How to Become a Registered Nurse: Step-by-Step RN Guide
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If you want to know how to become a registered nurse (RN), every candidate reaches licensure the exact same way: graduate from an accredited nursing program, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and get licensed by your state board of nursing. The primary choice that shapes your entire educational timeline is deciding which nursing degree you start with. An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) offers the fastest, lowest-cost route into clinical practice, while a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) takes longer to complete but is increasingly preferred by major hospitals and required for leadership roles. Registered nurses earn a strong baseline wage, bringing in a median annual salary of $93,600 ($45.00 per hour) according to official statistics verified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The specific degree path you select changes your career timeline and long-term advancement options, not your core license or starting base pay. Because the NCLEX-RN is a uniform national exam but each state board issues its own independent credentials, where you plan to live and work matters just as much as which training program you choose.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Northbridge University College of Nursing, Tampa, FL
- Format: In-person
- Length: 3 years
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Herzing University, Milwaukee, WI
- Format: Online
- Note: Includes 585 mandatory clinical hours that you must complete in person.
These schools represent a small sample of the training options available on the platform. To find active cohorts running where you actually live, you can instantly compare associate degree nursing programs near you and BSN programs near you on Dreambound.
Registered Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
Registered nurses earn a median annual wage of $93,600, or $45.00 an hour, based on May 2024 BLS data.
The exact pay spectrum varies widely by geographic state, employment setting, and experience level:
- The Lowest 10%: Earned less than $66,030 annually.
- The Median: Earned $93,600 annually.
- The Highest 10%: Earned more than $135,320 annually.
Government organizations and primary hospital employers tend to pay the highest average salaries in the field. In contrast, educational services and outpatient medical clinics generally sit at the lower end of the compensation scale.
The national base median wage remains the same whether a nurse initially holds an ADN or a BSN degree. Choosing a bachelor's degree tends to pay off later in your career by unlocking advanced administrative roles and competitive leadership promotions.
According to the BLS, overall employment for registered nurses is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034. This growth tracks faster than the national average for all occupations, generating roughly 189,100 open positions each year over the decade. Continuous demand at this level keeps RN openings highly stable in almost every state.
Working as an RN Across States
The national NCLEX-RN exam is standardized across the country, but your physical nursing license is not. Each individual state board issues its own distinct RN license, and how easily you can practice across state lines depends entirely on the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Through the Nurse Licensure Compact, a multistate license allows working nurses to practice across 43 member jurisdictions without forcing them to apply separately for local credentials in each area.
However, two of the largest employment markets in the country—California and New York—are not compact members. If you are licensed in a compact jurisdiction and want to move your career to California or New York, you must submit a formal application for a brand-new license by endorsement. Furthermore, if you change your primary residence from one compact state to another, you have a strict 60-day window to apply for a license in your new home state.
A few selective states also add their own strict regulatory rules on top of the national standard:
- New York State Requirements: Under the BSN in 10 law, newly licensed RNs who hold an associate degree are legally required to earn a BSN within 10 years of initial licensure. New York also mandates specialized training modules covering infection control and child abuse reporting.
- International Candidates: If you completed your nursing education outside the United States, you must submit your transcripts to an official credential evaluation service—typically handled via TruMerit™ (formerly known as CGFNS International)—and pass English-language proficiency testing before you can clear eligibility to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to become a registered nurse?
It depends entirely on where you are starting. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, an accelerated BSN (ABSN) is the fastest route, taking just 12 to 18 months. If you are starting completely from scratch, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is your fastest option, requiring roughly two to three years. Licensed practical nurses can also shorten this timeline by enrolling in a dedicated LPN-to-RN bridge program.
How long does it take to become a registered nurse?
Most individuals become an RN in two to four years. A traditional associate degree takes two to three years, while a bachelor's degree takes about four years. Once you graduate, registering for the NCLEX-RN and securing your state board credentials adds a few weeks to the process. Completing prerequisite courses or balancing a part-time academic schedule can add time, while an accelerated BSN track can shorten it.
How much does a 2-year (ADN) RN make?
An ADN-prepared nurse makes the exact same entry-level base salary as a BSN-prepared nurse. Both educational paths lead to the identical national RN license. The BLS reports a median annual wage of $93,600 ($45.00 an hour) for registered nurses across the board, regardless of their initial degree type. Your specific degree will dictate which management or advanced roles you can step into later in your career, not your starting pay.
What do you need to get into a registered nurse program?
Nursing school admissions are highly competitive, and exact requirements are set by each individual institution. Programs typically expect applicants to pass foundational science prerequisite courses, maintain a competitive cumulative grade point average (GPA), and achieve a passing score on an entrance exam such as the TEAS or HESI. You must also pass a criminal background check and present up-to-date immunizations. Because class seats are limited, applying early and submitting packets to more than one program improves your overall odds.
Can you become a registered nurse online?
No, a pre-licensure RN program cannot be completed fully online. All initial nursing tracks require supervised, in-person clinical hours inside actual healthcare facilities, which completely rules out a fully remote option for your first license. While a program may be marketed as "online," this simply means your textbook coursework is delivered via a web portal while your clinical rotations remain strictly on-site. Fully online nursing degrees exist exclusively as RN-to-BSN bridge programs for individuals who are already licensed, working registered nurses.
Choosing Your Path to Becoming an RN
The core administrative steps required to become a registered nurse are consistent nationwide, but two major decisions will shape your overall experience: the degree you choose to start with, and the specific state where you plan to build your career.
An ADN gets you licensed, working, and earning an active income much faster. A BSN widens your long-term occupational options and opens doors to top-tier hospital systems, while your state's compact membership determines how easily your nursing credentials can travel across geographic borders.
Before you commit to an enrollment date, take the time to evaluate associate and bachelor's programs on Dreambound by their specific format and location. Be sure to check whether your target state actively belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact. The physical license is identical for everyone who passes the exam. What changes your personal outcome is matching your training program directly to your timeline and to the state where you plan to live and work.
