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How to Become a Registered Nurse: Degree, Steps & Salary (2026)
Key takeaway: To become a registered nurse you complete a state-approved nursing program -- either a two-year associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) -- then pass the NCLEX-RN and receive a license from your state board of nursing. Unlike counseling and social work, there is no post-graduation supervised-hours requirement. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $97,550 for registered nurses (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median).
Nursing has one of the clearest credential paths in healthcare: finish an approved program, pass one national exam, get licensed. The complication is not the sequence – it is the first decision, because two different degrees lead to the same RN license on very different timelines and with different long-term ceilings.
An ADN gets you licensed in about two years. A BSN takes four but is increasingly expected by hospitals, is required for magnet-designated facilities’ hiring preferences, and is the prerequisite for graduate nursing study. Neither is wrong; they suit different starting points, and RN-to-BSN bridge programs exist precisely so the fast route does not close the slow one. This guide walks the steps in order; for the wider view, start with the Online Nursing Programs Guide.
Step-by-step: how to become a registered nurse
Step 1: Choose and complete a state-approved nursing program
Your program must be approved by your state board of nursing – that approval, not the school’s general reputation, is what makes you eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Two degrees qualify:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Roughly two years, usually at a community college. The fastest route to RN licensure and the lowest-cost one. ADN graduates take the same NCLEX-RN and receive the same RN license as BSN graduates.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Four years, adding leadership, research, community and public health, and a broader clinical rotation set. Many hospitals prefer or require it for new hires, and it is the standard prerequisite for graduate nursing programs.
Both include substantial supervised clinical rotations in hospitals and other care settings. These rotations are in-person by necessity, which is why prelicensure nursing programs are never fully online. What is commonly online is the RN-to-BSN bridge for nurses who already hold an ADN and a license – there the clinical foundation is already in place, so the coursework can be completed remotely while working.
Two other entry points are worth knowing. If you hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, accelerated BSN programs compress prelicensure preparation into roughly 12 to 18 intensive months. And licensed practical nurses can use LPN-to-RN bridge tracks that credit prior training.
Step 2: Apply for authorization to test
After – or shortly before – graduation, you apply for licensure with your state board of nursing and register for the exam with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The board verifies your program completion, runs a criminal background check and fingerprinting, and issues an Authorization to Test. Processing time varies by state and is often the least predictable part of the timeline.
Step 3: Pass the NCLEX-RN
The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses is the single national exam standing between your degree and your license. It is a computer-adaptive test covering safe and effective care, health promotion, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity, and it is required in every state. Candidates who do not pass may retest after a waiting period set by the board.
Step 4: Receive your state license
Once you pass, your state board issues the RN license. A few details matter in practice:
- Licensure is by state. Requirements around background checks, fees, and jurisprudence are set locally.
- The Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses whose primary state of residence is a compact member to practice in other compact states on a multistate license. Not all states participate, so confirm your state’s status if you plan to work across state lines or travel.
- Renewal requires continuing education on a cycle set by your board.
Step 5: Start practicing, then decide about advancement
RN licensure is the finish line for entry, not the ceiling. Many nurses complete an RN-to-BSN bridge while working, add specialty certifications, or move toward advanced practice. Becoming a nurse practitioner, for example, requires a graduate degree, national certification, and a second APRN license on top of the RN – see how to become a nurse practitioner for that path.
What degree do you need to be a registered nurse?
Either an ADN or a BSN. Both lead to the same NCLEX-RN and the same license.
The ADN is the fastest and least expensive route to practicing as an RN, and it makes sense if speed to licensure or cost is your binding constraint. The BSN takes twice as long but is preferred by many hospital employers, is generally required for management tracks, and is the prerequisite for master’s-level nursing study. If you go the ADN route, the RN-to-BSN bridge keeps the door open and is designed for working nurses. Weighing the cost and time tradeoff is covered in Is a Nursing Degree Worth It?.
What registered nurses earn
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $97,550 for registered nurses (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median).
Advanced practice roles built on the RN license report higher medians: BLS reports $132,300 for nurse practitioners and $236,590 for nurse anesthetists (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median). Those require a graduate degree and additional licensure. For a role-by-role breakdown, see the Nursing Careers guide and the Nursing Salary Guide.
How long does it take to become a registered nurse?
The components are short compared with most licensed clinical professions:
- Nursing degree: about two years for an ADN, four years for a BSN, or roughly 12 to 18 months for an accelerated BSN if you already hold a bachelor’s in another field. Add time for prerequisite science courses if you have not completed them and for waitlists, which are common at community college programs.
- Board application and NCLEX scheduling: typically a few weeks to a couple of months, driven mostly by background-check and board processing speed.
- Post-graduation supervised hours: none. This is the key structural difference from counseling and social work licensure – your supervised clinical experience is built into the degree, not required after it.
Total: roughly two and a half years via the ADN route and four to four and a half years via the BSN, from a standing start. Prerequisites, waitlists, and part-time enrollment are what most often stretch those ranges.
View the data behind this chart
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,940 |
| 25th percentile | $80,330 |
| Median | $97,550 |
| 75th percentile | $112,350 |
| 90th percentile | $137,470 |
View the data behind this chart
| State | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
Frequently asked questions
What degree do you need to be a registered nurse?
Either an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from a state-approved program. Both make you eligible for the NCLEX-RN and lead to the same RN license, though many hospital employers prefer the BSN.
How long does it take to become a registered nurse?
About two and a half years through an ADN and four to four and a half years through a BSN, including board processing and the NCLEX. An accelerated BSN can take roughly 12 to 18 months if you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
How much do registered nurses make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $97,550 for registered nurses (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median).
Do you need a degree to be a registered nurse?
Yes. Every state requires completion of an approved nursing program – at minimum an associate degree – plus the NCLEX-RN and licensure. There is no experience-only route. Related roles such as licensed practical nurse or certified nursing assistant require less training but are separate credentials with narrower scope.
Is an ADN or a BSN better?
They lead to the same license, so the answer depends on your constraints. The ADN is faster and cheaper; the BSN is preferred by many hospitals, is generally required for management and graduate study, and opens the advanced practice path. Starting with an ADN and completing an RN-to-BSN bridge while working is a common and fully valid sequence.
Can you become a registered nurse online?
Not entirely. Prelicensure programs require in-person clinical rotations, so no ADN or BSN leading to a first RN license is fully online. RN-to-BSN bridge programs for already-licensed nurses are widely available online because the clinical requirement is already satisfied.
Next steps
- Start with the field overview. The Online Nursing Programs Guide covers every degree level from ADN to DNP.
- Choose your degree. Compare the ADN and BSN routes, or look at accelerated options if you already hold a bachelor’s.
- See where the license leads. Review the Nursing Careers guide and the Nursing Salary Guide.
- Plan the next credential. If advanced practice is the goal, read how to become a nurse practitioner, or compare how to become a psychologist if you are weighing healthcare against behavioral health.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Program approval, licensure, and compact participation rules are set by individual states; confirm requirements with your state board of nursing.
Data verified: August 12, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.