How Long Is Nursing School? Breakdown by Degree and Type of Nurse

While nursing diplomas offer one of the shortest pathways to RN licensure, they are much less common than other RN programs. Many employers also prefer or require RNs to have a nursing degree. Most nursing diploma programs run through hospitals and hospital-based nursing schools. According to 2022 NSSRN data, only 1.8% of new RNs currently enter the profession through this pathway.

Those who do pursue a nursing diploma can take the NCLEX-RN exam, the national licensing examination for RNs.

An ADN program usually takes two years to complete. Once you graduate, you qualify to take the NCLEX-RN. About 44% of RNs start their careers with an ADN, according to 2022 data from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA).

After earning an ADN, nurses can enroll in an RN-to-BSN program to advance their degree level in as little as 1-2 years.

A BSN is the most common degree in nursing, with 51% of RNs holding a BSN as their highest degree. Today, more than 2.2 million RNs hold a BSN, a degree that typically takes four years to complete. An accelerated BSN program takes as little as 12 months for those with a bachelor’s in a non-nursing field.

The BSN curriculum covers more topics and offers greater depth than the ADN curriculum, which prepares you for leadership positions or graduate nursing programs.

According to the NCHWA, 16% of RNs hold a master’s degree. MSN programs prepare RNs for APRN careers, including as certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) or nurse practitioners (NPs).

MSN programs typically take 2-3 years to complete for full-time students with a BSN, while RN-to-MSN programs take around 3-4 years. Once you graduate, you will be eligible to take the appropriate board certification exam for your chosen specialty.

Currently, 14% of APRNs hold a doctorate, reports the NCHWA. A DNP usually takes 3-5 years to complete. If you have an MSN or significant experience, you may qualify for transfer credits or a bridge program to accelerate this timeline.

Many nursing organizations recommend raising the APRN education requirements from an MSN to a DNP. As of 2025, becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) requires a doctorate.

The minimum requirement for a registered nurse is an associate degree, which takes about two years for full-time students to complete. LPNs must complete a state-approved program, which may take only one year to complete for full-time students.

Nursing school can challenge students, particularly the complex terminology and the rigor of the programs. However, the material does get easier once you build the foundational knowledge. You still need to dedicate yourself to the program to handle the intensity of your studies, labs, and clinical experiences.

Studying for nursing school can help get you through the difficult science-based foundational courses of the program, such as anatomy and physiology, but there’s no prescribed length of time you should dedicate to this. Consider studying basic concepts in biology, chemistry, and other sciences to prepare yourself for the program.