Accelerated nursing programs (often called ABSN programs) require a bachelor’s degree in any field, a set of science and general education prerequisite courses, and a minimum GPA, typically around 2.8 to 3.0. Beyond academics, most programs also require an entrance exam and a personal statement. The specifics vary by school, but the core requirements are remarkably consistent across the country.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Any Field
The most fundamental requirement is a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Your major does not matter. Accelerated programs exist specifically for career changers, so students enter with degrees in everything from English to engineering to economics. Some programs will admit you with a certain number of college credits rather than a completed degree, but most expect the degree in hand before enrollment begins. Direct-entry MSN programs, which lead to a master’s rather than a second bachelor’s, universally require a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Minimum GPA Standards
Most programs set a cumulative GPA floor somewhere between 2.8 and 3.2. The University of Rochester, for example, requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 from your most recent relevant degree. That said, a 2.8 is a floor, not a target. Competitive applicants often carry GPAs well above 3.0, and your science prerequisite grades receive extra scrutiny. Some programs calculate a separate science GPA alongside your cumulative one, so strong performance in those courses matters disproportionately.
Required Science Courses
Science prerequisites form the backbone of your application. Nearly every accelerated program requires the same four courses, each with a lab component:
- Human Anatomy with lab
- Human Physiology with lab
- Microbiology with lab
- Chemistry with lab (general, organic, or integrated chemistry all typically qualify)
Some schools accept a two-semester Anatomy and Physiology sequence (A&P I and A&P II) in place of separate anatomy and physiology courses, though they usually require both halves to be taken at the same institution. Microbiology courses may also appear under titles like Medical Microbiology, General Bacteriology, or Biology of Microorganisms.
Grade expectations for science courses tend to be higher than the overall GPA minimum. Cal State Fullerton, for instance, requires a B or higher in each science prerequisite. Lab sections must be included, with a minimum of one credit hour for the lab alongside at least three credit hours of lecture. Chemistry labs are required if the institution where you took the lecture course offered a corresponding lab section.
Non-Science Prerequisites
Beyond the sciences, programs typically require several courses from the social sciences and humanities. The University of Washington’s prerequisite list is representative of what you’ll encounter:
- Statistics: A basic course covering descriptive and inferential statistics. Most programs require a B or higher.
- Nutrition: A course covering food composition, nutritional needs across different populations, and diseases related to nutritional deficiency.
- Lifespan Growth and Development: Often listed as Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Psychology, this course must cover the entire human lifespan from birth to death. A single child development or adolescent psychology course won’t satisfy the requirement.
Some programs add English composition, introductory psychology, or sociology to the list. Check your target school’s specific prerequisites early, because missing even one course can delay your application by a semester or more.
Science Course Recency Requirements
Science credits have an expiration date. Programs want to ensure your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and chemistry is current, so they impose recency windows. Cal State Fullerton requires science prerequisites to have been completed within five years of enrollment. Marian University allows a seven-year window. General education courses like statistics or psychology typically don’t expire, so if you took those a decade ago, they should still count.
If your science credits fall outside the recency window, you’ll need to retake those courses. This is one of the most common surprises for career changers who completed a science-heavy undergraduate degree years ago. Plan ahead by checking each program’s specific policy before assuming your old coursework transfers.
Entrance Exams
Many accelerated programs require the ATI TEAS exam (Test of Essential Academic Skills), which covers reading, math, science, and English language usage. The University of Connecticut requires a minimum TEAS score of 72%, and applicants get a maximum of two attempts. Your score must typically be earned within one year of enrollment, so timing matters.
Other programs use the HESI A2 exam instead of, or in addition to, the TEAS. Both tests assess similar academic readiness, and prep materials are widely available for each. Not every program requires a standardized test, but enough do that you should confirm the requirement early and build study time into your timeline.
International applicants or those educated outside the United States face additional testing. English proficiency exams like the TOEFL (minimum score of 92 at some schools) or the IELTS (minimum overall band score of 8, with at least a 7 on each section) are standard requirements.
Application Materials
The application itself involves more than transcripts and test scores. Most programs ask for a goal statement or personal essay explaining why you’re pursuing nursing, what drew you to the profession, and how your previous degree and work experience have prepared you for the transition. The University of Louisville, for example, asks for a 500-word statement addressing your personal qualities, your perception of nursing, and both your short-term and long-term career goals.
Letters of recommendation are common but not universal. When required, programs typically want two or three references from professional or academic contacts who can speak to your work ethic, character, and readiness for an intensive program. Former professors, supervisors, or healthcare professionals you’ve worked with are strong choices.
How Long Prerequisites Take to Complete
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree with no science background, expect to spend roughly two to four semesters completing prerequisites before you can apply. The science courses alone, each requiring a lecture and lab, are difficult to compress into a single semester because many build on each other and have limited lab availability. Students with science-oriented undergraduate degrees can often apply sooner, provided their coursework falls within the recency window.
Community colleges are a popular and cost-effective option for completing prerequisites. Most accelerated programs accept transfer credits from accredited community colleges, though you should verify this with each school. Some universities also offer prerequisite “bridge” or “pre-nursing” tracks designed to feed directly into their accelerated program, which can simplify the admissions process.