Getting into nursing school requires a mix of completed prerequisite courses, a competitive GPA, entrance exam scores, and several supporting documents. The exact combination depends on whether you’re applying to a two-year associate degree (ADN) program or a four-year bachelor’s (BSN) program, but the core ingredients are similar across the board.
Prerequisite Courses
Every nursing program requires a set of science and general education courses before you can apply. These are the classes that build the foundation you’ll need once the actual nursing coursework begins. At minimum, most programs expect:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with lab)
- Chemistry (with lab)
- Microbiology (with lab)
- English composition
- Psychology (often introductory or developmental)
- Statistics
- Nutrition or Human Growth and Development
BSN programs typically require a broader set of general education classes on top of the sciences, including sociology, communications, or ethics. ADN programs at community colleges ask for many of the same science prerequisites but fewer liberal arts courses overall.
One detail that catches people off guard: science prerequisites often have an expiration date. At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, for instance, chemistry, microbiology, and anatomy and physiology must have been completed within the past 10 years. If you took those courses a decade ago, you may need to retake them. Check the specific policy at each school you’re considering, because this window varies.
GPA Expectations
Most nursing programs list a minimum GPA somewhere between 2.5 and 3.0, but the students who actually get admitted tend to land well above that floor. Columbia University’s nursing school reports an average undergraduate GPA of 3.4 among its incoming students. Competitive BSN programs at state universities often hover in a similar range.
Your science GPA sometimes matters as much as, or more than, your overall GPA. Many programs calculate a separate science GPA from your anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, and biology grades. A strong performance in those courses signals that you can handle the rigor of nursing coursework. If your overall GPA is on the lower side but your science grades are solid, that can still work in your favor at some schools.
Entrance Exams: TEAS and HESI
Nearly all nursing programs require a standardized entrance exam, and two dominate the landscape: the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) and the HESI A2 (Health Education Systems Incorporated Admission Assessment). Your school will tell you which one they accept. Some accept both.
The TEAS covers four areas: reading, math, science, and English/language usage. It’s a broad assessment of your academic readiness. The HESI A2 is more granular, with sections on anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, grammar, math, physics, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Not every school requires all HESI sections, so confirm which ones your program expects.
Passing scores vary by institution. As a rough benchmark, the University of St. Thomas requires at least 80% overall on the HESI and 78% on each section of the TEAS. Some community college ADN programs set the bar lower, while competitive BSN programs may expect scores in the high 70s to mid-80s or above. You can typically retake these exams, though schools often limit how many attempts you get within a given time period.
ADN vs. BSN: How Requirements Differ
An ADN is a two-year program usually offered at community colleges. Some accelerated versions finish in 18 months. The prerequisite list is shorter, the application process tends to be more straightforward, and the program focuses tightly on clinical nursing skills: fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, and community health.
A BSN is a four-year degree at a university. It covers everything in an ADN plus deeper coursework in public health, nursing ethics, pathophysiology, research, and leadership. BSN applications are generally more involved, often requiring personal statements, letters of recommendation, and a longer list of prerequisite courses. The tradeoff is broader training and more career flexibility down the road.
Both degrees lead to the same licensing exam (the NCLEX-RN), and both allow you to work as a registered nurse. The American Nurses Association emphasizes that whichever path you choose, the program should be accredited to ensure your education meets the standards required for licensure.
The Application Itself
Some nursing schools use a centralized application service called NursingCAS, which works similarly to the common application used for undergraduate admissions. You submit your transcripts, personal information, and supporting documents in one place, and NursingCAS verifies everything before forwarding your application to each school. This verification process can take up to two weeks after the deadline, so submitting early matters. If your application isn’t verified in time, the school may never see it.
Deadlines vary. Clark College, for example, sets deadlines of April 8 for fall entry, July 8 for winter, and November 8 for spring. Many BSN programs operate on a single annual cycle with a fall deadline for the following year. Start researching deadlines at least 6 to 12 months before you plan to apply, because you’ll need time to finish prerequisites, schedule your entrance exam, and gather your materials.
Not all schools use NursingCAS. Some have their own application portals, and community college ADN programs often use a points-based system where your GPA, test scores, and completed prerequisites are scored and ranked automatically.
Personal Statement
BSN programs and accelerated programs almost always require an essay. The prompt is usually some version of “Why do you want to be a nurse?” but admissions committees are looking for more than a generic answer about wanting to help people.
Strong personal statements illustrate specific values like compassion, integrity, or a commitment to healthcare equity, and connect those values to real experiences. Admissions readers want to see empathy, adaptability, communication skills, and attention to detail. They also look for resilience and flexibility, qualities that matter enormously in a profession where plans change quickly and the emotional demands are high. Use concrete examples from your life, whether that’s a healthcare experience, a caregiving role, or a moment that crystallized your decision to pursue nursing.
Letters of Recommendation
Many BSN and graduate-entry programs ask for two or three letters of recommendation. The best recommenders are people who know you well enough to provide specific examples of your skills, not just a general endorsement. A science professor who watched you lead a lab group, a supervisor from a healthcare job, or a volunteer coordinator at a clinic can all speak credibly to your potential.
For graduate nursing programs specifically, the University at Buffalo advises choosing someone with a graduate degree or healthcare background who has worked with you within the last five years. Even for undergraduate programs, recent and relevant is the principle: a letter from someone who can describe your work ethic and interpersonal skills in detail will always outweigh a vague letter from someone with an impressive title.
BLS Certification and Other Clinical Requirements
Before you start clinical rotations, virtually every nursing program requires a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association. This is a specific healthcare-provider-level CPR course, not the general CPR class offered at your local community center. The AHA’s BLS course covers high-quality chest compressions, rescue breathing, and AED use in both hospital and out-of-hospital settings. The certification card is valid for two years.
Beyond BLS, most programs also require a background check, drug screening, up-to-date immunization records (including hepatitis B, MMR, varicella, and often flu and COVID vaccines), and a physical exam or health clearance form. Some programs require proof of health insurance. These clinical requirements don’t affect whether you get accepted, but you’ll need to complete them before your first day of hands-on patient care, which often comes in the first or second semester of the program.
Putting It All Together
Here’s a practical timeline if you’re starting from scratch. About 12 to 18 months before you plan to apply, begin your prerequisite courses, prioritizing the sciences since those take the longest and often have their own prerequisites (general biology before microbiology, for example). Six months out, register for the TEAS or HESI and give yourself at least four to six weeks of dedicated study. Three months before the deadline, start drafting your personal statement and reach out to recommenders. One month before, make sure all your transcripts are submitted to NursingCAS or your school’s portal, because processing delays are common.
The process is competitive but predictable. Programs publish exactly what they want, and the students who get in are typically the ones who plan ahead, hit every prerequisite, and put genuine effort into the pieces that aren’t just numbers, like the essay and recommendations.