Types of Nursing Degrees and Levels

Community colleges typically offer LPN programs, which take about one year with full-time enrollment. Programs may offer part-time options, which require a longer time commitment.

While enrollment requirements vary, applicants typically submit a high school diploma or GED certificate, official transcripts, a personal essay, and a background check. Common coursework includes the fundamentals of nursing, physiology, and medical-surgical nursing. LPN programs also incorporate labs and clinicals for students to practice their nursing skills.

Students should only consider programs accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Graduating from an accredited program ensures that you can qualify to take the NCLEX, get licensed, apply for jobs, and pursue further education like LPN-to-BSN bridge programs.

While associate and bachelor’s degrees are more widely recognized as the most common pathways to RN licensure, an RN diploma program can also be an option — albeit one that has been steadily dwindling in number for some time.

RN nursing diploma programs take around two years. While community colleges or technical schools offer ADNs and other undergraduate degrees, hospitals or specialized schools may offer RN diploma programs.

Programs may offer part-time and full-time enrollment. Admission requirements also vary by program. Requirements may include a 2.0 minimum GPA, SAT or ACT scores, and a GED certificate or high school diploma. Courses include foundations of nursing, nursing care of adults, and developmental psychology.

ADN programs offer a flexible pathway to becoming an RN. Technical schools, community colleges, and universities offer ADN degrees.

Graduating from an accredited ADN program makes you eligible to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and get your license. Enrollment requirements vary by program, but applicants typically must submit a high school diploma or GED certificate, complete prerequisite courses, and hold a minimum 2.5 GPA. Some admissions departments also require personal statements, interviews, or letters of recommendation.

ADN programs blend classroom instruction and clinical practice. Coursework includes anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and psychology. Clinical experience allows enrollees to develop practical skills through hands-on, supervised work in healthcare settings.

LPN-to-BSN bridge programs help LPNs qualify for RN licensure and career advancement. Nursing students complete courses in nursing informatics, evidence-based practice, and nursing leadership to earn their BSN.

Nursing bridge programs award students credit for prior coursework, reducing overall program length. Students can earn degrees in 2-3 years of full-time attendance, and many schools offer online or evening classes. Admission requires an active LPN license, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

RN-to-BSN programs offer an accelerated path to a BSN for current registered nurses. Courses on healthcare policy, community health nursing, and population nursing prepare RNs for roles with greater responsibilities. Bridge programs offer online and on-campus delivery formats, and RNs can complete this program in 1-2 years.

Program admissions typically require a minimum 2.5 GPA, an active RN license, official transcripts, a personal essay, and letters of recommendation.

Prospective nurses with no prior nursing experience can enroll in BSN programs. Traditional BSN programs take four years, while accelerated BSN programs, designed for those who hold a bachelor’s in a non-nursing field, take 12-18 months.

BSN programs cover nursing theory, research, leadership, and evidence-based practice. Advanced topics include patient care, community health, psychology, and health policy. Clinical experiences help develop patient assessment and medication administration skills, proper wound care management, and patient education and communication skills.

Designed for those with bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing fields, direct-entry MSN programs provide an accelerated path to advanced nursing careers.

These programs require prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and ethics. Depending on the program and the student’s transfer credits, completing prerequisites can take up to two years. MSN students then spend 15-36 months taking graduate nursing classes.

Admission requirements generally include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college, a minimum 3.3 GPA, and completion of the prerequisite coursework. The early curriculum covers fundamentals in nursing and patient-centered care, while the remaining semesters include biostatistics, specialized nursing focus, leadership, and research.

These bridge programs appeal to RNs who want to skip their BSN and enter an MSN program. Colleges and universities offer this accelerated nursing program to help RNs quickly meet their professional goals.

RN-to-MSN programs differ from traditional MSN degrees because students complete BSN coursework before moving on to MSN courses. Students also complete hands-on clinical hours and take advanced nursing courses, depending on their specialty and past credits.

Learners can earn their degrees in about three years of full-time attendance. Admission requirements include an unencumbered RN license, two years of relevant experience, and official transcripts.

Traditional MSN programs admit BSN-prepared RNs. MSN students can choose from multiple MSN specializations, including tracks for nurse educators, nurse leaders, and nurse practitioners (NP).

During an MSN program, students focus on patient care, advanced health assessment, and evidence-based practices through classwork and clinicals. NP and other Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) programs typically require a minimum of 500 clinical hours, which can extend the length of an MSN.

Admission often requires at least one year of work experience, a resume, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Schools may also request that each applicant participate in an interview.

RNs often pursue advanced nursing degrees to increase their earning potential and advance their careers. Nurses interested in more than one healthcare area can consider dual master’s degrees in nursing.

For instance, a practitioner interested in the business side of healthcare can benefit from a dual MSN-MBA program. Nurses interested in community or public health can consider dual MSN-MPH programs.

Students enrolling in dual master’s programs often earn their degrees in 2-3 years, depending on their enrollment and the dual degree they choose. Admission requirements generally include a 2.75 GPA at minimum, an active RN license, professional experience, and letters of recommendation.

BSN-to-DNP programs prepare nurses for specialized nursing practice. In addition to specialization courses, DNP students typically complete core courses in leadership, ethics, policy, informatics, and quality improvement.

Admission requirements include a BSN, a valid RN license, up to two years of clinical experience, and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Full-time students can complete these nursing degrees in as little as three years, with part-time enrollees typically taking four years.

DNP students complete at least 1,000 clinical hours during the program, with a minimum of 500 in their specialty. Some programs allow students to complete clinical requirements at their current places of employment.

Nurses with a master’s degree can enroll in an MSN-to-DNP program to complete their doctorate in less time. These programs typically take 1-2 years.

Students complete core curriculum and coursework in their specialty areas. Core courses can include evidence-based decision-making, health policy, epidemiology, and biostatistics.

Admission requirements can vary by program, but they generally include official transcripts, proof of a valid RN license, and a 3.0 GPA or higher. Some programs require an interview, an advanced practice specialty certification, and employment in advanced practice.

Ph.D. in nursing programs strengthen research skills. Core coursework examples include philosophy, health determinants, statistics, and responsible conduct in research. Students complete clinical experiences in research and advanced clinical practice. However, some Ph.D. programs require a reduced number of clinical hours.

Nursing Ph.D. programs typically require 4-5 years. Ph.D. programs typically require a BSN or MSN from an accredited program, a 3.0 GPA or higher in undergraduate and graduate coursework, and an interview.