How to Become a Nurse in 2026: Education, Exams & Career Paths (Complete Guide)

Last updated: October 2026 | Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), HRSA, College Board, ATI

How to Become a Nurse: Your Complete Roadmap

Nursing is one of the most in-demand, rewarding, and well-compensated careers in healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% job growth for registered nurses from 2025 to 2035, with approximately 180,800 openings per year — far more than most professions. HRSA also projects a national RN shortage through 2038.

But "how to become a nurse" isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. There are multiple entry points and career levels, from Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), whose federal minimum training is 75 hours, to advanced practice registered nurses with graduate degrees. This guide covers every path.

Quick Facts: Nursing Career Overview

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Nursing Career Ladder: Every Level Explained

One of nursing's biggest advantages is its career ladder. You can start at the bottom and work your way up — or jump in at a higher level if you have the education.

The Nursing Career Progression

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Path 1: Become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)

The fastest entry into nursing is becoming a CNA. This is an excellent option if you want to start working in healthcare quickly while deciding if nursing is right for you.

Steps to Become a CNA

1. Complete a state-approved CNA program (at least 75 clock hours under federal rules; some states require more, such as 160 hours in California)
2. Complete supervised practical training (included in the program — at least 16 hours required by federal rules)
3. Pass the state CNA competency exam (written/oral + skills demonstration)
4. Get listed on your state's nurse aide registry

CNA Key Facts

• Education: State-approved training program (at least 75 hours)
• Cost: Program and exam fees vary by state; under federal rules, an aide who is employed by, or has a job offer from, a nursing facility when training starts cannot be charged for the program
• Median salary: $42,260 (BLS, May 2025)
• Job growth: 3% (2025-2035)
• Settings: Nursing homes, hospitals, home health, assisted living

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Path 2: Become an LPN/LVN (Licensed Practical Nurse)

LPNs (called LVNs in California and Texas) provide basic nursing care under the supervision of RNs and physicians. This path takes about a year and offers a solid salary with opportunities for advancement.

Steps to Become an LPN/LVN

1. Complete a state-approved LPN program (typically about 1 year at a community college or technical school, per BLS)
2. Complete clinical rotations (included in the program)
3. Apply to your state board of nursing
4. Pass the NCLEX-PN (85-150 questions, computerized adaptive testing)

LPN/LVN Key Facts

• Education: Certificate or diploma program, typically about 1 year (BLS)
• Cost: Varies by school; check each program's published tuition
• NCLEX-PN pass rate: 86.6% first-time (U.S.-educated, 2025, NCSBN)
• Median salary: $64,400 (BLS, May 2025)
• Job growth: 3% (2025-2035)
• Settings: Nursing homes, clinics, home health, hospitals

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Path 3: Become a Registered Nurse (RN)

The RN is the largest nursing occupation (about 3.47 million jobs in 2025, BLS) and the one most people think of when they hear "nurse." BLS lists three education paths: a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, or a diploma from an approved program. Diploma programs are far fewer, so most candidates choose between the options below:

Option A: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

• Duration: BLS says ADN programs typically take 4 years to complete
• Cost: Public community colleges averaged $4,150 a year in published in-district tuition and fees in 2025-26 (College Board; state averages ranged from $1,440 to $8,900); nursing programs may add their own fees
• Pros: Lower tuition at public community colleges; qualifies you for the same NCLEX-RN as BSN graduates
• Cons: Employers, particularly hospitals, may require a bachelor's degree (BLS); you may need to bridge to a BSN later

Option B: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Duration: Typically 4 years (BLS); RN-to-BSN programs let ADN and diploma nurses finish a bachelor's degree later
• Cost: Published tuition and fees averaged $11,950 a year at public four-year colleges (in-state) and $45,000 at private nonprofit colleges in 2025-26 (College Board)
• Pros: A bachelor's or higher degree is often necessary for administrative, research, consulting and teaching positions (BLS); some employers require it for new hires
• Cons: Higher tuition than a public community college ADN

