Nursing School Requirements: How to Get Into Nursing School

Thinking about becoming a nurse? Nursing degrees are a popular choice for many high school and post-grad students. If you’re considering this rewarding career path, the first step is figuring out how to get into nursing school.

A degree from nursing school truly opens a plethora of different career paths with schedule flexibility and endless specialty options for additional training.

If you are a compassionate, caring, and empathetic person who loves to make a difference in the lives of others, a career in healthcare might be the perfect fit for you.

But before we start buying a bunch of matching scrub sets, education and training are essential. That means getting into—and passing—nursing school!

We wanted to share our top tips, along with a step-by-step guide to applying for nursing school. With these steps, we hope to make this often-stressful process a little easier to navigate.

Here is our guide on how to get into nursing school:

How To Get Into Nursing School

While every person’s journey to becoming a nurse is unique to them, there are some key milestones, prerequisites, and nursing school requirements that all future nurses must navigate to start their schooling.

Without further ado, here are six steps to follow to get into nursing school:

Step #1: Research the Different Types of Nursing Careers (There Are a Lot!)

Before deciding which school to apply to, take the time to explore the many different types of nursing specialties. This will help ensure you’re truly interested in pursuing this career path.

Most people think all nurses work in medical or surgical units in hospitals. But that’s not true! A wide variety of unique and exciting specialties are available for new graduates to explore.

Knowing your options early can help you focus your studies and set your goals.

Types of Nursing Specialties

Here are just a few examples of lesser-known nursing specialties that are definitely with exploring:

Operating Room Nursing

If you love Grey’s Anatomy and want to explore the high-pressure world of the operating room, becoming a certified operating room nurse might be for you. This field is especially rewarding for those who thrive in a team environment and can perform well under pressure.

Cosmetic and Injection Nursing

You do not need to work in a hospital to be a nurse! This specialty focuses on non-bedside nursing in clinics, offering flexibility and a more predictable schedule.

Travel Nursing

If you have an adventurous side, working as a travel nurse is a great choice. After gaining experience in a specialty you love, you can fill staffing gaps in hospitals and care centers across the country—making every shift an exciting new challenge!

Infection Control Nursing

Especially in recent times, infection control and prevention have become increasingly important. This specialty is perfect for nurses who enjoy research and collaborating with teams to implement change.

Community Nursing

Nurses aren’t limited to hospitals. Community nursing offers opportunities to work in schools, public events, and even summer camps, providing essential care to children and adults.

Step #2: Explore the Different Types of Nursing Licenses and Degrees

Once you feel inspired by the range of nursing possibilities, it’s time to decide which nursing program best aligns with your goals.

While all nursing graduates earn the title of “nurse,” your license or degree determines factors like salary, scope of practice, and specialization opportunities.

Some common nursing licenses include::

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA):
  A quick-start healthcare diploma that takes 4–12 weeks to complete. CNAs provide basic care for patients and can use this role as a stepping stone into nursing.
• Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN):
  Typically a one-year program, LPNs/LVNs work under RNs to deliver high-quality patient care.

Common nursing degrees include:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN):
  A fast-track option (5 months–2 years) to become a nurse. Some ADN nurses later pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) for more opportunities.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN):
  This four-year degree is the traditional path to becoming an RN and offers the highest salary and scope of practice for new graduates.

No matter where you start, there are always opportunities to grow your career with further education and training!

Step #3: Choose the Right Nursing School For You

After selecting your program, research schools that offer it. Since nursing school admissions are competitive, apply to multiple programs to increase your chances.

When deciding, ask yourself:

• Do I want to leave home for school? If so, how far?
• Would I prefer online or part-time nursing school options?
• Is the program accredited?
• Does the school offer hands-on clinical experiences?
• What additional academic or mental health support is available?

Finding a program that aligns with your goals and needs is critical to your success.

Step #4: Meet the Nursing School Prerequisites

Nursing programs have specific prerequisites, so ensure you’re a competitive applicant by meeting them all.

Most programs require a high school GED with a competitive GPA. BSN programs often require a 3.0 minimum GPA, while ADN programs may have slightly lower requirements.

Common prerequisites include:

• High school courses in biology, chemistry, and math
• Science courses like anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology
• Passing entrance exams like the SAT, HESI, or TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills)

Check the website for your desired program to confirm exact requirements. Planning ahead will improve your chances of acceptance!

Step #5: Study for (and Pass) the Entrance Exam

Test-taking is a skill, and passing the entrance exam is crucial for nursing school hopefuls. The TEAS exam is a common requirement, and preparation is key.

• High-quality sample questions
• Engaging explainer videos for complex topics
• Comprehensive assessment tests to gauge your readiness

Step #6: Sort out Financial Aid and Payments

Lastly, and unfortunately, the most expensive step, is sorting out how you are going to pay for nursing school. The average tuition depends greatly on the school and program you choose to attend.

So be sure to search for this information before applying so that you aren’t blindsided by costs that you were not expecting. Some of the most common ways nursing students pay for their schooling include:

Applying for Federal Student Aid

While it may be scary to apply for federal loans, they are actually the safest form of financial loan available for students to use to pay for their education. Available with low-interest rates, federal loan payments begin once you have finished school.

The application for federal student aid is also free, making the process relatively easy to complete.

Applying to Scholarships

Want to take advantage of your high grades and extracurriculars? Scholarships are a great way to do this! A wide variety of scholarships for academic performance, sports performance, essay writing, and more are available for anyone to apply to every single year.

Doing some research and applying to scholarships that interest you is a great way to reduce your tuition.

Get Into Nursing School with Ease

If you have caught yourself wondering how to get into nursing school, you’ve come to the right place.

SimpleNursing creates tools, test prep questions, and resources used to teach nursing students across the country.

As one of the most trusted nursing students, our dynamic e-learning and exam preparation courses are helping nursing students find success in even the most difficult exams – including entrance exams.

Join SimpleNursing today and improve your entire learning experience.