Our online nursing programs for non-nurses (RN prep)

Yes — you can start your nursing path at Herzing with no prior nursing experience. Herzing offers three online nursing pathways for students new to nursing: the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Direct Entry. The associate and bachelor’s options don’t require a prior degree, while the MSN Direct Entry program is for those who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Each pathway is designed to prepare you for a career as a registered nurse (RN), and each is available to residents of select U.S. states. Our admissions team can help you figure out which one fits where you are right now.

Herzing’s three online pathways for non-nurses differ in length, credential and entry requirements:

• Online ASN: Earn your Associate of Science in Nursing in as few as 24 months. It’s one of the fastest tracks Herzing offers for students with no prior nursing experience and can be a good fit if you’re looking for the shortest path to working as an RN.
• Online BSN: Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as 36 months. The added undergraduate coursework can help better prepare you for the NCLEX-RN exam and can earn dual credit toward a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
• Online MSN Direct Entry: Earn your Master of Science in Nursing in as few as 20-24 months. This second-degree pathway is built for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

Not sure which one is right for you? Our admissions team can help you weigh your options.

Herzing’s online nursing coursework is 100% online for the didactic (classroom) portion, but each program takes a hybrid approach that includes important in-person components. Your in-person learning includes hands-on clinicals in your geographic area, plus multiple 2-4 day intensives held at Herzing’s campus in Nashville, Tennessee. The number of clinical hours and intensives varies by program. This mix lets you handle your coursework online while putting what you learn into practice with fellow students and Herzing faculty.

Prerequisites vary by program, but a few requirements apply across Herzing’s online nursing pathways for non-nurses. You’ll need to reach a minimum composite score on the most current version of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). The associate and bachelor’s options don’t require a prior degree, while the MSN Direct Entry program requires completion of a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The minimum required GPA is lower for the undergraduate options than for the MSN Direct Entry program. Each program is available in select U.S. states, and eligibility varies by degree level, so it’s worth checking which programs are open where you live.

The MSN Direct Entry program is a second-degree master’s pathway for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and want to transition to nursing. You can complete it in as few as 20-24 months, which means that even with no nursing experience, you can potentially become a master’s-prepared RN in about two years. After you finish, you can potentially pursue a Post Master’s Certificate in a specialty such as a nurse practitioner area, or continue into a doctorate in nursing to earn the terminal degree in the field. It’s a rigorous program with set benchmarks, and Herzing faculty and staff are dedicated to helping you complete it and prepare for the NCLEX-RN.

Yes. If you’re a licensed healthcare professional, Herzing offers a bridge option that can give you a faster pathway into the online ASN and online BSN programs. The bridge option is available to practical nurses (LPNs), paramedics, military medics, respiratory therapists and cardiovascular technologists. It builds on the training you already have, so you may have a faster route to earning your nursing degree than someone starting without healthcare experience.

If you don’t meet the GPA requirement for an online undergraduate nursing program, you still have options. Herzing offers an online general studies pre-nursing program where you can potentially raise your GPA enough to qualify for the online BSN program and keep moving toward becoming an RN. You might also consider starting as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) through Herzing’s 12-month on-campus Practical Nursing diploma program, which is offered at several campus locations.

Yes. Herzing University is a private, nonprofit university with both institutional and programmatic accreditation. The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at Herzing University – Madison are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin. Herzing University is also institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Herzing has also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report among the best online bachelor’s degree programs in 2026.