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Online RN to BSN, Online Pre-Licensure BSN, Accelerated BSN, or Online Bridge to BSN: Which Degree Do You Need?
Herzing Staff Jul 10, 2026
Many pathways. One degree.
Choosing the right Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program shouldn't be the hardest part of becoming a nurse (or advancing your career if you already are one). Herzing University offers four main paths to a BSN:
Whether you're brand new to nursing, a working registered nurse (RN), or switching careers from another healthcare role or non-nursing field, there's a Herzing BSN pathway designed to meet you where you are. All of these pathways award the same credential: a 120-credit undergraduate degree designed to help prepare you for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. What's different is your starting point (and how long it could take you to finish).
This guide walks through who each BSN option is for, what's covered and how to figure out which one is right for you.
Online Pre-Licensure BSN: For people new to nursing
If you don't already hold a nursing license, have prior experience in healthcare, or have a bachelor’s degree in another field, the online pre-licensure BSN is the option for you. It's designed for students starting their nursing career from scratch.
- Who it's for: People without a previous degree, healthcare experience, or a current RN or practical nurse (LPN) license who want a bachelor's-level nursing credential as their first nursing degree.
- What it covers: General education, nursing practice and supervised clinical rotations.
- How long it takes: As few as three years. Time to completion may vary depending on whether or not you have credit to transfer.
- Format: Herzing's online pre-licensure BSN is available in select states. Students complete all lecture-based coursework online, then complete hands-on labs and intensives at a Herzing campus. In-person clinical experiences take place near you.
Learn more about Herzing's online pre-licensure BSN
Online RN to BSN: For working RNs
If you're already a registered nurse with an associate degree (ADN/ASN) or nursing diploma, your path to a BSN is much more straightforward: you’ll complete bachelor’s-level nursing coursework online while you continue to work.
- Who it's for: RNs who hold an active, unrestricted license and an ADN, ASN or nursing diploma from an accredited college.
- What it covers: Bachelor's-level coursework in leadership, evidence-based practice, community health and the broader skills that prepare you for new roles and future graduate study.
- How long it takes: The Herzing RN to BSN program takes as few as 12 months to complete. You can block transfer up to 70 approved semester credit hours from your associate degree or diploma in nursing, with the possibility of transferring up to 90 total credits.
- Format: 100% online classes. You can study on a full-time or part-time schedule—whatever works for you.
Our RN to BSN program doesn’t require any traditional clinicals. Instead, you'll complete a 45-hour community health project that you can design around your schedule.
Learn more about Herzing's online RN to BSN
Side-by-side: Online Pre-Licensure BSN vs. Online RN to BSN
| Feature | Online Pre-Licensure BSN | Online RN to BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | People new to nursing | RNs with an ADN/ASN or nursing diploma |
| Current RN license required? | No | Yes |
| Total credits | 120 | 120 (up to 90 transferable) |
| Length | As few as 3 years | As few as 12 months |
| Format | Available in select states; online coursework plus in-person intensives and clinicals | 100% online |
| Clinicals | Traditional clinicals required | 45-hour community health project (no clinicals) |
| Start dates | Multiple starts per year | 6 starts per year |
| Outcome | Helps prepare you for initial RN licensure | Takes you from RN to BSN-prepared RN |
Career-changer options: For people with credentials in other fields
If you've already built experience in healthcare or earned a bachelor's degree in something other than nursing, you don't have to start from the beginning. Herzing offers two pathways designed to put what you've already done to work.
BSN bridge programs
Herzing has BSN bridge pathways tailored specifically for allied health professionals. The bridge option can be completed in as few as 28 months. Options include:
- Licensed practical nurse (LPN) to BSN
- Cardiovascular technologist (CVT) to BSN
- Paramedic to BSN
- Respiratory therapist (RT) to BSN
- Military medic to BSN
The Bridge option allows you to block transfer some credit from your prior education. We offer the bridge option online and at select Herzing campuses.
If you study on campus, you’ll take all your general education courses online, then complete core nursing coursework, labs, and clinicals in person. Online bridge to BSN programs follow the same format as the online pre-licensure BSN: 100% online didactic classes with in-person intensives and clinical rotations.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN, or BSN as a second degree)
If you already hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, the Accelerated BSN program is designed for you. Because your general education and elective coursework can transfer in, you can move into nursing-focused study in 20-24 months—faster than you would in a traditional pre-licensure BSN.
Herzing's Accelerated BSN is available on campus—there is no online option. However, any general education courses you need to take can be completed online. Otherwise, you’ll take core nursing classes and complete your labs and clinicals in person.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree and had a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, you may be eligible for another pre-licensure pathway: The Master of Science in Nursing – Direct Entry (MSN-DE).
Side-by-side: BSN bridge vs. Accelerated BSN
| Feature | Allied Health to BSN bridge | Accelerated BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | LPNs, CVTs, paramedics, RTs and military medics | People with a non-nursing bachelor's degree |
| Starting point | Professional credential and clinical experience | Completed non-nursing bachelor's degree |
| Format | Online or on-campus (with some online coursework) | Online general education classes plus core on-campus nursing classes, labs, and clinicals |
| Outcome | BSN and NCLEX-RN eligibility | BSN and NCLEX-RN eligibility |
| Availability | Varies by credential and campus | Select campus locations |
How to choose: A simple decision framework
The right pathway comes down to what you already know. Your current credentials are your starting line.
If you don't have a nursing license, healthcare experience or a bachelor's degree, the online pre-licensure BSN is the most straightforward route to a BSN as your first nursing credential.
If you have a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, the Accelerated BSN is built for you. You'll apply your earlier coursework and focus your time on core nursing classes.
If you already work as an LPN, CVT, paramedic, RT or military medic, one of Herzing's BSN bridge programs is designed around your specific background.
And if you're a registered nurse with an ADN, ASN or nursing diploma, the online RN to BSN is the natural next step. You can finish in as few as 12 months while staying 100% online.
Every one of these paths leads to the same credential: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The difference is where you start.
Frequently asked questions
I'm an RN. Can I work while completing my online RN to BSN?
Yes. Herzing's online RN to BSN is built around the schedules of working nurses. Classes are 100% online and you can study full-time or part-time. There are no traditional clinicals to coordinate around your job — your clinical hours are replaced by a 45-hour community health project.
Do I need to take the NCLEX-RN if I'm in the RN to BSN program?
No. You take the NCLEX-RN before entering the RN to BSN program, because admission requires an active, unrestricted RN license. The pre-licensure BSN and the career-changer pathways are the ones designed to help prepare you for the NCLEX-RN.
Is the BSN degree different depending on which path I take?
The credential is the same: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. What changes is your starting point and how much of the curriculum you've already covered through prior education or licensure.
Is the online pre-licensure BSN available in every state?
Herzing's online BSN is available in select states. Where you can enroll depends on where you live and where Herzing is authorized to offer the program.
Can I continue toward a master's degree after my BSN?
Yes. A BSN is the prerequisite for graduate nursing study. Herzing also offers eligible students the opportunity to earn dual credit toward an MSN while still in the BSN program.
How do I know which pathway I qualify for?
The fastest way is to talk with a Herzing admissions advisor. Eligibility comes down to your current credentials. An advisor can confirm what your past experience qualifies you for, and whether you have prior credit we’ll review for transfer approval.
Ready to take the first step toward your BSN—wherever you’re starting from? Request more info from Herzing to discover which BSN pathway is right for you.
Disclosures
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
The online pre-licensure BSN is available in select states. Visit Herzing.edu for current state availability.
Learn more about the Herzing University BSN program
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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