You can become a nurse after high school by completing a nursing education program (ranging from one to four years), passing a licensing exam, and entering the workforce. There are several paths to choose from, and the right one depends on how quickly you want to start working, how much you want to earn, and how far you want to advance in your career. Here’s what each path looks like and how to prepare while you’re still in high school.
The Four Main Paths Into Nursing
Nursing isn’t a single career track. It’s a ladder with multiple entry points, and you can start at any rung and move up later. The four most common starting points after high school are Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Each requires a different time commitment and opens different doors.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
This is the fastest way to start working in healthcare. CNA programs typically run four to twelve weeks and are offered at community colleges, vocational schools, and even some hospitals. You’ll learn basic patient care: helping people eat, bathe, move around, and monitoring vital signs. After finishing the program and passing a state competency exam, you can work in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health settings. The pay is lower than other nursing roles, but the experience is valuable if you plan to continue your education. Many nursing schools look favorably on applicants who’ve worked as CNAs because it shows you understand patient care firsthand.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
LPN programs take about one year and are offered at community colleges, hospitals, and technical schools. You need a high school diploma or GED to apply, and some programs require prerequisite coursework in math and science or a minimum high school GPA. LPNs have a broader scope of practice than CNAs. They can administer medications, dress wounds, collect samples, and work under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. After graduating, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-PN licensing exam.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
An ADN takes two to three years to complete, usually at a community college. This is the quickest route to becoming a registered nurse (RN). You’ll take general education courses alongside nursing classes, complete clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics, and graduate eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. Community college tuition makes this one of the more affordable paths to an RN license, and many nurses start here before bridging to a bachelor’s degree later through RN-to-BSN programs.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
A BSN takes four years at a university and is the most comprehensive entry-level nursing degree. The curriculum covers everything in an ADN program plus leadership, research, public health, and community nursing. BSN students typically complete around 765 hours of hands-on clinical training in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and community health settings. A growing number of hospitals, especially large medical centers and academic hospitals, prefer or require a BSN for hiring. The degree also opens the door to graduate school, which is required for roles like nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist.
What Nursing Schools Look For
Nursing programs are competitive, and admissions criteria vary widely depending on the type of program. For BSN programs at four-year universities, expect to need a strong high school GPA. The University of Kentucky’s College of Nursing, for example, requires a minimum 3.4 unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Community college ADN programs may have lower GPA thresholds, but they often have long waitlists and use a points-based system that rewards higher grades, relevant experience, and prerequisite completion.
High school courses that will prepare you best include biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology (if your school offers it), statistics or pre-calculus, and psychology. Strong reading and writing skills matter too, since nursing school involves heavy reading loads, care plans, and documentation.
Most nursing programs also require you to pass an entrance exam before admission. The two most common are the TEAS and the HESI A2. The TEAS tests reading, math, science, and English language usage. The HESI A2 covers similar ground but may also include anatomy and physiology sections depending on the school. Passing score requirements vary by program, so check with your target schools early so you know what to aim for. Study guides and practice tests are widely available for both exams.
Building Your Application in High School
Beyond grades and test scores, nursing programs want to see that you’ve explored healthcare and understand what patient care actually involves. There are several ways to do this while you’re still in high school.
Volunteering at a hospital or clinic is the most direct option. Many hospitals have formal volunteer programs for students age 16 and up where you can help with patient transport, deliver supplies, or assist in waiting areas. Some public health departments also offer volunteer roles that expose you to clinical settings, including duties like greeting and directing patients, shadowing technicians, assisting with data collection, and supporting outreach programs. Age requirements vary, so check with local facilities.
If your school has a Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter, joining gives you access to health-related competitions, leadership opportunities, and networking. Some high schools also offer CNA certification through career and technical education programs, which lets you graduate with a credential and paid work experience before you even start college.
Letters of recommendation from science teachers, healthcare professionals you’ve volunteered with, or supervisors at part-time jobs all strengthen your application. Programs want evidence that you’re reliable, compassionate, and can handle the emotional demands of nursing.
The Licensing Exam
No matter which educational path you choose, you need to pass a licensing exam before you can practice. LPNs take the NCLEX-PN, and registered nurses take the NCLEX-RN. Both are administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers across the country.
The NCLEX-RN registration fee is $200. You’ll also pay a separate application fee to your state’s board of nursing, which varies by state but typically runs $75 to $200. The exam uses a computerized adaptive format, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on your answers. You’ll receive a minimum of 85 questions, and the test ends once the computer determines with enough certainty whether you’ve met the passing standard. Most nursing programs build NCLEX preparation into the final semester, and many graduates take a dedicated review course in the weeks before their exam date.
There are no refunds on your NCLEX registration fee for any reason, including missed appointments, so schedule carefully.
Salary and Job Outlook
Nursing is one of the most in-demand careers in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of registered nurses to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. That growth translates to roughly 197,000 job openings each year when you factor in retirements and turnover.
The median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in May 2024. Your actual salary will depend on your location, employer, specialty, and education level. Nurses with a BSN generally earn more than those with an ADN, and nurses who go on to earn graduate degrees or specialty certifications can earn significantly more. LPNs and CNAs earn less than RNs but can work their way up through bridge programs while earning a paycheck in healthcare.
Choosing the Right Path for You
If you want to start working in healthcare as soon as possible, a CNA or LPN program gets you there in under a year. You’ll earn less initially, but you’ll gain real clinical experience and can continue your education part-time. Many employers offer tuition assistance for CNAs and LPNs pursuing RN degrees.
If you’re ready for a four-year commitment and want the broadest career options from the start, a BSN is the strongest choice. It positions you for hospital jobs, leadership roles, and graduate school without needing additional bridge programs later. The ADN sits in the middle: faster and cheaper than a BSN, with the same RN license at the end, but you may eventually need to complete a BSN to advance.
There’s no wrong entry point. Many experienced nurses started as CNAs, worked their way through an ADN, and later completed a BSN or even a master’s degree. The nursing profession is specifically designed to let you advance without starting over.