Option C: Accelerated BSN (ABSN) — For Career Changers

• Duration: 11-18 months, including prerequisites (AACN)
• Cost: Varies by school; AACN notes that financial aid for accelerated programs is limited
• Prerequisite: You must already hold a bachelor's degree in any non-nursing field
• Pros: AACN calls it the quickest route to RN licensure for people with a non-nursing degree; AACN counted 340 accelerated baccalaureate programs in the U.S. in 2025
• Cons: Intense, full-time courses with no breaks between sessions, and AACN encourages students not to work; prerequisite science courses (anatomy, physiology, microbiology) needed before starting

Who it's for: If you already have a bachelor's degree in business, education, science, or any other field and want to switch to nursing, an ABSN program is the fastest route. You'll earn the same BSN degree and take the same NCLEX-RN as traditional students.

Steps to Become an RN

1. Complete prerequisite courses (anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition)
2. Pass the TEAS or HESI exam for nursing program admission
3. Complete an approved ADN, BSN or diploma program (all include supervised clinical experience)
4. Apply to your state board of nursing
5. Pass the NCLEX-RN (85-150 questions, computerized adaptive testing)
6. Obtain your state nursing license

RN Key Facts

• Median salary: $97,550 (BLS, May 2025)
• Top 10%: Over $137,470
• NCLEX-RN pass rate: 86.7% first-time (U.S.-educated, 2025, NCSBN)
• Job growth: 6% (2025-2035)
• Annual openings: ~180,800

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Path 4: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

After gaining RN experience and earning an MSN or DNP, nurses can pursue advanced practice roles with significantly higher salaries and greater autonomy:

APRN Roles and Salaries

CRNA has the highest median pay of these APRN roles: $236,590 (BLS, May 2025).

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Nursing Specialization Options

Once you become an RN, you can specialize in dozens of areas:

BLS does not publish RN pay by specialty or certification, so compare local employers' pay scales. Certification is usually voluntary, but some employers require it (BLS).

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NCLEX Exam: What You Need to Know

The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is the required exam for both RNs and PNs. It's a computerized adaptive test (CAT) that adjusts difficulty based on your answers.

NCLEX-RN Quick Facts

NCLEX-RN Content Areas (2026 Test Plan)

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How Much Does Nursing School Cost?

There is no national price list for nursing programs, so the table uses the College Board's average published tuition and fees for 2025-26 where a school type matches; check each program's own costs, which may add nursing fees, books and uniforms.

These are published (sticker) prices before grant aid. In 2025-26, average budgets including housing and other costs ranged from $21,320 for public two-year students to $65,470 for private nonprofit four-year students (College Board).

Financial Aid Specifically for Nursing Students

NURSE Corps Scholarship Program:

• Covers full tuition + fees + educational costs (books, supplies, uniforms)
• Provides a taxable monthly stipend ($1,626 a month for full-time students in the 2025-2026 school year)
• Requirement: A minimum two-year, full-time service commitment (or part-time equivalent) at a critical shortage facility after graduation
• Eligibility: U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident, enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in an accredited nursing degree program; funding preference goes to applicants with the greatest financial need

NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program:

• Repays 60% of your total outstanding qualifying nursing education loans over two years
• An optional third year can repay an additional 25%
• Requirement: 2-year initial service commitment at a critical shortage facility (or as nurse faculty at an eligible school)
• Applications open once a year; the 2026 cycle has closed

Other financial aid:

• Employer tuition reimbursement — Some employers offer it (BLS); 8.5% of RNs used an employer tuition reimbursement program for their first nursing degree (HRSA, 2022 survey)
• State and local scholarships — 13.1% of RNs used state or local government scholarships for their first nursing degree (HRSA)
• Federal student aid — 45.2% of RNs used federally assisted student loans for their first nursing degree (HRSA); file the FAFSA to see what your program and school qualify for

