
No matter which educational path you choose, you cannot legally practice as a nurse without passing the National Council Licensure Examination. LPN graduates take the NCLEX-PN, and RN graduates take the NCLEX-RN. Both exams use computerized adaptive testing, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on your answers.
To register, you’ll need to submit official transcripts to your state Board of Nursing, complete a licensure application for the state where you plan to work, pass a background check, and pay both state licensing fees and the NCLEX registration fee. Once approved, you’ll receive an Authorization to Test (ATT), which expires after 90 days in most states, so you’ll want to schedule your exam promptly. Testing centers offer the NCLEX year-round, typically five to six days per week.
Accelerated Programs for Career Changers
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, you don’t need to start over with a full four-year program. Accelerated BSN programs compress the nursing curriculum into 11 to 18 months, including prerequisites. These programs are intensive, often running full-time with no breaks, but they’re the fastest way for someone with an existing degree to become a registered nurse.
Admission standards are high. Most accelerated programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA and a thorough prescreening process. You’ll still take the same NCLEX-RN exam as any other BSN graduate, and you’ll hold the same degree when you finish. For career changers willing to commit to a demanding schedule, this path saves years compared to a traditional BSN.
There are also accelerated master’s entry programs for those who want to go straight into graduate-level nursing. These typically take 15 to 36 months depending on whether you study full or part time.
Advanced Practice Nursing Degrees
Nurses who want to diagnose patients, prescribe medications, or specialize in areas like anesthesia or midwifery need graduate education beyond the BSN. These roles fall under the umbrella of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), which includes nurse practitioners (NPs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs).
To become a nurse practitioner, you need to hold a BSN, maintain an active RN license, and complete a graduate program at the master’s (MSN) or doctoral (DNP) level that focuses on your chosen patient population. NP students select their specialty, such as family practice, pediatrics, or psychiatric-mental health, when they enter the program. After graduating, you must pass a national board certification exam that matches your area of graduate preparation.
A Master of Science in Nursing typically adds two to three years of study beyond the BSN. A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) takes longer but is increasingly becoming the expected credential for advanced practice roles, particularly for CRNAs. The investment in time and tuition is significant, but APRNs earn substantially higher salaries than staff RNs and practice with a high degree of autonomy.
Choosing the Right Path
Your decision should factor in how quickly you want to start working, how much you can spend on education, and where you see your career heading. If budget and speed matter most, an ADN from a community college gets you into the workforce as an RN in two to three years at a fraction of the cost of a university program. Many nurses earn their ADN first, start working, and then complete an RN-to-BSN bridge program online while employed.
If you’re aiming for leadership roles, specialty units, or eventual advanced practice, starting with or upgrading to a BSN puts you in the strongest position. The growing preference among employers for bachelor’s-prepared nurses means a BSN opens more doors from day one. And if you already know you want to become a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist, mapping out a path from BSN through a graduate program early on can help you choose the right undergraduate program and clinical experiences along the way.