Registered Nursing Career Q & A

Each state has a Board of Nursing which is responsible for setting requirements and licensing nurses who practice in that state. To earn a professional nursing license, you must pass a comprehensive nursing test, called the NCLEX® examination. But to qualify to sit for the NCLEX examination, you must first complete a nursing education program that is approved by your state's Board of Nursing. Many states also require continuing nursing education after you are licensed to keep your nursing license current.

There are three entry-level nursing degree options:

• A hospital diploma program
• An associate's degree in nursing program
• A bachelor's degree in nursing program

Each nursing school has their own set of prerequisites and requirements for admission, but this section gives you some general guidelines for what to expect. Be sure to consult the detailed requirements for each school before applying.

• SAT or ACT exam, minimums vary widely by school
• GPA range from 2.0-3.25, depending on the school
• 3 years of math, including geometry and algebra II
• 3 years of science, including biology and chemistry
• 4 years of English
• 2 years of foreign language

Most BSN programs at 4-year colleges require you to first apply to the college or university in general, and then after completing prerequisite courses at the school you apply to the nursing program specifically.

• Nursing Diploma: 3 years
• Nursing Associate's Degree: 2 years
• Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN): 4 years
• RN-to-BSN: 2-3 years

There is a huge range of tuition costs, which depend on the type of RN school, whether it is public or private, and whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

There is usually a wide range of private and government options for nursing school financial aid. The key to getting on the band wagon with government aid of all types is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It can be filed either through an application at your school, or online. After filing the application you'll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which determines the government financial aid you qualify for.

For more financial aid information, visit our Nursing Scholarships and Grants page for in-depth scholarship and grant resources.

Nursing school accrediting organizations evaluate schools against a rigorous set of standards that are deemed necessary for providing a quality education. Schools are accredited for a number of years  and then may renew their accreditation. Accreditation speaks to the quality of education at a school, and it is also crucial in that most states require a degree from an accredited institution before you can take the NCLEX examination.