By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Buddy Wiltcher, EdD, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Interim Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Reading Time: 10 minutes
If you want to become a nurse, there’s a range of credential levels you can pursue, and the pathway you choose depends on where you want to start and how far you want to go.
Some nurses enter through shorter programs such as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), gaining clinical experience while they consider their next step.
Others pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) directly, working toward Registered Nurse (RN) licensure from the outset. For practicing RNs, graduate-level study may open up specialized areas of nursing practice, from leadership and education to advanced clinical credentials.
Before you jump into choosing a career path, you need to know the different types of nursing credentials and what they involve. Each one has its own educational requirements, responsibilities and scopes of practice.
According to Lightcast labor market data, RN positions are frequently listed on job postings in 49 out of 50 states. The next section will focus on the steps you need to take to pursue an RN role.
Becoming an RN requires academic preparation, clinical training, licensing examinations and ongoing professional development.
To help you better understand what all of that means, we’ll break down each stage of that journey and what to consider when choosing an educational pathway that aligns with your career goals.
Before you apply to nursing school, you’ll normally be expected to complete a range of prerequisite coursework. Those prerequisites help you build the scientific foundation it takes to pursue a nursing education.
Different nursing programs and universities are likely going to have their own prerequisites, and so it’s important to research the admissions requirements at any school you’re looking at. But generally speaking, common nursing prerequisites may include:
A lot of nursing programs also require admissions testing. One commonly used assessment is the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills). For example, Capella’s BSN (Prelicensure) program requires you to achieve a composite score of 63% or above on the ATI TEAS exam.
Gaining healthcare exposure can also help you prepare for nursing school and strengthen your application. Activities like volunteering in a hospital, shadowing healthcare professionals or researching program requirements early may help you better understand the realities of nursing practice.
Pursuing an accredited nursing program is an important step toward becoming an RN. Multiple educational pathways can prepare you to become an RN. Each pathway offers distinct advantages depending on your career goals and experience.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
ADN programs tend to focus on foundational nursing knowledge and clinical skills and prepare students for RN licensure. Some nurses choose the ADN pathway as a direct entry point into nursing education before pursuing BSN completion programs later in their careers.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is an undergraduate degree that combines clinical preparation with broader areas of study like leadership, population health and evidence-based practice.
A BSN may appeal to students who want to build nursing knowledge beyond direct patient care or pursue career paths that could later involve leadership, education or advanced study. Some leadership positions at magnet hospitals are required to have a BSN or a master’s degree.
BSN programs are available in a variety of formats, including in-person traditional BSNs and online programs that combine virtual coursework with required in-person clinical experiences and skills training. For working adults, online learning may provide more flexibility, allowing you to balance your education with work, family and other responsibilities.
The format is important, but it’s not the only factor you should consider. Evaluate factors like accreditation, clinical training opportunities and program outcomes when comparing nursing programs.
For example, Capella’s BSN (Prelicensure) program is Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)-accredited and combines online coursework with immersive, hands-on learning and 550 hours of supervised clinical practice.
“In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment, a BSN program must do more than deliver coursework. It must intentionally prepare students to succeed in practice,” explains Buddy Wiltcher, EdD, MSN, APRN, FNP-C and Interim Dean of Capella University’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“From my perspective, that means building a program where students develop not only knowledge, but confidence, clinical judgment and resilience.”
Hospital diploma programs
Hospital-based diploma programs used to be a common pathway into nursing, and they do still exist. These programs are typically affiliated directly with hospitals or a particular healthcare system, which means that hospital diploma requirements and training vary from institution to institution.
Hospital diploma programs are still available, but they’re less common than ADN and BSN programs.
It’s essential for your nursing education to extend beyond the classroom. As a student, clinical experiences enable you to apply your knowledge in real healthcare environments while developing the skills you need for safe and effective patient care.
RN licensure requires several hundred clinical hours of supervised experience across multiple specialties. That requirement varies by state, and so you’ll need to research the requirements in the state you’d like to practice in.
Clinical learning can take place in a variety of settings, and a lot of that will depend on your program or school. But you can generally expect to gain hands-on experience in settings like:
In addition to clinical training, your hands-on education will also need to incorporate technology to help prepare you for today’s modern healthcare environments. At nursing school, you’ll likely be introduced to high-fidelity simulation labs, virtual simulations and electronic health record training.
At Capella, both hands-on learning and clinical requirements are integrated into your wider academic experience.
“Nursing students need opportunities to apply what they learn in meaningful ways, which is why strong programs blend classroom instruction with simulation, hands-on skills training and real-world clinical experiences that reflect the realities of modern patient care,” says Dr. Wiltcher. “Student success is not left to chance. It is designed and supported at every level.”
