How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse? A Complete Guide

The field of nursing is constantly evolving, as nurse shortages, changing technology and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to significant shifts. If you want to make an impact and get started in an in-demand field, then nursing may be right for you.* But how long does it take to become a nurse and what kind of job opportunities will be available?

No matter what nursing career you’re interested in, job opportunities are growing — and you don't necessarily need a degree to get started in the field.* According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, with about 194,500 job openings each year.*

Registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $86,070 in May 2023, BLS said, and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earned an average of $59,730 that same year.*

If you’re ready to join this field, the first step is to understand the educational options available and how long it takes to become a nurse.

How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Nurse?

You could start working as a nurse in as little as two years, though your journey may take longer depending on the path you take.

"The number of years invested in becoming a nurse depends on the desired degree level of nursing," said Dr. Maude McGill, a graduate clinical faculty member in the nursing program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

McGill holds a bachelor's, a master's and a doctorate in nursing and is a certified nurse educator. While becoming a registered nurse (RN) is a common nursing career path, she said there are many other nursing opportunities that could impact the education you need and how long it takes to start your career.

Some common credentials, licenses and types of nursing, which may require education and training beyond SNHU's nursing programs, include:

• Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN)
• Certified nursing assistants (CNA)
• Clinical nurse leaders
• Licensed practical nurses (LPN)
• Nurse anesthetists
• Nurse educators
• Nurse practitioners
• Registered nurses (RN)

You can typically become a CNA or LPN without earning a degree and with fewer years of schooling. Pursuing a leadership role in nursing, on the other hand, could take longer.

No matter the role, the process of becoming a nurse generally includes three primary steps:

1. Earning a nursing degree from an accredited institution (Note: The nursing programs offered at Southern New Hampshire University are geared toward current RNs)
2. Taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
3. Applying for licensure in your state

How Long Does It Take to Become an RN?

Typically it takes anywhere from two to four years to become a registered nurse, in particular. But exactly how long it will take you depends on the degree program you choose, your clinical experience and the licensing requirements in your state.

"Regardless of the educational pathway chosen, becoming an RN requires rigorous academic preparation, clinical experience and successful completion of the NCLEX-RN exam," McGill said.

With a career as a registered nurse, you could find work in hospitals, physician’s offices, nursing homes, care facilities and many other types of organizations, according to BLS.

Choosing a Nursing Degree

For many registered nurses, their career path begins with either a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). (Note: SNHU does not currently offer an Associate Degree in Nursing.)

Earning a nursing associate degree is a relatively fast and often cost-effective pathway to becoming an RN. ADN programs generally take about two years to complete and prepare you to take the NCLEX licensure exam to become a registered nurse.

A BSN degree is typically a four-year program, unless you are enrolled in an RN-to-BSN bridge program, like the one offered at SNHU. While it can take you longer to complete than an ADN, it also offers a highly sought-after credential.

Nurses with bachelor’s degrees are in high demand.* According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), on average, 84% of new BSN graduates received job offers at the time of graduation. According to AACN data obtained from 643 nursing schools, 25% of healthcare institutions now mandate a bachelor's degree in nursing for new hires, with 69.8% of employers strongly favoring candidates who have graduated from BSN programs.

Research conducted by the AACN indicates that nurses who hold BSN degrees tend to deliver safer, more effective care. The research also recommends the BSN as the entry-level nursing degree. They said BSN graduates are better equipped to meet the demands of the evolving healthcare field.

If you’re already working as an RN, many colleges and universities offer accelerated programs that build on your existing nursing credentials. These programs are typically transfer-friendly and include:

• RN to BSN
• RN to MSN

In the RN to BSN program from SNHU, for example, you can get 45 credits toward your degree with an unencumbered RN license and transfer up to 45 more credits into the program. If you transfer in the maximum 90 credits, you could complete a BSN degree in as little as one year.

During the pandemic, Mahogany Tillman '22 decided to get a bachelor's degree in nursing at SNHU upon completion of her associate degree (Note: An associate degree in nursing is not currently available at SNHU). After losing her grandmother — someone very close to her — she made a commitment to her family to complete her education.

"I'm a pediatric nurse, and I just want to go into critical care," Tillman said. "I feel like having this degree will give me more opportunities."

During her time at SNHU, she felt supported by financial services and her advisors to earn her degree at a pace that fit her life. "I didn't feel rushed; I understood each term, and they were super nice and really positive and motivated me throughout this journey," Tillman said.

Learn more about the difference a BSN could make for RNs.

Getting Clinical Experience

Another key piece of preparing to be a nurse is completing clinical hours. These real-world learning experiences are typically completed toward the end of your degree program and can be done in a hospital, physician’s office, nursing home or another care facility.

The number of clinical hours required varies from program to program. Similarly, while some states require a specific number of clinical hours to qualify for nurse licensure, other states do not have a specific requirement, according to data from NurseJournal.

Gaining RN Licensure

How long does it take to become a nurse once you’ve completed your coursework, done your clinical hours and earned a degree? It depends on when you apply for licensure and take your licensing exam.

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), nursing graduates must submit an application for licensure to their state nursing regulatory board in order to be eligible to take the NCLEX exam. Once you are made eligible for the test, you can register for the NCLEX test at a location near you and start preparing for the exam.

Official NCLEX results are available about six weeks after the exam is taken, according to the exam website. If you pass the test and have met all other requirements, you will be licensed as an RN in your state. If you don’t pass, you must wait 45 days before you’re eligible to take it again, according to the NCLEX website.

Advancing Your Nursing Career

Working as a registered nurse may be a common nursing career path, but your career doesn’t need to stop there. There are many advanced nursing roles you can explore once you’re working in the field.

Some of these positions, which may require education beyond what's offered at SNHU, include:

• Clinical nurse leaders
• Nurse anesthetists
• Nurse educators
• Nurse practitioners

How long does it take to become a nurse leader or land another advanced nursing role? It depends on your past experience and your desired career path.

In most cases, advancing your career will require not just professional experience, but also an advanced nursing degree such as a Master of Nursing (MSN). With an MSN, you could focus your degree on any number of nursing specialties, including:

• MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
• MSN - Healthcare Quality and Safety
• MSN - Nurse Leadership
• MSN - Nursing Education
• MSN - Population Health

"To discover which direction in nursing your heart is guiding you, listen to the moments that ignite your passion and bring you the deepest sense of fulfillment," McGill said.

Most master’s degree programs will take about two years to complete. Depending on your past educational and professional experience, you may be able to complete your degree faster. If you take fewer courses each term, it may take you more than two years to graduate.

Depending on your career path, you may also need to apply for additional certifications and licenses after completing an MSN. To become a nurse practitioner (NP), for example, you must pass an NP licensing exam.

Learn more about what an MSN is.

See Yourself Succeed in Nursing

"Every day as a nurse is a new opportunity to make a difference," McGill said. "It's the purpose behind the profession that fuels our passion, pushing us to touch more lives, offer more comfort and create more impact than we did the day before."

Earning a degree in nursing can give you a valuable credential that is in demand across the healthcare field. Though there are different options, each nursing degree can assist students in achieving their goals as nurses.

No matter what path you choose, you’ll be entering a discipline with growing opportunities for nursing professionals that can help you make an impact on your community.

"Nursing is not just a career," McGill said. "It's a calling that allows you to make a tangible, lasting impact on people's lives every single day."

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Danielle Gagnon is a freelance writer focused on higher education. She started her career working as an education reporter for a daily newspaper in New Hampshire, where she reported on local schools and education policy. Gagnon served as the communications manager for a private school in Boston, MA before later starting her freelance writing career. Today, she continues to share her passion for education as a writer for Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn.