Becoming a registered nurse (RN) requires completing an approved nursing program and passing a national licensing exam. Most people finish the process in two to four years depending on the educational path they choose, and the career pays a median salary of $93,600 per year.
Choose Your Educational Path
There are two main degree options that qualify you to sit for the RN licensing exam, and neither is objectively “better.” Your choice depends on your timeline, budget, and long-term career goals.
An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two-year program typically offered at community colleges. Some schools offer accelerated versions you can finish in 18 months. The curriculum focuses on clinical nursing skills: fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, and community health. This is the faster, less expensive route into the profession.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a four-year program at a college or university. It covers the same clinical skills as an ADN but adds coursework in nursing theory, public health, ethics, and pathophysiology. Many hospitals now prefer or require a BSN for hiring, and you’ll need one if you ever want to move into management, education, or advanced practice roles. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, accelerated BSN programs can get you to licensure in 11 to 18 months.
Complete Your Prerequisites
Before you enter the core nursing courses, you’ll need to pass a set of prerequisite classes. Programs vary, but a typical list looks like this:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II: Two sequential courses covering body systems. Each is usually at least three credits.
- Microbiology: Medical microbiology is acceptable at most schools.
- Chemistry with lab: General Chemistry I or Inorganic Chemistry, typically a four-credit course. Chemistry for non-science majors usually won’t count.
- Statistics: A statistics course from the social sciences department is often accepted.
- Nutrition: Human nutrition or nutrition science.
- Developmental Psychology: Must cover the full lifespan. Intro to Psychology, General Psychology, or Child Psychology alone won’t satisfy this requirement.
You can take prerequisites at a community college even if you plan to transfer into a university BSN program. Just confirm with your target school that the credits will transfer. Most programs require a C or better in every prerequisite course, and competitive programs expect higher.
Get Into Nursing School
Nursing programs are competitive, and most require an entrance exam as part of the application. The most common is the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills), which covers reading, math, English, and science. A typical minimum composite score is around 65%, with a science section score of at least 51%. You generally get up to three attempts per application cycle, spaced at least two weeks apart.
Some programs use the HESI exam instead. Check your target school’s specific requirements early so you can prepare. Strong prerequisite grades, a solid entrance exam score, and any healthcare experience you already have (even as a certified nursing assistant) all strengthen your application.
What to Expect During the Program
Nursing school splits your time between classroom learning and hands-on clinical rotations. Clinical hours are where you practice actual patient care in hospitals, clinics, and community health settings under the supervision of a licensed nurse or instructor. The number of required clinical hours varies by state. At least 13 state boards of nursing set a specific minimum, ranging anywhere from 250 to over 1,000 hours.
Rotations cycle through different specialties: medical-surgical, obstetrics, pediatrics, mental health, and critical care. This is by design. Even if you already know you want to work in labor and delivery, the rotations expose you to the full scope of nursing so you can recognize problems across patient populations. The clinical schedule is demanding. Expect 12-hour shifts, early mornings, and weekend assignments alongside your regular coursework.
Pass the NCLEX-RN
After graduating, you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to legally practice. The exam is computerized and adaptive, meaning it adjusts the difficulty of questions based on your answers. It tests clinical judgment, patient safety, and your ability to prioritize care.
You’ll register through your state board of nursing, receive an authorization to test, and schedule your exam at a testing center. Most graduates take it within a few weeks of finishing their program, while the material is still fresh. If you don’t pass on the first attempt, you can retake it after a waiting period set by your state (typically 45 days).
Understand State Licensing
Your RN license is issued by the state where you plan to work. Currently, 43 states and territories participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows you to hold one multistate license and practice in any other compact state without applying for a separate license. If you live in a compact state and meet the requirements, a multistate license saves significant time and money, especially if you work near a state border or want to do travel nursing.
If you move from one compact state to another, you have 60 days to apply for licensure in your new home state. Nurses in non-compact states need a separate license for each state where they practice.
Alternative Paths Into Nursing
Not everyone follows the traditional route. If you’re already a licensed practical nurse (LPN), bridge programs let you build on your existing education and experience. An LPN-to-RN transition program can take as little as 11 months. You’ll still need to complete prerequisites like anatomy, microbiology, and developmental psychology with a C or better, and most programs require a minimum score on an entrance assessment.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in any non-nursing field, accelerated BSN programs are the fastest route to an RN license. These intensive programs compress a full nursing curriculum into 11 to 18 months. Admission standards are high, with most requiring at least a 3.0 GPA. For those wanting to go further, accelerated entry-level master’s programs take 15 to 36 months and position you for advanced practice roles right out of the gate.
Cost of Nursing School
Tuition varies dramatically based on school type and residency status. ADN programs at community colleges are the most affordable option, often running a few thousand dollars per year in tuition. BSN programs cost considerably more. As a reference point, the University of Colorado’s BSN program charges about $32,400 total for in-state residents (with a state tuition stipend) and roughly $70,000 for out-of-state students, based on 66 credits of nursing coursework at 2025-2026 rates. Private universities can charge well above that.
Factor in prerequisite courses, textbooks, clinical supplies, exam fees, and licensing costs on top of tuition. Federal financial aid, nursing-specific scholarships, and employer tuition reimbursement programs can offset a significant portion. Some hospitals offer to pay for your nursing education in exchange for a work commitment after graduation.
Job Outlook and Earning Potential
The median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. That growth is driven by an aging population, rising rates of chronic conditions, and a wave of nurses approaching retirement.
Where you work matters for pay. Nurses in hospitals and metropolitan areas generally earn more than those in outpatient clinics or rural settings. Specialty certifications, advanced degrees, and experience all push salaries higher over time. Travel nursing, while less stable, can offer significantly higher short-term pay. An ADN and a BSN qualify you for the same entry-level RN positions, but the BSN opens more doors as your career progresses.