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How to become a nurse.

Seven steps from zero to your first shift. Honest timelines, real prerequisites, every step linked to the deeper guide. Written for the person who isn't sure yet.

Start where you're standing

You don't need to know your specialty, your state, or even your credential path on day one. Most nurses don't. What you need is the next step. This page is the next step.

The total time from "I think I want to be a nurse" to "I'm working my first shift as an RN" is usually three to five years depending on whether you already have prerequisites, what credential path you pick, and how competitive your local programs are. CNA can happen in months. BSN takes the longest but opens the most doors. The seven steps below are the path almost everyone walks.

Three things make a real difference along the way and almost nobody mentions them: keep your prerequisite GPA above 3.0 (closer to 3.5 if you can), do your homework on financial aid before signing any loan paperwork, and find one nurse or nursing student to shadow before you commit. That last one filters more out than any test does.

01
Pick the credential that matches your timeline
Few hours of research
What this step actually is
There are seven entry-level nursing credentials in the US. CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN, BSN, accelerated BSN, LPN-to-RN bridge, RN-to-BSN bridge. They differ in how long they take, what you can do once you have them, and what doors they open afterward.
What to do
Spend an hour on the credential comparison. Read scope, timeline, and best-for. The fastest path is not always the right one. CNA gets you working in months but doesn't make you a nurse. ADN gets you to RN in two years of program but most Magnet hospitals prefer BSN. BSN takes four years but opens every door. Pick the one you can actually finish, not the one that sounds shortest.
Watch out for
Don't pick LPN as a shortcut to RN without planning the bridge first. Many hospitals don't hire LPNs anymore. If you want to be an RN, plan the RN path from the start.
Compare every nursing credential →Career paths once you're an RN →
02
Finish the prerequisites
1 to 2 years
What this step actually is
Before you can apply to most ADN or BSN programs, you need a set of college-level prerequisite courses. The standard set is Anatomy & Physiology I and II, microbiology, chemistry, statistics, English composition, and psychology or sociology. Some programs add nutrition, ethics, or developmental psychology.
What to do
Pull each target program's prerequisite list (it's on their nursing-program page). Cross-reference them. Take the prerequisites that show up most often first. Community-college credit usually transfers; verify before you enroll. GPA matters more than people tell you: most nursing programs are competitive and your prerequisite GPA is one of the few numerical inputs they have.
Watch out for
Taking prerequisites at multiple schools makes credit-transfer harder. Pick a single community college where possible and verify your target nursing programs accept its credits.
The complete prerequisites guide →Find your target programs first →
03
Take the entrance exam
2 to 4 months of prep, one test day
What this step actually is
Most US nursing programs require either the TEAS (ATI) or the HESI A2 (Elsevier) as an entrance exam. Some programs require neither; a few require both. The TEAS covers Reading, Math, Science, and English. HESI A2 has more sections including anatomy and physics.
What to do
Find out which exam your target programs require. Take it once you've finished most of your prereqs (especially A&P and chemistry — the science section pulls heavily from those). Free practice questions on this site, plus the ATI or Elsevier official prep book if you have the budget. Score above the minimum on your first try; retake rules vary by school.
Watch out for
Don't take the exam cold. The science section assumes you've taken A&P and chemistry recently. Schedule it during or right after those courses.
Free TEAS practice →Free HESI A2 practice →How to study for entrance exams →
04
Apply to nursing programs
1 to 2 months per cycle, plus waiting
What this step actually is
The application packet usually includes official transcripts, entrance-exam scores, a personal statement, two or three references, an application fee, plus immunization records, a background check, and a drug screen on acceptance.
What to do
Apply to several programs (3 to 5 is typical). Match your GPA and TEAS/HESI scores to programs you're realistically competitive at. Personal statement matters more at competitive programs and barely registers at open-admission ones. Pay attention to deadlines: most are 4 to 6 months before the start of the cohort.
Watch out for
Don't put off the background check and immunization records until acceptance. They take weeks. Get them moving the moment you submit applications.
Application timeline + packet contents →Get your personal statement reviewed ($29.95) →
05
Complete nursing school
2 years (ADN) to 4 years (BSN)
What this step actually is
Once you're in: didactic courses (the classroom side), clinical rotations (the hospital side), skills lab checkoffs, dosage calculation exams (most programs require 90-100% to pass), and a capstone or preceptorship at the end.
What to do
Show up every day. Build a study group. Take dosage calc seriously. Use your clinical rotations to find out what specialty you might like (and what you definitely don't). Keep your GPA above the program minimum so you stay enrolled. Get to know your clinical instructors and unit nurses — they become references.
Watch out for
Burnout is real. The students who finish are not the smartest, they're the ones who built sustainable routines. Sleep matters more than one more practice question.
Surviving the program (Phase 3) →Free study tools (flashcards, questions, guides) →Specialties to consider during clinicals →
06
Pass the NCLEX
4 to 12 weeks of focused prep after graduation, one test day
What this step actually is
The NCLEX-RN (for ADN and BSN graduates) or NCLEX-PN (for LPN/LVN graduates) is the licensing exam every US nurse takes. It's computer-adaptive: 85 to 150 questions, pass-fail, scored on whether you're above the passing standard. The exam is national; your license to practice is granted by a specific state.
What to do
Use a real prep course (UWorld, Archer, or Kaplan are standard) alongside our free tools. Take the diagnostic exam at the start, find your weakest NCSBN client-needs category, drill that for two weeks, retake. Repeat until your diagnostic scores stabilize at 75% or higher. Schedule the NCLEX the week after you feel ready, not three weeks out.
Watch out for
Don't take the NCLEX before you're ready just to get it over with. The retake wait can be 45 days and the application fees stack up. Take it once.
NCLEX prep hub →Free 75-question diagnostic exam →How the NCLEX scores work (Phase 4) →
07
Get licensed and hired
1 to 3 months
What this step actually is
Once you pass NCLEX, you apply to your state's Board of Nursing for an RN license. Some states are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which means a single multi-state license. Then you apply to your first nursing job, often a new-grad residency program.
What to do
Apply for state licensure the same week you pass NCLEX. Start your job applications before licensure clears: many hospitals accept new grads pending license. Apply broadly to new-grad residencies (Oct/Nov for spring grads, Mar/Apr for fall grads). Get your resume and packet reviewed before you submit.
Watch out for
Don't wait for the 'perfect' first job. New-grad residency slots are limited and tied to specific cohort start dates. Apply, take the offer, and move on to your dream specialty after a year of bedside.
Getting hired as a new grad (Phase 5) →Hiring services (from $99.95) →Specialties to apply to →