Graduating from nursing school is a major milestone in your career. However, it’s important to remember that becoming an RN also requires licensure.
The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is the standardized exam used to assess whether graduates are prepared for entry-level nursing practice. Passing the NCLEX-RN is required for RN licensure in the United States, which is why Capella’s BSN (Prelicensure) curriculum integrates NCLEX preparation.
After graduation, candidates typically:
Nursing licenses are issued at the state level. That means requirements vary across jurisdictions. Many states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows eligible nurses to practice in multiple participating states under one multistate license. But it’s essential that you research the requirements in the state you’re planning to practice in.
In addition to examination requirements, most states require background checks and fingerprinting. There are also often continuing education requirements. Because regulations vary, prospective nurses should always review their state’s Board of Nursing requirements before applying for licensure.
Becoming a registered nurse is often just the beginning of a lifelong professional journey. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, a lot of nurses choose to pursue additional education and training to deepen expertise, expand responsibilities or pursue leadership or education roles.
RN-to-BSN programs are undergraduate degrees designed for licensed RNs who already hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing and want to earn a bachelor’s degree. These programs often support career advancement, leadership development and future graduate study.
If you’d like to achieve your BSN without pressing pause on your nursing career, Capella’s RN-to-BSN program is offered through our FlexPath learning format. This enables you to progress through coursework at your own pace, which means you can fit your studies into your existing lifestyle.
An MSN is an advanced postgraduate degree that’s designed for RNs. MSN programs elevate your clinical and leadership skills and specialized knowledge and prepare you for advanced roles in areas like:
Capella offers MSN specializations in all of these areas, and you can choose between multiple learning formats to pursue your degree at a pace that works for you. Just remember that Capella can’t guarantee that graduating with a particular degree means you’ll secure a specific role. If there’s a role you’d like to pursue, make sure to conduct your own research to learn about any prerequisites you’ll need to fulfill.
An RN-to-MSN pathway lets you pursue graduate-level nursing education without first completing a separate BSN degree. For working nurses ready to build specialized expertise at the master’s level, it’s a more direct route to that preparation.
These programs are structured around the realities of practicing nurses. You continue working in the field while developing graduate-level knowledge in a specialization that reflects your goals, moving into master’s-level study from your current position as an RN without an intermediate credential along the way.
Common specializations available through RN-to-MSN programs include nursing education, nursing informatics, care coordination and leadership.
Capella offers RN-to-MSN programs across all four of these specializations, all available fully online. For nurses who want more control over their study timeline, Capella’s FlexPath learning format allows you to progress through coursework at your own pace. That may make it easier to keep your studies moving while balancing existing work and personal commitments. If a structured approach with fixed deadlines fits your needs better, the specializations are also available in the GuidedPath format. Whichever you choose, you’ll have 24/7 access to the courseroom and learning resources.
In addition to a master’s degree, you can pursue a graduate certificate or an advanced practice program. These are shorter programs designed to prepare nurses for specialized clinical roles.
For example, Capella offers post-master’s certificates in:
Our graduate certificates emphasize competency-based learning, which uses real-world assessments designed to reflect general employability skills, learning outcomes and core nursing competencies.
The right nursing program does more than just prepare you for RN licensure. It helps you build the knowledge, confidence and adaptability you need to pursue your goals in the healthcare industry.
As you compare different nursing schools and degree programs, be sure to consider factors like:
Choosing a nursing program is ultimately about finding an educational experience that supports both your current responsibilities and your future ambitions. It’s also important to consider programs that align their nursing curriculum with contemporary workforce demands and national standards. For example, Capella’s BSN (Prelicensure) program is aligned with the 2021 AACN Essentials for Professional Nursing.
“What sets our program apart is how intentionally we deliver the right content, build essential skills and create meaningful learning opportunities from day one,” explains Buddy Wiltcher.
“Our curriculum is aligned with today’s workforce needs, integrating simulation, technology and diverse clinical partnerships to ensure students graduate practice-ready. We don’t just prepare students to pass exams. We prepare them to lead, adapt and thrive in complex healthcare environments.”
If you’re ready to pursue a career in healthcare, nursing is one of the most rewarding pathways you can choose. It could lead you to a variety of medical environments and specializations that place you at the forefront of patient-centered care.
Pursuing a career in nursing starts with a solid educational foundation, clinical experience and a firm commitment to ongoing professional development.
Capella’s BSN (Prelicensure) program integrates NCLEX preparation, simulation training and experience across major nursing specialties so you can confidently enter today’s healthcare environment.
As your professional goals shift, graduate-level study like Capella’s range of MSN programs and post-master’s certificates enables you to zero in on your passions within the sector and continue to build momentum in your nursing career.
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