How fast can I become a nurse?

Question

Justin Parker · Accepted Answer

You can become a nurse in two to four years, depending on the type of nurse you want to become. Nursing school is four years long if you are seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, but there are nursing roles you can obtain by getting an associate's degree in nursing from a community college, and this normally takes around two years.

Many different factors can affect how long an aspiring nurse must attend school. Here is the path to becoming a nurse and the time each step takes:

Attend nursing school
The degree you aim for and how long it will take you to earn depends on what field of nursing you want to get into. In certain states registered nurses only need an associate's nursing degree to practice, meaning it could take as little as two years. You can also choose to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (nurse), which only takes two years as well.
Complete and pass the NCLEX exam
After you've obtained your degree, this is the required next step. The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also known as NCLEX, or NCLEX-RN. This exam is designed to test your knowledge in all the critical areas of the nursing field.
This step can take a few weeks or a few months depending on how well you perform on the test, and if you have to take it multiple times.
If you do not pass the exam, you then have to wait 45 days before you are eligible to take it again. Just about every role in nursing requires you to pass this exam. If you haven't, you can still apply to nurse positions, however, the medical employer is almost certain to turn you down. The one position you may seek without passing the NCLEX is a nursing assistant.
However, even with this role, you will have to get certification to be considered. In other words, you need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Get State Licensure
This is another mandatory step. You need to get a nursing license in the state in which you want to practice. If you want to become a traveling nurse, you then need to obtain state licensure in every state you plan to practice in. Certain regions have licenses that can be utilized in multiple states but do your research, as this is the exception, not the rule.
Each state also has its own unique requirements for obtaining a nursing license, but if you have passed the NCLEX exam this step does not take very long, typically a few weeks to a month.
Get advanced training
This is optional, however, it does open you up to a wider range of nursing positions, and higher salaries. There are many different certifications you can seek as a nurse. Some common options include oncology, gerontology, neonatal, pediatrics, and many more.
Advanced training takes varying amounts of time depending on the field.
Alternatively, you could also continue your higher education in nursing and earn a master's degree or a doctorate. Both of these options will give you a substantial increase in terms of salary. A master's degree in nursing will net you at least another two years of education