Steps to become a registered nurse
Becoming a registered nurse takes five steps: meet the admission requirements, finish an approved ADN, BSN or diploma program, pass the NCLEX-RN, get licensed by your state board, and start in a first RN job.[ooh_rn][nclex_fee]
- Meet nursing school requirements. Most programs want prerequisite science courses (anatomy and physiology, microbiology or chemistry), a minimum GPA and an entrance exam such as the TEAS; details for two public colleges are in the next section.[collin_adn][johnston_adn]
- Finish an approved nursing program. BLS says BSN programs typically take 4 years and hospital diploma programs 2 to 3 years; community college ADN programs list four semesters of nursing courses.[ooh_rn][s_epcc_adn][s_mclennan]
- Pass the NCLEX-RN. Registration is $200 for U.S. licensure and rises to $350 on February 1, 2027.[nclex_fee]
- Get your state license. BLS notes that registered nurses must be licensed by their state; in a Nurse Licensure Compact state you can hold a multistate license.[ooh_rn][nlc_faq]
- Start working, then keep learning. Many ADN nurses later finish an RN to BSN, and some go on to nurse practitioner school or CRNA school.
Nursing school requirements
Nursing school requirements at public community colleges typically include three or more prerequisite science courses with a C or better, a minimum GPA of about 2.5, and a passing score on the TEAS entrance exam.[collin_adn][johnston_adn] Requirements differ by school, so these two published examples show the pattern, not a national rule.
| Requirement | Collin College (Texas) | Johnston Community College (North Carolina) |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite courses | Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology (BIOL 2401, 2402, 2420), grade C or better | Algebra, biology with lab and chemistry with lab, grade C or better |
| Minimum GPA | 2.5 overall college GPA | 2.5 college GPA or 2.8 unweighted high school GPA |
| Entrance exam | TEAS composite of 65% or higher; Reading and Science 50% or higher | TEAS at the Proficient level or higher |
Prerequisites add time before the nursing courses start; McLennan Community College, for example, lists 24 prerequisite credits alongside its 36 nursing credits.[s_mclennan] University BSN programs set their own admission rules, so check each school's nursing page.
ADN or BSN: which route to an RN license
Both an ADN and a BSN lead to the same NCLEX-RN and the same RN license; the ADN is faster and cheaper, while the BSN is the degree BLS lists as typical for registered nurses.[ooh_rn]
| Route | Length | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADN, El Paso Community College (TX) | 4 semesters of nursing courses | $10,698 | AY 2026–27 estimate, nursing courses only (excludes prerequisites), includes NCLEX and Texas BON fees |
| ADN, McLennan Community College (TX) | 4 semesters (36 nursing credits) plus 24 prerequisite credits | $13,077 | County-resident estimate including prerequisites, supplies and licensure |
| BSN, public four-year (in-state average) | 4 years | $49,160 | College Board 2026–27 average tuition and fees × 4 |
| Accelerated BSN, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh | 12 months | $50,338 | For people who already hold a bachelor’s degree |
The trade-offs, and what an RN-to-BSN later costs, are on RN to BSN. Full timelines for every route are on how long is nursing school, and payback math on nursing school cost.[cb2026][s_uwo]
The NCLEX-RN and your license
The NCLEX-RN is the national licensing exam for registered nurses, run by NCSBN; you register with NCSBN and apply for a license with your state board, and the board makes you eligible to test once it approves your application.[nclex_fee] The registration fee is $200 until February 1, 2027 and $350 after, and the same fee applies to the NCLEX-PN for practical nurses.
If you live in one of the 40 states where the Nurse Licensure Compact is in effect, your license can be a multistate license that also lets you practice in the other compact states; California, New York and the other non-compact states issue single-state licenses.[nlc][nlc_faq] The state list is on how to become a travel nurse.
Other ways into RN work
LPNs can skip part of an ADN through an LPN to RN bridge program of about 10 to 12 months of nursing courses, and many students work as CNAs while they finish prerequisites (see how to become a CNA).[s_epcc_bridge][s_fgc] People who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field can take an accelerated BSN.
What registered nurses earn
Registered nurses earned a median of $97,550 ($46.90 an hour) in May 2025, from $68,940 at the 10th percentile to $137,470 at the 90th; California's median is $140,270.[onet_rn] BLS projects 6% job growth from 2025 to 2035.[ooh_rn] State and metro pay is on registered nurse salary.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a registered nurse?
About 2 years of nursing courses for an ADN (plus prerequisites) or 4 years for a BSN, then the NCLEX-RN.
What are the requirements for nursing school?
Usually prerequisite science courses with a C or better, a minimum GPA (about 2.5 at the two public colleges we checked) and an entrance exam such as the TEAS.
How much does the NCLEX-RN cost?
$200 for U.S. licensure until February 1, 2027, then $350. State boards charge their own license application fees.
Can you become an RN without a BSN?
Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a hospital diploma also qualifies you for the NCLEX-RN and an RN license.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses
- NCLEX Fees and Payment ($200 registration; $350 from Feb. 1, 2027)
- Associate Degree Nursing admission: prerequisites, 2.5 GPA, TEAS composite 65%
- Associate Degree Nursing admission: GPA, algebra/biology/chemistry, TEAS Proficient
- ADN Nursing Program approximate costs, AY 2026-2027 ($10,698)
- Associate Degree Nursing program cost estimate
- NLC FAQs and Nurses & the NLC (multistate license, primary state of residence, noncompact states)
- Nurse Licensure Compact: participating states map and status data
- Trends in College Pricing 2026, Table CP-1 (average published tuition and fees, 2026-27)
- Accelerated BSN tuition (12 months, $50,338)
- LVN-to-RN Transition Program approximate costs, AY 2026-2027 ($6,914.11)
- LPN-RN Bridge Fast-Track (72 credits, about 12 months; program total)
- Local Wages: 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses (state and metro percentiles)