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The Nursing Shortage: What the Projections Say

Federal projections show a national RN shortage through 2038, largest in the next few years:

• BLS projects about 180,800 RN openings per year on average over 2025-2035
• HRSA (December 2025) projects an 8% national RN shortage in 2028, easing to 3% (108,960 full-time-equivalent RNs) in 2038, with nonmetro areas facing a 24% shortfall vs. 5% in metro areas in 2028
• AACN reports that U.S. nursing schools turned away 92,672 qualified applications (not applicants) from baccalaureate and graduate programs in 2025, mainly for lack of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space and preceptors
• HRSA also projects a shortage of 245,950 full-time-equivalent LPNs in 2038, because LPN demand grows faster than supply

What this means for you: BLS rates RN job growth as faster than average, and HRSA projects the biggest shortfalls in nonmetro areas, so job prospects depend partly on where you are willing to work.

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Tips for Getting Into Nursing School

Competition for nursing programs can be fierce. Here's how to improve your chances:

1. Do well in your prerequisite courses — anatomy, physiology and microbiology are standard parts of nursing education (BLS), and each program publishes how it weighs prerequisite grades
2. Score well on the TEAS or HESI — programs that require the TEAS set their own minimum, and many weigh it alongside GPA (ATI)
3. Get healthcare experience — nursing aide or nursing assistant was the most common health-related job RNs held before their first nursing degree (45.4% of RNs, HRSA 2022 survey)
4. Apply to multiple programs — Don't put all your eggs in one basket
5. Consider community colleges — public two-year colleges charge lower average tuition (College Board), and you can bridge to a BSN later
6. Write a compelling personal statement — Share your motivation and any relevant experience

GPA Requirements

There is no national minimum GPA for nursing school: each program sets its own, so check the admission page of every program on your list. For accelerated BSN programs, AACN says programs typically require at least a 3.0 GPA.

TEAS and HESI Scores

Many nursing programs require either the ATI TEAS or the HESI A2 for admission.

ATI TEAS academic preparedness levels (ATI TEAS 7 score report):

ATI: "There is no universal passing score. Each school sets its own minimum, and many weigh the TEAS alongside GPA and other factors." Find the minimum for each program you apply to and aim above it.

HESI A2: schools choose which HESI A2 sections to require, so check each program's published HESI minimums.

Common Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisites vary by program. BLS says nursing programs usually include courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, and social and behavioral sciences, and the 2026 NCLEX-RN test plan assumes knowledge of psychology, sociology, anatomy, physiology, biology, microbiology, chemistry and physics. Courses programs commonly list:

Warning: Many prerequisites have their own prerequisites. For example, A&P often requires General Biology first, and Chemistry may require college-level math. Plan your course sequence carefully — taking them out of order can add an extra semester.

Application Timeline: When to Do What

Apply to several programs. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Consider a mix of BSN programs and lower-tuition ADN programs.

What If You Don't Get Accepted?

Don't give up. Here's what to do:

1. Get CNA certified while waiting (at least 75 hours of training) — nursing aide or assistant was the most common health-related job RNs held before their first nursing degree (HRSA)
2. Retake weak courses — Focus on anything below a B, especially in science courses
3. Retake the TEAS or HESI — ATI sets no waiting period between TEAS attempts, but each program decides how many attempts it accepts and whether time must pass between them
4. Consider LPN first — LPN programs typically take about 1 year (BLS), and LPN-to-RN programs let you continue later; 16.0% of RNs were licensed as LPNs or LVNs first (HRSA)
5. Cast a wider net — Apply to more programs, including programs in neighboring states
6. Try community college ADN — lower average tuition, the same NCLEX-RN and RN license, and you can bridge to a BSN later

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Start Your Nursing Career Today

Whatever path you choose — CNA, LPN, ADN, or BSN — the first step is the same: start preparing.

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