A career in nursing is one of the most respected paths you can pick. Nursing has topped Gallup’s honesty and ethics rankings every year since 2002, with 75% of US adults rating nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as high or very high in the December 2025 survey – well ahead of medical doctors (57%) and pharmacists (53%), the next-highest professions Gallup tracks regularly. So how long does it take to become a nurse?
Nurses are also paid well and have a wide range of options for advancing their careers, which is part of why the question of program length matters so much: the credential you choose sets both your starting salary and your long-term ceiling.
If you’re considering becoming a nurse, it’s natural to want to understand how long you will need to attend school or university to get your education.
But the process of figuring out what degree you should get, how long it will take, and how to get a license can get overwhelming quickly. The answer to the question “how long does it take to become a nurse?” depends on what degree you choose to get.
How long does it take to become a nurse?
The amount of time it takes you to become a nurse depends on your short- and long-term career goals. It can take you as little as two years to become a registered nurse. Magnet-recognized hospitals do hire ADN-prepared nurses, but the ANCC Magnet standard requires all nurse managers and nurse leaders to hold a BSN or higher, and Magnet organizations must show progress toward a BSN-prepared workforce, so many set a BSN completion deadline as a condition of hire. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing takes four years from scratch, or 12 to 24 months as an RN-to-BSN bridge once you are already licensed.
- Associate degree programs usually take two years
- Bachelor’s degree programs take four years
- An accelerated second-degree BSN takes 11 to 18 months if you already hold a bachelor’s in another field
- An LPN-to-RN bridge takes one to two years
- An RN-to-BSN program usually takes 12 to 24 months
The field of nursing is broad. There are dozens of specialties a nurse can work in. And getting hired in different specialties requires different qualifications and certificates.
For this reason, the amount of time required to become a specialty nurse will vary according to the position. In addition, you may need to earn a master’s degree or a doctorate depending on your goal.
There are different levels of nursing, and there are many ways to go about becoming a nurse. I’ve broken down the different levels below to help you understand what education will do for your future as a nurse.
How long does it take to become an LPN?
It takes about 12-24 months to become an LPN. If you want to start your nursing career quickly, becoming a licensed practical nurse is a great option.
While LPNs perform many of the same tasks as RNs, LPNs are not responsible for the more advanced duties such as creating care plans, and they usually report to a supervising RN or physician.
Diploma in practical nursing
To become an LPN, getting a Practical Nursing Diploma (PN) is the right way to go. Earning a diploma in practical nursing can take up to two years for part-time students. However, if you join the right program, you may be able to get it in one year and become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
You must bear in mind that regardless of what type of nurse you want to become, you will need to have graduated high school to enroll in a registered nursing program. However, if you haven’t graduated high school, you can get a GED before earning a diploma or degree and becoming an RN.
LPN programs prepare students to play key roles in medical care facilities by providing them with the classroom and hands-on skills they need. A Licensed Practical Nurse can go on to a BSN through an LPN-to-BSN bridge. These typically run two to three years of full-time study, shorter than a four-year BSN from scratch because some practical-nursing coursework and clinical hours transfer in. The exact credit award varies by school, so confirm the transfer evaluation before you enroll.
After completing the program and earning their diploma, students must pass the NCLEX-PN exam to earn their license and start working as nurses.
How long does it take to become an RN?
It takes two to four years to become a registered nurse. You can become an RN by earning an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Nurses with associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees have broader scopes of practice than LPNs. Additionally, depending on your degree, your role may vary by location including hospitals, ambulatory care, and clinics.
Associate degree in nursing
Traditionally, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) program is a two-year-long college-level program.
Earning an associate’s degree makes you eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. The exam is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and passing it, along with meeting your state board’s other requirements, is what gets you your registered nurse (RN) license from that board.
However, getting an associate’s degree in nursing is only the first step in your career. Most employers prefer giving nursing positions to nurses with a Bachelor of Science degree.
To advance your career, and to get hired at many larger hospitals and Magnet-recognized employers, you will likely need to complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing. You can do this through an RN-to-BSN program after earning this degree, typically 12 to 24 months. The credits you earn by completing the degree program and becoming a registered nurse will count toward your Bachelor’s Degree, allowing you to earn it faster.
If you earned enough credits in your ADN program, you might finish the BSN in about a year.
If you decide to become an RN quickly by earning an associate’s degree, make sure you attend a degree program approved by your state’s board of nursing.
