You need at minimum an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) to become a registered nurse, though a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is increasingly preferred by employers and required in some states. Both degrees qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam, which every state requires before you can practice.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
The fastest traditional route to becoming an RN is a two-year associate degree, typically offered at community colleges. Some schools offer accelerated versions that can be completed in 18 months. The core curriculum covers prerequisites like chemistry, anatomy, biology, psychology, and English, then moves into nursing-specific coursework: fundamentals of nursing, medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, microbiology and immunology, and community health.
An ADN is a practical choice if you want to start working sooner and at a lower tuition cost. You’ll graduate eligible for the same licensing exam as BSN graduates, and you can work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and many other settings. The tradeoff is that some employers, particularly large academic medical centers and magnet hospitals, prefer or require a BSN. If you start with an ADN, RN-to-BSN bridge programs let you complete the bachelor’s degree later, often online and while working.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
A BSN is a four-year undergraduate degree offered at colleges and universities. It covers the same clinical patient care skills as an ADN but adds coursework in theoretical nursing concepts, public health, nursing ethics, pathophysiology, and research methods. That broader foundation opens doors to leadership roles, specialty certifications, and graduate school.
The trend in hiring clearly favors the BSN. Many hospital systems now require new hires to hold one, and New York State passed a law requiring RNs licensed in the state to earn a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing within 10 years of initial licensure (with certain exemptions). As of April 2026, updated regulations further clarified those requirements. Other states may follow. If you’re weighing ADN versus BSN, the BSN provides more flexibility from day one, but the ADN remains a fully valid path to licensure.
Accelerated BSN for Career Changers
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, you don’t need to start over. Accelerated BSN programs compress the nursing curriculum into roughly 12 to 16 months of intensive, full-time study. NYU’s program, for example, runs four consecutive semesters over 15 months and accepts applicants regardless of whether their prior degree was in healthcare.
Prerequisites are specific and non-negotiable. A typical accelerated program requires anatomy and physiology (two semesters), chemistry with a lab (at least four credits), microbiology, nutrition, statistics, and developmental psychology covering the full human lifespan. Introductory or general psychology courses usually don’t count. All prerequisite courses must have been completed within the past 10 years with a grade of C or better, and programs recommend having at least half finished before you apply. Completing prerequisites often takes one to two semesters on its own, so realistic planning means budgeting about two years total from your first prerequisite course to graduation.
Direct-Entry Master’s Programs
Another option for people with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree is a direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). These programs, offered at schools like Johns Hopkins, combine foundational nursing training with graduate-level coursework and can be completed in as few as four semesters. You graduate with a master’s degree and eligibility for the NCLEX-RN, plus a head start if you want to pursue nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or other advanced practice roles.
Direct-entry MSN programs are rigorous. Students typically need a B-minus or higher in all prerequisite courses, and once enrolled, a C-plus or better each semester to continue. Failing or withdrawing from a course means repeating it before moving forward. These programs suit people who are confident they want an advanced nursing career and prefer to complete both degrees in one stretch rather than stacking an ADN or BSN with a later master’s program.
LPN-to-RN Bridge Programs
Licensed practical nurses who want to become RNs can enter bridge programs that build on their existing training and clinical experience. These programs award an associate degree and are structured to avoid redundant coursework, though they still include prerequisites, labs, and clinical rotations. Admission is competitive, and programs have specific application deadlines (often May for fall entry, September for spring). If you’re already working as an LPN, this is the most efficient path to an RN license.
Clinical Hours and the NCLEX
Every nursing program includes supervised clinical training in real healthcare settings, but the number of required hours varies widely. Across prelicensure RN programs, clinical hour requirements range from 432 to 960 hours. State nursing boards set their own minimums: for associate degree programs, the 11 state boards that specify a number require anywhere from 190 to 900 clinical hours. For BSN programs, the range among the 10 boards that set a requirement is 160 to 750 hours. The rest leave it to the accrediting body and the school.
After completing any approved nursing program, you must pass the NCLEX-RN to earn your license. This is a standardized, computer-adaptive exam that adjusts its difficulty based on your responses. Your state board of nursing must verify that your education meets its specific requirements before you’re eligible to sit for the test. Each state sets its own rules, so if you’re attending school in one state and plan to practice in another, confirm that your program satisfies both sets of requirements.
Choosing the Right Path
Your best option depends on where you are right now. If you’re starting from scratch and want to begin working quickly, an ADN gets you into the field in about two years at a community college tuition rate. If you can invest four years upfront, a BSN positions you for a wider range of jobs and eliminates the need to go back for a bachelor’s later. If you already have a degree in another field, an accelerated BSN or direct-entry MSN lets you pivot into nursing without repeating a full undergraduate program. And if you’re already an LPN, a bridge program is the most direct route.
Whichever path you choose, the endpoint is the same: passing the NCLEX-RN and earning your license. The degree you hold when you get there shapes your starting opportunities, but nursing is unusually flexible about letting you build credentials over time. Many nurses start with an ADN, work for a few years, then complete a BSN or MSN while employed, often with tuition assistance from their employer.