Are there prerequisites for nursing school? Yes, in order to earn your nursing degree, you’ll need to complete a series of prerequisite courses that build your learning foundation. But how do you get prerequisites for nursing, and how long do they take to complete? Discover time-saving secrets for finishing nursing prerequisites faster with this guide.
Every degree type has what’s known as prerequisites: foundational courses one must complete before diving into the core subject matter. Also known as general education courses or “gen eds,” prerequisites or “prereqs” are taken during the first year or two of college. Once prerequisites are finished, students move on to coursework more specific to their field of study.
Nursing prerequisites are required for those pursuing an RN or BSN. While each accredited nursing school will have a slightly different nursing prerequisites list, students should expect a variety of basic education topics such as math, history, writing, and more.
Because nursing is a vital part of the healthcare industry, students will also need to study foundational science-based courses before nursing school begins. These topics prepare nursing students for the more challenging classes during their junior and senior year.
An example nursing prerequisites list could include:
How many credits are required for for nursing prerequisites? College courses average 3 credits each, adding up to around 120 total to graduate. Nursing prerequisites may take up to half of those credit hours.
You cannot start nursing school without prerequisites. Whether you choose a traditional four-year college or an accelerated degree program, you’ll still need to complete these entry-level courses to advance your education.
There are two ways to get prerequisites for nursing:
Credit by exam is open to all college students, but many working CNAs and LPNs have found this system to be particularly helpful for earning an RN. Testing out of nursing prerequisites enables busy adults to balance work and education by completing general courses at a much quicker pace. Not only does this save time and money, but it allows students to move ahead to core nursing subjects much sooner.
When taking a traditional college path, nursing prerequisites take around two years for full-time students.
Accelerated options—including credit by exam—can help you finish prerequisites for nursing up to one year faster.
Your schedule, budget, and personal responsibilities may affect how long it takes to finish your nursing prerequisites. For example, nursing students who work or need to take care of kids or family members may not have the time nor financial resources to work through prerequisites in a traditional format. This is why many busy CNAs and LPNs see a much higher success rate with credit by exam.
Your difficulty level for nursing prerequisites depends on several factors.
Are nursing prerequisites hard? They can be, but there are ways to make them easier. In addition to credit by exam, working with a knowledgeable advisor is a smart way to understand exactly which prereqs you need and how you can work through them at a manageable pace. Achieve offers RN college planning services to help you see which courses you can test out of and how to transfer credit-by-exam credits.
Going back to school as an adult is a major commitment that takes ongoing dedication. To prepare for nursing prerequisites, you’ll need to take several factors into consideration.
Achieve Test Prep helps busy adults finish their nursing prerequisites online. We offer day, night, and weekend test prep courses to help you pass your proficiency exams with confidence; in fact, 93% of Achieve customers pass on their first try. If you’re ready to earn your RN and seek supportive, time-saving options, Achieve’s industry-leading RN Bridge was designed for you! Schedule a call with our Advisor team to learn more.