What are the steps of becoming a nurse?

To become a nurse, you'll need to complete your degree or professional certification program and pass any certification tests. Each type of nurse has different program requirements, but generally, they all have an element of classroom work and clinical work. This allows you to build a solid foundation of knowledge before beginning your hands-on training in working medical facilities. The exact training you'll receive will look different for each program, but this is the general structure of each one. As you progress in your nursing degree levels, you'll probably see some additional opportunities to conduct research as well. Once you complete your nursing school program, you'll usually need to pass a standardized licensing test. These vary by the type of nurse you're becoming, but each one requires this in some form. Some programs may also have additional exams or optional specialized exams you have to pass before you can graduate.