Not sure which step matters most?

Run the Path Finder.

Eight short questions, several ranked paths to becoming a nurse, with a from-today timeline and true total cost. Published methodology, no black-box score.

Run the Path Finder

One more thing

Nursing is hard. The hours are long, the patients are sick, the pay is real but not what TikTok promises, and the job will change you. People who shouldn't have become nurses figure it out around year two and leave miserable. People who should have become nurses figure that out at the same point and never look back.

The single best thing you can do before signing up for prerequisites: shadow a working nurse for a shift. Not a tour. A whole shift. Ask your local hospital, ask family, ask your community college's nursing-program advisor. The students who do this and still want to be nurses are the ones we eventually meet in clinical rotations and on the floor.

FAQ

Common questions about becoming a nurse

How long does it take to become a nurse?

Three to five calendar years is typical for an RN once prerequisites are factored in. CNA can be done in 4 to 12 weeks. LPN/LVN takes 12 to 18 months. ADN-route RN is about 2 years of program after 1 to 2 years of prerequisites. BSN-route RN is 4 years total. Accelerated BSN for students with a prior non-nursing bachelor's runs 12 to 18 months of full-time program.

What's the difference between an ADN and a BSN?

Both lead to RN licensure and both take the same NCLEX-RN. ADN is a 2-year associate degree, typically at community colleges, with lower tuition. BSN is a 4-year bachelor's degree with additional leadership, research, and public-health coursework. Most Magnet hospitals and ICU/OR/NICU specialty units prefer or require BSN. NP, CRNA, and other graduate paths require BSN as the foundation. Many ADN graduates complete an RN-to-BSN bridge program within their first two years of working.

Can I become a nurse without a bachelor's degree?

Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) qualifies you to take the NCLEX-RN and practice as a registered nurse. Many community-college ADN programs lead directly to RN licensure. Most Magnet hospitals will still hire ADN-prepared RNs but expect a BSN within a few years.

Do I have to pass the NCLEX to be a nurse?

Yes. Every nurse in the United States passes a National Council Licensure Examination. NCLEX-PN for LPN/LVN, NCLEX-RN for ADN and BSN graduates. It is the licensing exam, administered by NCSBN and pearson VUE. The test is national, but your license to practice is issued by your state Board of Nursing.

I already have a non-nursing bachelor's degree. What's my fastest path to RN?

Accelerated BSN (ABSN). These are 12 to 18 months of full-time program designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in a different field. You complete the nursing prerequisites first (which can be done in a year or so), then enter the ABSN program. The pace is intense and most students cannot work during the program.

How hard is nursing school?

Hard, in a specific way. The content is broad but rarely deeply technical. The challenge is the volume, the clinical hours on top of classroom hours, and the dosage-calculation exams (most programs require 90 to 100 percent to pass). Students who finish are not necessarily the smartest. They are the ones who built sustainable study routines, kept their sleep intact, and did not isolate themselves. Burnout is the most common reason students leave the program.

What's the difference between NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN?

Both are National Council Licensure Examinations administered by NCSBN. NCLEX-PN is for licensed practical or vocational nurses. NCLEX-RN is for registered nurses (ADN or BSN graduates). The tests differ in scope and difficulty, matching the scope of practice each license carries. Both are computer-adaptive and scored on whether you are above or below the passing standard, not a percentage score.

Can I work as a CNA while in nursing school?

Yes, and many students do. CNA shifts provide income and patient-care exposure during the program. Some nursing programs explicitly value CNA experience on applications. The trade-off is fatigue. Plan your shifts around your hardest coursework and clinical-rotation weeks.