Bachelor’s degree in nursing
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is the best way of becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). BSN programs are typically four-year programs. They prepare you to work as an RN in any US hospital setting. A US RN license does not carry over internationally on its own; practicing abroad requires meeting that country’s own licensing and credential-verification requirements.
If you’re in the mindset to learn the full professional scope of nursing, the BSN is the degree you must earn. Registered nurses with a BSN degree have the edge over candidates with a diploma or associate degree in nursing. The reason being that they get more job opportunities and earn better salaries.
An ADN or diploma also qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN, so a BSN is optional for RN licensure. It is, however, the standard entry point for graduate study. MSN and DNP programs generally require a BSN (or an RN-to-MSN bridge), and most specialty and leadership tracks assume baccalaureate preparation.
It is worth noting that some nursing programs allow students to study part-time and complete most of the coursework online. However, these students must get the required practical experience at a medical care facility nearby to complete their education.
Accelerated second-degree BSN programs
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to change careers, an accelerated BSN (ABSN, also marketed as a direct-entry or second-degree BSN) is the route. Your completed general education credits transfer, so the program covers only nursing prerequisites and core nursing coursework.
You will not need four years. Most ABSN programs run 11 to 18 months of continuous full-time study, with no summer break, according to AACN. On graduating you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and apply for your license. Note that these are intensive full-time programs, and most schools advise against working while enrolled.
RN-to-BSN programs
If you are already a licensed registered nurse holding an ADN or a diploma, you finish your bachelor’s through an RN-to-BSN program. Accelerated (second-degree) BSN programs are for people whose first bachelor’s is in another field entirely, covered in the section above.
RN-to-BSN programs typically run 12 to 24 months, and many are delivered part-time and largely online so you can keep working while you study. You do not sit for the NCLEX-RN again, since you already hold your RN license from the ADN or diploma pathway. The RN-to-BSN adds the baccalaureate credential, which is what opens up management roles, Magnet-recognized employers, and graduate study.
How long does it take to become an APRN?
Once you have your BSN, expect roughly two to three years of graduate study to become an APRN. You will need a graduate-level degree: a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) takes about two years full-time, while a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) takes three to four. Many APRN programs also require one to two years of RN experience before you apply, and all of them carry a supervised clinical hour requirement that part-time study stretches out further. The AACN Essentials set a 500-hour floor for graduate-level nursing generally, and CCNE requires 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours of the DNP programs it accredits. For nurse practitioner tracks, CCNE’s accreditation standards set a minimum of 500 direct patient care hours, while the National Task Force’s 2022 NP education standards raise that to 750 direct patient care hours in the student’s population focus, excluding simulation. Expect most NP programs to plan around the higher figure. Post-master’s DNP programs commonly count up to 500 verified clinical hours from the earlier master’s program toward the doctoral total, after a school-by-school gap analysis.
Typically, graduate-level programs are specialized. They are not designed to prepare you for every graduate-level role such as a nurse anesthetist for example. Therefore, most general MSN degrees prepare nurses to work as nurse administrators, nurse managers, or other leadership roles. Nurses interested in specialty APRN roles can explore pathways like how to become a CRNA (the highest-paying nursing role), how to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), or how to become a nurse midwife.
How long does it take to become a nurse practitioner?
If you already have your BSN, an MSN nurse practitioner track takes about two years of full-time study, and a BSN-to-DNP track three to four. Part-time enrollment, which many working nurses choose, typically adds a year or more.
The role of the nurse practitioner (NP) is in demand. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, from 336,300 to 474,100 – one of the fastest-growing in the nation.
As an APRN, you’ll need a graduate-level degree with a focus on the nurse practitioner specialty. A direct-entry nurse practitioner program can take between 18 and 36 months to complete when attending full time. And a nurse practitioner bridge program can also take about 36 months depending on your choice of specialization.
NP specialties vary considerably in scope and setting. Common tracks include family nurse practitioner (FNP), psychiatric-mental health NP (PMHNP), and acute care NP (ACNP). For nurses considering anesthesia, becoming a CRNA requires additional DNP-level training and typically takes 7 to 9 years total from the start of nursing school.
Graduate-level degrees
According to the BLS, registered nurses get paid well, earning a median annual salary of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nurse practitioners, who hold a graduate degree, earn a median of $132,300 in the same dataset. If you want to specialize and cater to a specific patient population or help patients recover from a particular ailment, earning a master’s degree or a doctoral degree and getting relevant certifications is the right way to go.
A graduate degree opens roles that a BSN alone does not. For example, you can specialize in health research or prepare for hospital administration.
