Program availability
Your Preferences
Update your Zip code, preferred campus, and preferred program
How Long It Takes to Become a Registered Nurse (RN)
To become an RN, you may need at least 16-52 months, or roughly 2-5 total years depending on your prior education and professional experience.
How long it takes to find your new career path in nursing
There are many different pathways you can take to become a Registered Nurse (RN), with several degree options.
To become an RN, it may take at least 20-52 months, or roughly 2-5 total years depending on your prior education and professional experience.
Your education represents the bulk of the time you’ll need to prepare for a career as an RN. You cannot become an RN without first earning an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Here are our average undergraduate nursing program lengths:
| ASN Bridge Options | 20 months |
|---|---|
| ASN | 20-24 months |
| Accelerated BSN | 20-24 months |
| MSN - Direct Entry | 20-24 months |
| BSN Bridge Option | 28 months |
| BSN | 36 months |
What to know about how long it takes
Before fully breaking down what programs and pathways are right for you, a few disclaimers:
All estimates are starting points
The biggest variables in play are the education you’ve already earned, how good your grades were, and what degree level you pursue.
Our program availability varies by campus
Please be sure to click through to each program to ensure it’s available in your state of residence.
Your degree choice matters
You’ll need to earn an associate degree in nursing at a minimum to qualify for the NCLEX-RN, but there are big potential benefits to pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree right away if you qualify. However, those pathways will take more time.
You don’t need to start as an RN
If your RN timeline feels too long, you may be interested in becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). You can earn a practical nursing diploma in as soon as 1 year (12 months) and build a great foundation to eventually pursue the RN career path in the future.
Education represents most of the time, but not 100%
The estimates below reflect our average program lengths. However, graduating with a degree doesn’t by itself make you qualified to practice as an RN. You’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) and meet the Board of Nursing requirements in your state. The earliest date you can take the NCLEX-RN after graduation depends on your state of residence.
I have...
- No nursing experience
- No college credits
- 2.5 GPA or higher
How long?
20-36 months
The best fit for you is our pre-licensure Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. These are our traditional entry-level nursing degree programs designed for students with zero nursing experience or college credit eligible for transfer.
Both ground-campus programs combine on-campus core nursing courses and hands-on training via both laboratory and clinical experiences. You may also potentially qualify for our online BSN program, which features online core nursing courses and in-person intensives located at a Herzing or partner site to make the most of your hands-on training.
While earning an ASN can take less time, there are many benefits to earning a BSN, including salary potential, job qualification and potential career advancement. You can potentially start by earning an ASN and then enrolling in an online RN to BSN program in the future.
Potential degree pathways:
I have...
- No nursing experience
- A non-nursing associate degree, college diploma, or some transferable college credit
- 2.5 GPA or higher
How long?
Less than 20-36 months
Our pre-licensure ASN and BSN programs are also right for you. However, you can potentially transfer credit from your prior college coursework to complete the program faster.
Choose the ASN program and you can potentially transfer 52-54 approved credits depending on the campus with which you enroll. Choose the BSN program and you can potentially transfer up to 90 approved credits.
Potential degree pathways:
I have...
- No nursing experience
- No college credits
- A GPA lower than 2.5
How long?
36-52 months
Our pre-licensure ASN or BSN program may be in your future—but if your GPA is too low to qualify for nursing school today, you may be eligible to enroll in our online Associate of Science in General Studies - Pre-Nursing program.
The curriculum includes classes to help you build the foundational knowledge you need to prepare for a nursing program. You can potentially increase your GPA above the threshold required to qualify for an undergraduate nursing degree program.
After graduating with an associate degree in general studies, you can potentially continue your online study in our BSN program. Alternatively, you could choose an on-campus ASN program to become an RN faster—though currently there is no online option for this program.
Potential degree pathways:
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
I have...
- No nursing experience
- A non-nursing bachelor’s degree
- 2.5 GPA or higher
How long?
20-24 months
You can utilize your existing bachelor’s degree to shorten the time necessary to earn the degree you need to become an RN. Our Accelerated BSN is designed for you, allowing you the opportunity to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2 years or less.
You may also potentially qualify for our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Direct Entry program. Note: you will need at least a 3.0 GPA to qualify for the MSN - Direct Entry program. This is a very demanding curriculum compressed into a short time period. However, this is the fastest track for students with no nursing experience to earn an MSN and reach the highest levels of nursing.
Potential degree pathways:
I am...
- Currently working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), paramedic, Cardiovascular Technologist (CVT), Respiratory Therapist (RT), or have prior experience as a military medic
How long?
20-28 months
It’s possible to transition to a new career path in nursing faster than in a traditional entry-level pre-licensure program.
You may qualify for our ASN or BSN Bridge Options. Take advantage of your prior experience and education to decrease the time needed to earn an undergrad nursing degree.
You can potentially earn an ASN in less than 2 years or a BSN in less than 3 years. For all eligible current healthcare professionals, the ASN bridge option can be completed in 20 months, while the BSN bridge option can be completed in 28 months.
Potential degree pathways:
We are here to help
Given all the choices available to you, the first step can be the hardest to take. If you’re ready to start a new career in nursing but still aren’t sure where to start, we can help you decide.
Our admissions team can help you determine what program is right for you, discover if you’re eligible to enroll with Herzing University and guide you through the admissions process.
We exist to help you earn a career-focused education at your pace and go on to find success in your work. We know you are possible.
Learn more about our School of Nursing
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.