A career in nursing is one of the most respected paths you can pick. Nursing has topped Gallup’s honesty and ethics rankings for 25 consecutive years, with 75% of US adults rating nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as high or very high in the December 2025 survey — well ahead of every other profession measured. 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 most 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 12 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. It is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and passing it will get you your registered nurse (RN) license.
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 get hired in larger care facilities, you will need to complete your Bachelor of Science in Nursing. You can do this by attending a two-year-bridge RN-BSN program after earning this degree. 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 be able to get your BSN in a year instead of two years.
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.
A BSN is not required to become an RN — an ADN or diploma also qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN — but it is 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 12 to 18 months of continuous full-time study, with no summer break. On graduating you are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and apply for your license. Note that these are intensive full-time programs — 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 rather than an accelerated BSN. 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 — 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. Most APRN programs also require one to two years of RN experience before you apply, and all of them carry a supervised clinical hour requirement (500+ for an MSN track, 1,000+ for a DNP) that part-time study stretches out further.
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 40% from 2024 to 2034 – 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.
Getting your graduate-level degree from the right school or university will enable you to get any nursing job you want. For example, you can specialize in health research or get trained to become a hospital administrator.
Having a graduate-level education will increase your earning potential. It will also allow you to start a career as a leader in the public health and sector 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 whose parents’ adjusted gross income falls at or below 175% of the federal poverty guideline for their family size qualifies automatically for the maximum. 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: Applying to FAFSA also makes you eligible to receive aid from the FSEOG. The grant provides financial support to students that show an exceptional need for financial support.
- State grants: While most states grant nursing students aid after filling out the FAFSA form, states like Texas and New York require students to fill out a separate application to qualify for a state grant.
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. The two recognized accreditors are the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the autonomous accrediting arm affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), which accredits practical-nursing, diploma, associate, and baccalaureate programs. 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.
The organization has a searchable directory of programs you can filter to find the right program. You can find it on their website or access it here.
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 3.39 million registered nurses working in the USA. Per the bureau’s 2024–2034 projections, employment of RNs is expected to grow 5%, with about 189,100 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 2037 — a 10% national shortage in 2027, easing to 8% by 2032 and 6% (about 207,980 full-time-equivalent RNs) by 2037. The gap is far wider outside cities: 13% in nonmetropolitan areas against 5% in metro areas by 2037. Demand for new graduates is expected to stay strong well beyond the current decade, particularly 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, 2024–2034 projections – RN workforce size (about 3,391,000 in 2024), 5% projected growth, and roughly 189,100 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, 2024–2034 projections – nurse practitioner employment projected to grow 40%, about 29,500 annual openings against a 2024 base of 320,400. 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, 2024 – LPN education length, 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), “NCLEX Examinations,” 2025 – the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN licensing exams referenced for each degree pathway. https://www.ncsbn.org/exams.page
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2025 – baccalaureate and graduate nursing education standards and the program directory referenced in the “find the right program” section. https://www.aacnnursing.org/
- Federal Student Aid, “Complete the FAFSA Form,” U.S. Department of Education, 2025 – the financial aid application process, Pell Grant, and FSEOG eligibility described in the financial aid section. 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; 2026–27 maximum award $7,395, minimum $740, automatic maximum eligibility at or below 175% of the federal poverty guideline. https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2026-2027/application-and-verification-guide/ch3-student-aid-index-sai-and-pell-grant-eligibility
- Gallup, “Honesty and Ethics in Professions,” historical trends, December 2025 survey – nursing rated highest for the 25th consecutive year, 75% of US adults rating nurses’ honesty and ethical standards high or very high. https://news.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-professions.aspx
- HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, “Nurse Workforce Projections, 2022–2037,” December 2025 – projected RN shortage of 10% (2027), 8% (2032) and 6% / ~207,980 FTEs (2037), with a 13% nonmetro versus 5% metro gap. 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) and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) – the two recognized programmatic accreditors for US nursing education referenced in the program-selection section. https://www.ccneaccreditation.org/ and https://www.acenursing.org/