Having a graduate-level education will increase your earning potential. It can also prepare you for leadership roles in public health if you choose.
Getting financial aid
Regardless of the type of nurse you want to become, you can get financial support for your nursing education. You can also get financial support to attend university even if you’re already working as a Registered Nurse (RN).
You can either apply for a grant or get a scholarship. Applying for both is a good idea if getting training is too burdensome financially.
Applying for a grant
To get a grant, you must file FAFSA. If you (and your family, if you’re a dependent) showcase financial need, you will qualify to receive aid from the government. Applying for FAFSA also gives the school or university at which you intend to study insight into your financial background.
If deemed necessary by the school or university, it will grant you additional funding you need to become a registered nurse or a graduate. The pool of funds you may be granted aid from includes institutional grants and scholarships.
A student can potentially get two government grants, depending on their financial need. Some government grants you could receive include:
- The Pell Grant: Eligibility is calculated from your Student Aid Index (SAI), which the FAFSA derives from income, family size, and dependency status; there is no single income cutoff. For the 2026–27 award year the maximum Pell award is $7,395 and the minimum is $740. A dependent student qualifies automatically for the maximum if their parents are not required to file a federal tax return, or if parental adjusted gross income is above zero and at or below a poverty-guideline multiple set by household type: 225% for a single parent, 175% for any other parent household, measured against the family size and state of residence. Automatic minimum-Pell eligibility uses the same structure at higher thresholds: 325% for a single parent, 275% otherwise. Single-parent applicants who read only the 175% figure often assume they are over the line when they are not. Pell is awarded to millions of students a year, and as long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress you can keep receiving it, up to a lifetime limit of the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: Filing the FAFSA also makes you eligible for the FSEOG at schools that participate in the program. It goes to undergraduates with exceptional financial need, generally $100 to $4,000 a year, and schools award it from a limited annual allocation, so early filers have the best chance. Congress flat-funded FSEOG for the 2026–27 award year after a House proposal to eliminate it.
- State grants: Most states award their grants from FAFSA data, but some add a separate step. New York, for example, requires a separate Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application, and several states set their own deadlines well before the federal one.
You must also note that nursing organizations and universities also grant money to students that need financial aid. Therefore, inquiring at the university you want to study at is worth the time and effort, even if you’re an undergraduate student.
Applying for a scholarship
Scholarships are different from grants. To get a federal grant to become a Registered Nurse (RN), the student must showcase financial need. In contrast, scholarships offered by private organizations, institutions, schools, and communities are often merit- or lifestyle-based.
In other words, you could receive financial aid for being a mom going back to school or just for being a male nurse wanting to become an RN. You can search for scholarships that you’re eligible for online.
Applying for both grants and scholarships is the best way to reduce the financial burden of attending university.
How to find the right nursing program
With qualified health care professionals being in high demand, you will likely find several nursing schools you can attend locally.
Be sure the program you’re looking to enroll in holds programmatic accreditation. Three accreditors recognized by the US Department of Education cover general nursing programs, and their scopes differ. (Nurse anesthesia and nurse-midwifery programs have their own specialty accreditors, the COA and ACME.) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the autonomous accrediting arm affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, accredits baccalaureate and graduate degree programs (plus post-baccalaureate residency and fellowship programs), with no practical nursing or associate programs. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredits practical-nursing, diploma, associate, and baccalaureate through doctoral programs. The National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) also covers the full range, from practical nursing through doctoral programs. Match the accreditor to your degree level: an ADN or practical nursing program will hold ACEN or NLN CNEA accreditation and will never appear in CCNE’s directory, so its absence from that list tells you nothing. The AACN itself is a membership organization for schools of nursing, not an accreditor. The program must also be approved by your state’s board of nursing before you can sit for the NCLEX.
Each accreditor publishes a searchable directory of the programs it accredits: acenursing.org, ccneaccreditation.org, and cnea.nln.org. Check the directory that matches the degree level you are applying to.
When looking for a nursing school, make sure you look at:
- The accreditation of the nursing school and its state board approval
- The school’s most recent first-time NCLEX pass rate
- Class schedules and whether part-time or evening tracks exist
- Classroom and clinical requirements
- Credit transfer policies
- Clinical placement arrangements and employer partnerships
Conclusion
The BLS estimates that there are about 3.47 million registered nurses working in the USA. Per the bureau’s 2025–2035 projections, employment of RNs is expected to grow 6%, with about 180,800 openings a year over the decade – most of them replacing nurses who retire or move into other roles, which is why the hiring volume students encounter is far larger than the headline growth rate suggests. HRSA’s National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a continuing RN shortfall through 2038. Its December 2025 fact sheet puts the national shortage at 8% in 2028, narrowing to 3% (about 108,960 full-time-equivalent RNs) by 2038. That national figure hides a much wider rural gap: in 2028 nonmetropolitan areas face a projected 24% shortage against 5% in metro areas, and even by 2038 the split is still 11% nonmetro to 2% metro. Demand for new graduates is expected to stay strong well beyond the current decade, and to stay strongest of all in rural settings.
