How Long is Nursing School? Discover Timelines for Popular Roles

Are you considering a career in nursing but unsure how long it will take to get through school? Or perhaps you’re already a nurse, and you’re curious about how much time you’ll need to invest in order to advance. Turns out, you have a number of options available to you when pursuing nursing pathways, and each comes with a different timeline. The bottom line is that nursing school can be as short as a year for accelerated programs to as long as eight years for those seeking advanced degrees.

Perhaps the best way to start this exploration is to consider some personal factors before determining the length of program that best suits you, such as:

• Do you plan to attend school full time or part time?
• Do you have previous healthcare education or experience?
• Do you plan to work during school and therefore require flexibility in scheduling?
• What learning style works best for you: traditional or online?

Your answers to these questions, along with the information provided in this guide, can help you understand the options available to you when it comes to nursing school. Let’s dive in and look at different program lengths to shed some light on the rewarding career that is nursing.

Quick Look at How Long it Takes to Become a . . .

Entering the nursing profession can be achieved by completing a diploma program, an associate degree, or the increasingly desired bachelor’s degree. All of these options result in strong job market opportunities and competitive salaries. For those seeking advanced practice degrees, industry experience and RN licensure are often required first. Below we will discuss the most popular routes for different nursing pathways and their associated education requirements.

Registered Nurse (RN)

To pursue the most common nursing pathway, becoming a registered nurse, you must be licensed and obtain education through an approved diploma program or by receiving an associate or bachelor’s degree prior to entering the profession. With 4.2 million RNs in the U.S., they comprise the largest healthcare profession. As licensed professionals, RNs are responsible for providing patient care, education, and advocacy. This field is a good fit for those who are self-motivated, detail oriented, and good with time management.

• Nursing Diploma: 12 to 26 months
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): 2 to 3 years
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): 4 years

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses provide basic hands-on nursing care in a variety of settings and must be licensed after completing a state-approved program. These programs do not require previous experience to enter and most often take one year to complete with no degree awarded at the end. The scope of practice for LPNs/LVNs varies from state to state, as do diploma requirements, so be sure to check with your state’s board of nursing prior to selecting a program to ensure it will comply with all requirements.

• Practical Nursing Diploma: 7 to 12 months

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is an excellent way to gain some experience and learn more about the nursing profession before committing yourself to a full-length nursing program. CNAs work closely with RNs and LPNs to complete patient care tasks such as obtaining vital signs, ambulating patients, and helping with patient hygiene. They are not licensed but do take an exam at the end of their training program to receive certification.

• Certification Program: 4 to 12 weeks

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse Practitioners are advanced nursing professionals with a larger scope of practice. These professionals have a minimum of a master’s level of education in nursing and generally have a prerequisite of a BSN. NPs will often have prior bedside experience as an RN and will need to complete in-person clinicals as part of their advanced practice training. The advanced level of education, specialty chosen, and clinical requirements mean that becoming an NP will often take two to four years.

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): 2 years
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): 3 to 4 years

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

The Clinical Nurse Specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) that is highly specialized in a particular area of nursing practice. This profession has been around for more than 60 years and assists with healthcare delivery by serving particular populations with specialized needs. As an APRN, the CNS is able to prescribe, diagnose, treat, and bill like NPs and must follow guidelines issued by their state for nursing practice.

• MSN: 2 years
• DNP: 3 to 4 years

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is an APRN specializing in providing anesthesia services before, during, and after surgical or diagnostic procedures. CRNA programs are increasingly moving toward a doctoral degree (DNP) requirement, though master’s degree programs are still available. To become a CRNA, you must first have obtained your RN licensure/education and complete a rigorous hands-on CRNA training program before sitting for the national certification exam.

• MSN: 2 years
• DNP: 3 to 4 years

Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)

The Certified Nurse Midwife provides care to women throughout their lives. They are APRNs with a focus on gynecologic and family-planning services, including pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. CNMs require state licensure to practice and must have a minimum education at the master’s level. This nursing path is well suited to those who are passionate about providing healthcare services to women, particularly those of childbearing age.

• MSN: 2 years
• DNP: 3 to 4 years

Mapping the Nursing Journey: From First Steps to Advanced Practice

Have you ever taken a trip that involved delays, detours, or fundamental destination changes? Preparing for nursing school can include periods of uncertainty, and it’s perfectly normal for you to change your mind about which journey you want to take along the way. Nursing is a rewarding career with many opportunities for specialization and advancement. The wide variety of specialization creates a range of timelines for completion. Remaining flexible yet dedicated to your end goal can go a long way toward making your personal nursing journey successful.

Alternative Pathways to Nursing and How Long They Take

Whether you’re looking for a traditional brick-and-mortar learning experience or one that is more flexible with online offerings, nursing programs come in many shapes and sizes to fit learners of any background or interest. With the demand for nursing professionals remaining high, you can be sure that choosing a career in nursing will offer many opportunities, no matter how far you choose to take your education.

Fast FAQs: Your Common Questions Answered

You now have more insight into your most pressing question: How long do nursing programs take? In a nutshell, you learned that it depends on your background and goals. Now with this in mind, you likely also have additional questions regarding a career in nursing. Take a look below at some common questions and answers that could better help you decide if nursing is right for you.

How difficult is nursing school?

Nursing school has a well-known reputation for competitive entry and for being a challenge to complete. You’ll learn a lot of information in the classroom and perform hands-on procedures during clinical rotations. Most students agree that the experience is challenging but rewarding, and the wonderful thing about nursing is the diversity of paths a person can take to enter the field.

How long does it take to become a nurse?

This really depends on the career goals you have as a nurse and the education path you take to get there. Licensed nurses will need to dedicate longer periods of time to school than a certificate program. Expect to spend one to two years to become an entry-level nurse up to eight years for those seeking advanced, doctoral-level education.

What degree do I need to be a nurse?

Anyone with a diploma all the way to a DNP is considered a nurse. Becoming an LPN/LVN requires a diploma that can be earned in as little as one year, while RNs will spend two to four years in school to meet requirements that make them eligible to sit for the NCLEX.

What is the difference between a CNA, RN, and NP?

CNAs are certified nursing assistants able to assist nurses with patient care tasks. RNs are licensed nurses that have completed a diploma or degree with clinical training and passed the national licensure exam (NCLEX). NPs are advanced practice registered nurses that have a minimum of a master’s level of education and additional clinical training, allowing them to diagnose and prescribe medication.

What is the fastest way to become a nurse?

The fastest way to become a licensed nurse is by completing a diploma program, which can be done in as little as one year and result in the ability to practice as an LPN/LVN. Another year of training beyond that can provide you with an ADN and open up additional job opportunities and income as an RN.

7 Questions to Ask Yourself to Decide Your Path

Now it’s time for some introspection: You already know you want to be in the nursing field, but you’re undecided about which specific path is right for you. These questions will help you determine which route to follow.

Am I interested in furthering my education in the future?

If you’re looking for a nursing position that is a stepping stone to one with more responsibilities (and requiring more education) in the future, you may want to consider starting with an RN to BSN program. Already having a BSN in hand will fulfill the requirement for future advanced degrees (MSN, DNP) down the road.

Do I prefer a particular healthcare setting?

Nurses are equipped to deal with a variety of patients and typically work with diverse populations. However, if you’re specifically hoping to help patients through childbirth, specializing as a CNM may be in order. Or if you’re seeking to help a different specialty, like pediatrics, gerontology, or neonatology, you may want to consider becoming a CNS. In most cases, choosing a specific setting will require more specialized education.

Do I see myself in a leadership role or in a specialized field in the future?

If you know from the outset that your goal is to work in nurse leadership, education, or in a specialized nursing field, you’ll be well advised to pursue your BSN or an advanced degree. This will equip you with the necessary education and experience to continually refine your career trajectory.

How much time and money am I willing to invest in education and training?

Because nursing paths are so diverse, you also have a variety of levels of financial and time investment. While you can become a CNA or LPN quickly and without paying tuition for a 4-year degree, you’ll also earn far less money. Conversely, investing in graduate education requires more time and money initially, but will likely result in more pay down the road. You’ll need to analyze your financial/time resources to determine what you can afford to commit.

How comfortable am I with direct patient care?

Are you interested in nursing because you want to work directly with patients and impart high-touch, high-quality care? If so, you’ll want to consider some of the more practical roles: CNAs, RNs, LPNs, NPs, or a specialty like midwifery or anesthesia. However, if you want to make your mark on the nursing field through management with less direct patient contact, consider pursuing a nurse leadership path, which often requires a master’s or doctoral degree.

What are my long-term career goals?

Many of the nursing pathways offer steps toward career advancement, so it might be best to consider long-term goals as early as possible. If you know you ultimately want to be a director or chief nursing officer, for example, it may be better to begin with an advanced degree in mind. But if you’re not convinced you’re passionate about nursing for the long-term, it might be better to start with CNA or LPN experience to test the waters.

What level of responsibility am I comfortable with?

Regardless of your specific career path, all nursing positions hold a great deal of responsibility. But there is somewhat of a spectrum, with CNAs having the least amount of delegation opportunities and big-picture decision-making (though again, they’re responsible for many facets of patient care), and doctoral-level leadership positions holding the most. Determining your comfort level within that spectrum may help guide your career direction.