Nursing school prerequisites fall into three categories: academic coursework, entrance exams, and clinical readiness requirements. Most programs require a core set of science and general education courses, a minimum GPA (typically 2.75 or higher), a passing score on a standardized entrance exam, and proof of health clearances before you start clinical rotations. The exact list varies by school and degree type, but the foundation is remarkably consistent across programs.
Core Science Courses
Science prerequisites form the backbone of any nursing application. Nearly every BSN program requires these four courses:
- Human Anatomy with lab
- Human Physiology with lab
- Microbiology with lab
- Introductory or General Chemistry (some schools require a lab, others don’t)
Some programs combine anatomy and physiology into a two-semester sequence (often listed as A&P I and A&P II), while others keep them as separate courses. Either way, expect to spend at least two to three semesters completing the science track alone. The lab components are non-negotiable at most schools because hands-on work with specimens and microscopes builds skills you’ll use in clinical settings.
Chemistry requirements are less standardized. Some programs accept an introductory-level course without a lab, while others want a full general chemistry sequence including organic chemistry. Check your target school’s specific list before enrolling, since retaking a lower-level course to meet a higher requirement wastes time and money.
General Education Prerequisites
Beyond the sciences, nursing programs require a set of general education courses that build communication, critical thinking, and behavioral health knowledge. The most commonly required are:
- English Composition (one or two semesters)
- Statistics
- Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Development
- General Psychology
- Nutrition
- Sociology or Cultural Anthropology
Statistics is worth highlighting because many students underestimate it. Programs expect a course covering descriptive and inferential statistics, probability, regression, and hypothesis testing. A “math for liberal arts” course won’t count. Some programs also set a recency requirement. UCSF, for example, requires the statistics course to have been completed within five years of starting the program.
GPA Requirements
Most nursing programs set a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 to 3.0 for admission, but science and math courses often carry a higher bar. Gordon State College, as a typical example, requires a 2.75 overall GPA with a 3.0 specifically in science and math prerequisites. Individual prerequisite courses generally require a C or better, though competitive programs often prefer B grades or higher in the sciences.
Because admission is competitive, meeting the minimum rarely guarantees a spot. Many programs rank applicants by GPA, giving extra weight to science courses. If you earned a C in anatomy, retaking it for a higher grade can meaningfully improve your application, though some schools average both attempts rather than replacing the old grade. Verify the retake policy before committing.
Science Course Expiration Dates
One detail that catches many applicants off guard: science prerequisites can expire. Programs want to ensure your knowledge is current, so courses taken too long ago may not count toward admission.
The standard expiration window is five to seven years, though it varies widely. Lehman College, for instance, recently adopted a seven-year expiration policy covering general chemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. Courses completed more than seven years before the application date won’t be reviewed, and applicants must retake them to demonstrate current competency.
General education courses like English composition and psychology typically have no expiration. The clock applies primarily to the sciences. If you’re returning to school after a career change, check expiration policies early so you can plan your timeline realistically.
Entrance Exams
Most nursing programs require a standardized admissions test, and the most widely used is the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills). The TEAS covers four sections: reading, math, science, and English and language usage. There is no universal passing score. Each program sets its own cutoff, but a competitive score is typically around 70 to 75%, which ATI classifies as a “proficient” level of preparedness.
Some schools use the HESI A2 exam instead, which tests similar content areas but with a different format and scoring system. A handful of programs accept either test. You can usually find your target school’s required exam and minimum score on its nursing admissions page.
Both exams are designed to predict success in a nursing program, not to test knowledge you’d only learn in nursing school. The science section, for instance, covers anatomy, physiology, and biology concepts from your prerequisite courses. If you’ve done well in those classes, the exam should feel like a comprehensive review rather than new material.
Clinical Readiness Requirements
Before you set foot in a hospital or clinic for rotations, you’ll need to clear a series of health and legal requirements. These aren’t part of the academic application, but they are prerequisites for progressing in the program. Texas A&M’s list is representative of what most schools require:
- Hepatitis B: blood titer showing positive immunity
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella): blood titer showing immunity or documentation of two vaccine doses
- Varicella (chickenpox): blood titer showing immunity or two vaccine doses (a history of having the disease is not accepted)
- Tdap: vaccination within the last 10 years, given after age 18
- Flu shot: required annually
- Tuberculosis testing: required annually, blood test accepted
- CPR certification: Basic Life Support for healthcare providers through the American Heart Association
- Physical examination by a medical provider
- Drug screening
- Criminal background check
- Current health insurance (cost-sharing plans are often not accepted by clinical facilities)
You’ll also complete HIPAA privacy training and clinical training modules, usually through an online platform the school provides after admission. These requirements have hard deadlines. Missing even one item can delay or block your clinical placement, so treat them like coursework with a due date.
How Prerequisites Differ by Program Type
The prerequisites above apply to traditional BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) programs, which are the most common pathway. Other program types adjust the list:
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Community college ADN programs require the same core science courses but typically have a shorter general education list. You may need fewer humanities or social science credits, making the total prerequisite load lighter. GPA cutoffs tend to be slightly lower, though competition at popular community colleges can still be fierce.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
Designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, ABSN programs compress the nursing curriculum into 12 to 18 months. The prerequisite science courses are the same, but you’ll already have most general education requirements covered by your first degree. Many ABSN programs, like the University of Pittsburgh’s, will review your existing transcripts and build a customized plan to fill any gaps rather than requiring you to start from scratch.
LPN/LVN Programs
Licensed Practical Nurse and Licensed Vocational Nurse programs have the fewest academic prerequisites. Some require only a high school diploma or GED, basic math, and English proficiency. A few will ask for anatomy or a basic biology course, but the bar is significantly lower than BSN or ADN programs.
Building a Realistic Timeline
If you’re starting from zero prerequisites, expect to spend 12 to 18 months completing coursework before you can apply. Anatomy and physiology sequences alone take two semesters, and you’ll want to layer in chemistry and microbiology strategically since taking all the heavy science courses simultaneously is a common reason students burn out or earn lower grades.
A practical approach: take anatomy and chemistry in your first semester, physiology and a general education course in your second, and microbiology alongside statistics or psychology in your third. This keeps each semester manageable while moving at a pace that gets you to the application stage in about a year. Many programs have application deadlines once or twice per year, so map your course schedule backward from your target deadline to avoid an unnecessary gap semester.