In other words, it couldn’t be a better time to become a nurse.
Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) takes persistence. However, the excellent compensation and experience of healing patients make attending nursing school and getting the education worth it.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses,” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), SOC 29-1141, May 2025 – RN national median annual wage $97,550 (mean $101,420). https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 projections – RN workforce size (3,465,400 in 2025, projected 3,660,100 by 2035), 6% projected growth, and roughly 180,800 annual openings. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners,” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), SOC 29-1171, May 2025 – nurse practitioner median annual wage $132,300. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291171.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 projections – nurse practitioner employment projected to grow 41%, from a 2025 base of 336,300 to 474,100 in 2035. Roughly 32,200 annual openings are projected across the three occupations combined on the OOH page; the Employment Projections occupation table breaks this into about 29,400 for NPs, 2,400 for nurse anesthetists, and 400 for nurse midwives. Nurse anesthetists are projected to grow 10% (54,500 to 59,800) and nurse midwives 11% (8,200 to 9,100). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition – LPN education length (programs usually about one year), scope, and employment data. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), “Exams” – the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN licensing exams referenced for each degree pathway, accessed 29 September 2026. https://www.ncsbn.org/exams
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “Accelerated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degrees in Nursing,” fact sheet – accelerated entry-level BSN programs take 11 to 18 months including prerequisites; 340 accelerated baccalaureate programs in 2025. https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/accelerated-baccalaureate-and-masters-degrees-in-nursing
- Federal Student Aid, “Complete the FAFSA Form” and “Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity (FSEOG) Grants,” U.S. Department of Education – the financial aid application process and FSEOG eligibility ($100–$4,000 a year at participating schools). FSEOG funding for 2026–27 per the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (signed 3 February 2026), flat at $910 million (NASFAA). https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- Federal Student Aid, “Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility,” 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid Handbook, Application and Verification Guide, Ch. 3 – Pell Grant awarded on the SAI rather than a flat income cutoff; automatic maximum eligibility at or below 225% of the federal poverty guideline for a single parent and 175% for other parent households, with the corresponding minimum-Pell thresholds at 325% and 275%. Award amounts per Dear Colleague Letter GEN-26-01, 30 January 2026: 2026–27 maximum $7,395, minimum $740. https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/dear-colleague-letters/2026-01-30/2026-27-federal-pell-grant-maximum-and-minimum-award-amounts and https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2026-2027/application-and-verification-guide/ch3-student-aid-index-sai-and-pell-grant-eligibility
- Gallup, “Nurses Continue to Lead in Honesty and Ethics Ratings,” 12 January 2026 (survey conducted 1–15 December 2025, n=1,016) – nurses 75% high or very high, a top ranking held every year since 2002; medical doctors 57%, pharmacists 53%. https://news.gallup.com/poll/700736/nurses-continue-lead-honesty-ethics-ratings.aspx
- HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, “Nurse Workforce Projections, 2023–2038,” December 2025 – projected RN shortage of 8% in 2028 narrowing to 3% / 108,960 FTEs by 2038, with a nonmetro-versus-metro gap of 24% to 5% in 2028, 18% to 4% in 2033, and 11% to 2% in 2038. Supersedes the earlier 2022–2037 vintage. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/nursing-projections-factsheet.pdf
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Magnet Recognition Program application manual – requirement that nurse managers and nurse leaders hold a BSN or higher, and that organizations demonstrate progress toward a BSN-prepared nursing workforce. https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) – the three recognized programmatic accreditors for US nursing education referenced in the program-selection section. https://www.ccneaccreditation.org/, https://www.acenursing.org/, and https://cnea.nln.org/
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing, “The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education,” and National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, “Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education,” 6th ed., 2022 – the 500-hour graduate-level practice floor (Essentials, 2026 edition) and the NTF Criterion III.H minimum of 750 direct patient care clinical hours for NP population-focused tracks. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, “Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs,” amended 2024, Key Element III-H – DNP minimum 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours; NP programs minimum 500 direct patient care clinical hours. https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials